Town Topics Newspaper, September 4, 2024.

Anniversary of D&R Canal State Park

Marked by Events . . . . . 5

Coyote Sightings

Have Increased in Recent Months 8

Lafayette’s Triumphal Tour Returns to Princeton 9

Bolstered by the Return Of U.S. Olympian Yeager, PU Field Hockey Aiming

To Get Back on Winning Track 21

Carusone Displays

Versatility on Both Sides Of the Ball As PHS

Football Loses 29-21 at Lawrence in Opener 23

Delon (1935-2024)

Members of Community Encouraged to Participate In Cultural Exchange Night

Since Princeton rst instituted Welcoming Week nine years ago, efforts have been ongoing to involve the public in this annual celebration of the town’s cultural diversity. The planners of this year’s events, which begin Friday, September 13 and run through Sunday, September 22, are hoping to inspire as many residents as possible to not just attend, but take part.

Cultural Exchange Night, which kicks off the week of events on Friday at Hinds Plaza from 4 to 6 p.m., is designed to do just that. The events are being planned by the Human Services Department and the Princeton Committee on Affordable Housing, Racial, Economic, Social Equity, and Social Services (C.A.R.E.S.).

“Everyone has an opportunity to take part by sharing a little something about their own country,” said Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, who is the liaison to the town’s Human Services Department. “That can be a poster board, or a table with arts and crafts, or music, or dancing. In the past, we’d often see people walking around saying, ‘I wish I would have known about this, because I would have been part of this.’ So, we’re trying to get the word out that everyone is welcome to participate.”

Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America, Welcoming Week is an international campaign that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants. With this year’s events, Princeton joins some 80,000 people around the world who are promoting inclusiveness, unity, and diversity.

As of Tuesday, September 3, the organization’s calendar listed 425 observances across the globe. Among them: a pool party in Canterbury, New Zealand; a newcomer welcome dinner in Portage la Prairie, Canada; an interfaith tour at the St. Louis Art Museum in St. Louis, Mo.; and a welcoming walk in Tenerife, Spain. There is a family storytime at the Niagara Falls Public Library; an immigrant-owned business showcase in Champaign, Ill.; and a walking tour focused on “The Middle Eastern History of Krakow” in Krakow, Poland.

Referendum, Supt. Search on Tap for PPS

As students and teachers, staff, and administrators, all made their nal preparations for Tuesday’s Princeton Public Schools’ (PPS) opening day, Board of Education (BOE) members have been setting their sights on two longer-term goals: the selection of a new superintendent and an upcoming referendum to fund new classrooms and core spaces.

Both BOE initiatives are expected to culminate early next year, with an $85$90 million referendum vote planned for January 28, 2025 and the BOE hoping, by the rst months of next year, to nd the right new leader for the PPS to take over from Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster on July 1, 2025.

On April 30, 2024 the BOE voted to submit paperwork to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) seeking approval for a referendum to fund new classrooms and core spaces at Community Park Elementary, Littlebrook Elementary, Princeton Middle School (PMS), and Princeton High School (PHS). At last week’s BOE meeting, Board Long Term Planning Co-Chair Beth Behrend reported that district architects will soon

be presenting plans to the Princeton Planning Board for comments, though approval is not required.

Following the courtesy review by the Planning Board, the plans then go to the NJDOE for comments, followed by further review by the Princeton BOE and approval of a ballot question sufficiently in advance of the January 28 target election date.

Behrend stated that the BOE will be assisted by the Laura Bishop

Communications firm in providing referendum information to the community. Basic information will be available by September 9, and more detailed information, responses to the community’s questions, and info sessions will be provided as the fall progresses.

“Communication efforts will be ramped up in November and December to ensure that the community is informed prior to early voting for the January referendum,” said Behrend.

Sustainable Princeton eCommuter Fest at Shopping Center on Saturday, September 7

Complete with circus acts, a fashion show on bikes, street savvy cycling sessions, music, games, eBike test rides, and more, Sustainable Princeton will be hosting its annual low-carbon eCommuter Fest in the Princeton Shopping Center on Saturday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a Saturday, September 14, rain date).

The focus of this year’s event is walking, biking, public transit, and family fun, but

electric vehicles will still be an important part of the festivities.

“eCommuter Fest was an evolution of our Electric Evening event, where we offered EV test drives and EV owner showcases when electric vehicles were novel,” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington, as quoted in a press release. “Now that the adoption of electric vehicles is well underway,

In addition to Cultural Exchange Night, Princeton’s schedule of events includes a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Concert, Dancing Under the Stars, Festival

SPECIAL HONOR: Lifelong Princeton resident

front, was honored last Friday for his 76 years of service to the Princeton

With his daughter, center right, and granddaughter, center left, in attendance along with Mayor Mark Freda, far right, Fire Chief Adam Kooker, third from left, and other first respondfrom the Princeton Fire Department and Brandywine Princeton and celebrated

Robert Higgins, 97, center

Fire Department.

(Photo by Stephanie Gaber)

that continuously collect your makes and misses and pass you the ball. (Think batting cages for basketball.)

Plus,

Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton on September 4 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Sakrid Coffee Roasters, 20 Nassau Street; on September 11 from 1-2:30 p.m. at The Meetinghouse, 277 Witherspoon Street; on September 18 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Deliziosos Bakery, 205 Witherspoon Street; and on September 25 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Art at Bainbridge/Garden Theater, 158 Nassau Street. All are welcome.

Narcan Training: Sponsored by the Princeton Health Department and the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, on Wednesday, September 11 from 5-5:45 p.m. at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Space is limited. Princetonnj.gov.

Food Pantry: Arm in Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons 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 available for those in need.

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.

Photo Contest: 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 September and October. For specific dates and more information, email mercer@literacynj.org or call (609) 587-6027.

Volunteer for eCommuterfest: Sustainable Princeton needs helpers for the lowcarbon commuting festival being held Saturday, September 7 in the courtyard at Princeton Shopping Center. Visit sustainableprinceton.org.

Blood Stem Cell Donor Recruitment Event: Sunday, September 15, 1-4 p.m. at Princeton Bridal, 301 North Harrison Street, Suite 575. For more information, contact Linda Alexander at (503) 707-4643 or lalexan4@nmdp.org.

Volunteer for FOPOS : Friends of Princeton Open Space is looking for volunteer land stewards on Saturday, September 28 to help restore riparian and forest areas, remove invasive plants, and plant native trees and shrubs at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Sessions are 9-11 a.m. or 12-2 p.m. Visit fopos.org.

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BUGS GALORE: It’s all about the tiny critters at the 2024 Annual Insect Festival, led by Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County on September 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, at Mercer Educational Gardens in Hopewell Township. Visit mgofmc.org for more information.

ALONG THE WATERWAY: Cyclists are among those who frequent the towpath of D&R Canal State Park, which passes through Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties. The park was created five decades ago and is celebrating with a series of events beginning September 14.

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Anniversary of D&R Canal State Park Marked by Celebratory Events

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Passing through four New Jersey counties between Trenton and New Brunswick, the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Canal was a vital link for the transportation of goods for nearly a century. While its purpose had become obsolete by the 1930s, its history was not forgotten.

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In 1973, the canal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A year later, Gov. Brendan Byrne signed legislation to create the 70-mile D&R Canal State Park. It is the anniversary of that legislation that the nonprofit D&R Canal Watch is celebrating on October 26 with a walk/ run/bike event.

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Centered at Trenton’s Cadwalader Park, “Tour de Towpath” includes a 50-mile bicycle route to Colonial Park in Franklin Township, as well as a 20-mile cycling route to Princeton’s Turning Basin Park. A non-competitive half marathon run/ walk to Washington Crossing State Park in Hopewell and a 5K fun run/walk are also part of the celebration.

TOPICS Of the Town

An earlier commemorative event is being planned for September 14 by the D&R Canal State Park and Commission at its headquarters at Prallsville Mill in Stockton, offering a photography show, live music, and information about the park’s history and preservation.

“The D&R Canal State Park is the second most-visited New Jersey State Park,” said Linda Barth, president of D&R Canal Watch, which organizes volunteer projects and raises funds to maintain the area. “It is just a wonderful recreational opportunity in central New Jersey, which is otherwise so crowded. It has been very important over the years — especially in Princeton, which was the halfway point of the canal where boatmen used to stop. There were hotels there at one time.”

Part of the National Recreation Trail System, the park is a popular recreational corridor for canoeing, jogging, hiking, bicycling, and fishing. Valued as a wildlife corridor, it is home to numerous species of birds.

heart of central New Jersey. What was once a thoroughfare for mule-powered canal boats, steam-powered vessels and pleasure boats of all kinds, is today a linear state park that offers a serene and surprising respite from the commotion of nearby highways and surrounding suburban communities. With more than 70 miles of flat, continuous path available for use, the D&R Canal State Park is a haven for cyclists, runners, hikers, and nature and history lovers of all kinds.”

Among the attractions for historians are wooden bridges and 19th century bridge tender houses, remnants of locks, cobblestone spillways

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“When it opened in 1834, the Delaware and Raritan Canal provided a direct transportation link between the cities of Philadelphia and New York City,” reads the website of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “This new transportation corridor was a waterway connection that flowed through the

art

Carney

D&R Canal State Park

Continued from Preceding Page and hand-built stone-arched culverts. The upper portion of the feeder canal follows the Delaware River through Frenchtown, Stockton, and Lambertville, while the main canal passes through the Port Mercer bridge tender’s house, Kingston, and Griggstown to Blackwells Mills, ending up in New Brunswick.

The Canal Commission, which was established under the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Law of 1974, is a state regulatory agency responsible for preserving and protecting the canal as a historic and natural resource, as well as a water supply system that provides drinking water to an estimated 1 million people in central New Jersey.

The celebration at Prallsville Mill on September 14 is from 2-5 p.m. At the Trenton event on October 26, all registered volunteers and participants will receive an event T-shirt. Registration is $50 in advance, and $60 the morning of the gathering. Visit tourdetowpath.org.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park with the Tour de Towpath event, we honor not only the beauty and importance of the canal but also the dedication of the community and organizations that support it,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “I encourage everyone to join us for a day of fitness, fun, and festivities as we come together to recognize this remarkable park and its impact on our region.”

—Anne Levin

Lambertville Bike Tour

Marks Historic Sites

The Lambertville Historical Society (LHS) and Bike Lambertville will host the 2024 Roll & Stroll on Sunday, October 13 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Participants will take a ride on the towpath and streets of Lambertville while learning more about the city’s history. The Lambertville Historical Roll & Stroll is a casual ride with a LHS docent participating to explain the historical significance of buildings and canal features.

Traveling by bike along the 4-mile route will allow participants to explore historic sites that are not part of the LHS walking tour. There will also be an additional, optional 6-mile ride following the tour, to the Prallsville Mills site in Stockton.

Meet at the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum at 1605 Daniel Bray Highway in Lambertville at 1:15 pm, depart at 1:30 p.m., and return at approximately 4 p.m.

Open on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., the Farmstead provides ample free parking. Participants should have a road-ready bike, a properly fitted helmet, water, and appropriate layered clothing.

To register and get more information, email PaulMickFit@gmail.com.

Question of the Week:

“What are you looking forward to this fall?”

(Photos by Sarah Teo)

Harita: “My birthday is coming up, but before that I’m going on a solo trip, so I’m looking forward to what kind of growth that brings me. Also, being able to come back to spend time with family during the fall and winter holidays.”

Maithili: “I’m excited for a reset — summer is always kind of chaotic with traveling and other plans. Fall is a time when you actually get into a routine.”

“I think maybe the trees changing color.”

“Just the excitement for all the upcoming holidays. All the really wonderful family-getting-together holidays are about to happen.”

Kristin: “Being in New Jersey during the fall — there’s something about the leaves, and the

of it, especially on

And

and exciting new opportunities.”

“Cooler temperatures, fall colors, and the election.” Bob Falcone, Parsippany

—Harita Vellalath with Maithili Purandare, Princeton

Whitney:

Sophia:

crispness

campus with the architecture.

fall during college also represents new beginnings

— Whitney Njogu, Nairobi, Kenya, with Sophia Vernon, Gainesville, Fla., and Kristin Nagy, Raleigh, N.C.

Suzanne: “Cooler temperatures, pumpkins, and seasonal flavors.”

Scott: “Cooler temps, putting on sweaters again, and fall outings.”

— Suzanne Hatley, Lawrenceville, with Scott Fisher, Princeton

The BOE, according to “FAQ for 2025 Referendum” on the PPS website, estimates that the referendum, if approved by Princeton voters, would result in an additional tax of about $551.70 on the average assessed home of $848,037, but the specific dollar amount and referendum questions for voters to consider will not be determined until after the NJDOE reviews the application and advises which portion of the costs is eligible for New Jersey State funding. The state will reimburse up to 34 percent of principal and interest on bonds for renovations.

The “FAQ” document emphasizes the growth of Princeton and the addition of 1,100 new residential units, as well as the aging of current school facilities.

“Without the funds provided from the referendum, redistricting will happen sooner, and it will be difficult to maintain small class sizes and the neighborhood school feel that currently characterizes the elementary schools,” the “FAQ” web entry states.

Community Park and Littlebrook, the two elementary schools located closest to the new housing units, would both be enlarged, with new classrooms. Core and specialized spaces would also be added or renovated at the two schools.

Planned additions and renovations at PMS will focus on all aspects of the academic program and will include covered walkways and outdoor learning space. Regular classrooms and

multifunctional rooms that can be configured for small group instruction will be added, as will “purpose-designed” spaces that will include two new science labs and reconfigured rooms for vocal music and band, accommodating larger ensembles.

Renovations at PHS will include the addition of three new classrooms plus a room for small group instruction and two galleries that can also be used as presentation and instructional space, as needed. Updates to the PHS HVAC are also planned in order to bring these outdated systems up to par.

In addition to referendum plan updates, last week’s BOE meeting also featured a report by BOE member Betsy Baglio, who is leading the committee planning the new superintendent search. She pointed out that her fiveperson committee would be handling the logistics of the search but the full Board would participate in interviewing candidates and in all other aspects of the selection process.

“The process is underway,” said Baglio, emphasizing that the community would be provided with updates on the search every month until the individual selected for superintendent is named.

The current 2024 Board will not take action on the approval of the next superintendent. The work must begin now as it’s “hiring season,” Baglio said, but the appointment must be made by the 2025 Board.

Two members of the current 10-member Board, Baglio and Brian McDonald, will be stepping down at

the end of this year, and a third member, Mara Franceschi, is running for re-election in November, with five new candidates also on the ballot. Baglio and BOE President Dafna Kendal met with the Board candidates last week to bring them up to date and answer their questions about the search and their role in it.

The BOE plans to have the new superintendent’s contract approved by the executive county superintendent in time for their March BOE meeting.

Baglio stated that her committee is currently in the process of selecting a search firm with a September 4 deadline for applicants. The full Board will review all proposals from search firms, after which five members of the Board will interview selected firms.

In addition to monthly updates for the community, Baglio added that the BOE will add a page on their website regarding the superintendent search. “We look forward to engaging all members of the community in the process surveys and focus groups, with the final goal of identifying a wonderful new leader of our schools,” she said.

—Donald Gilpin

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Local Coyote Sightings Have Increased in Recent Months

With their pointed ears, slender muzzles, and drooping, bushy tails, coyotes can be mistaken for German shepherds. But coyotes are wild animals that can pose a danger to domestic pets.

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In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in sightings of the yellow-eyed “Canis latrans,” the scientific name for the coyote. James Ferry, Princeton’s animal control officer, has been watching the situation since a coyote snatched a small dog, weighing about 15 pounds, from outside a home on Random Road along Route 27 at the end of June.

“We have noticed some activity in Mountain Lakes, Herrontown Woods, and near Littlebrook School,” Ferry said last week. “They’ve kind of always been there. But the number has increased over the last few years.”

While the increase has been gradual, Ferry urges the public to be vigilant about encountering a coyote. “We’re telling folks to yell at it, and throw things at it. Hazing it is a good idea,” he said. “Bang pots and pans. Make them feel as unwelcome as possible.”

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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish and Wildlife has guidelines on its website (dep.nj.gov/njfw/ hungting/coyote-and-fox) to help reduce the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes. Among them: Never feed a coyote, because it puts pets and other residents of

the neighborhood at risk. Feeding pet cats and/or feral cats outdoors can attract coyotes, who feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats. Keep garbage in tight containers, remove sources of water, bring in pets at night, and put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey. Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.

While foxes are known to go for mice and similar prey, “coyotes are a little more robust,” Ferry said. “They weight anywhere from 35 to 45 pounds and they live in family groups. So if you see a pack, it’s not a true pack, like wolves. They are usually family units, with a male and female and whatever pups have made it through the summer.”

Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. “Parents should monitor children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards,” reads the website.

There is a coyote trapping season, “but there aren’t too

many trappers out there,” Ferry said. “It’s not very popular as far as the hunting and trapping community goes.”

The NJDEP is the overall authority on wildlife. “There is no proven way to deal with the coyote population. We do complain to the state,” Ferry said. “And they are what decides if there is any intervention to be done.” Coyotes usually grab their prey, and run off with it rather than attacking. “It’s not likely, but if there is a coyote attack in progress, absolutely call 911 and the police department will respond,” Ferry said. “And if you have sightings, call the state at (877) 927-6337.”

—Anne Levin

Lafayette’s Triumphal Tour Returns

To Princeton, Back After 200 Years

Two hundred years ago this month, Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey, welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette to campus and presented him with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his contribution to the American cause of independence.

Lafayette was making a triumphal tour of the country at the invitation of President James Monroe and the U.S. Congress more than 40 years after the French soldier and statesman, who was a close friend of George Washington, had led the Continental Army at Yorktown in the final battle of the American Revolution.

Later this month, on September 25, as part of a 24-state tour, a Lafayette reenactor provided by the American Friends of Lafayette will share the stage with Princeton University Professor Sean Wilentz at the Nassau Presbyterian Church on Nassau Street for a public lecture on “Lafayette and the Politics of Division.”

Wilentz, an authority on U.S. social and political history, is the author of The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln, which won the Bancroft Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

“The Grand Farewell Tour of Lafayette in 824 occurred during a polarizing presidential election that was pulling the country apart,” said Wilentz. “Two hundred years later, the nation is

again deeply divided amid a pivotal election.”

Lafayette, who, according to a press release from the American Friends of Lafayette, was on a mission “to remind a divided nation of its founding values,” was a strong abolitionist at a time when American politics was hotly divided over the future of slavery in the new nation.

“Many historians believe Lafayette’s farewell tour was the second most important event in American history in the 1800s, after the Civil War, of course,” said Paul Larson, who is managing New Jersey’s commemoration of the Lafayette bicentennial, which will also include visits this month to Jersey City, Elizabeth, Rahway, and Trenton between September 23 and 26. “Lafayette was the most popular person in America and attracted huge crowds. He was the original rock star.”

The September 25 presentation at the Nassau Presbyterian Church will be preceded on the evening of September 24 by a panel discussion and showing of the film Lafayette: The Lost Hero, a PBS documentary, in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The film, which examines Lafayette’s role in the American Revolution and in the establishment of democracy in America, will be introduced by Larson and Anne de Broca-Hoppenot, honorary consul of France in New Jersey.

Princeton University’s Firestone Library has also created a virtual collection of items in its archives, available to the public online at findingaids.princeton. edu . The items include a printed invitation to a ball in Yorktown, Va., in 1824, an invitation to a sword presentation to Lafayette in New York, a badge commemorating Lafayette’s Farewell Tour, a copy of a check from the U.S. government in payment for war service, and a letter from Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson.

A September 27, 1924 article in the New York Times on the 100th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Princeton described the occasion in some detail. The University entertained Lafayette along with his son, George Washington Lafayette, and “a large party.”

The Times quoted the Princeton University

Archives, which contain a record of the visit: “The Marquis and his escort were entertained at a late breakfast in the Princeton refectory, which was decorated beyond recognition. After looking at the buildings of the university, the Marquis was taken to a circular canopy, erected in front of Nassau Hall, for his official reception by the authorities of the college and town of Princeton, and here an address of welcome was made and the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him.”

Lafayette, according to the University Archives, commented on the significance of the town and the University. “While the name of this city recalls important military remembrance,” he said, “it is also connected with that of the illustrious college which in diffusing knowledge and liberal sentiments, has greatly contributed to turn those successes to the advantage of public liberty. Your library had been destroyed, but your principles were printed in the hearts of American patriots.”

For more information on Lafayette and the current “Farewell Tour,” visit lafayette200.org or friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org.

—Donald Gilpin

A Princeton tradition!

NextGen Giving Circle Awards Grants to Nonprofits

The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded $25,000 in grants to three local nonprofits — Womanspace, Dress for Success Central NJ, and Arm in Arm — that work to break the cycle of domestic violence, help teen girls succeed and assist families in need.

The Giving Circle is comprised of mostly young philanthropists — anyone is welcome to join, but most members are Gen Z and Millennials — who make donations to the NextGen Giving Circle Fund. Then once a year, they review proposals and make grant recommendations.

The Giving Circle allows the younger donors to learn about nonprofits doing great work in our communities, while making donations on either an annual or monthly basis. It was created in 2017, and since then, it has awarded two dozen grants totaling $182,500 to local nonprofits.

“The NextGen Giving Circle provides an opportunity for young people to become philanthropists and make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said Jeremy Perlman, founder of the Giving Circle. “Through this fund, our members have been able to support terrific nonprofits that are doing wonderful work in our region.”

The NextGen Giving Circle is a fund at the Community Foundation, an organization created in 1991 to help donors effectively give to the causes they care about most. Since its founding, the

Community Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in grants, including $15.5 million last year.

Womanspace, which is based in Lawrence, was given $10,000 for its Stopping Intergenerational Violence Through Comprehensive Children’s Services program; it provides children with therapy, tools, and resources to help ensure they do not move into adulthood with trauma that often turns the abused into the abuser. The children in the program have a parent who is a Womanspace client. Those parents also receive services to help ensure their children are less likely to experience abuse or neglect.

Dress for Success Central NJ, also based in Lawrence, got $10,000, for its Dress for Success Business Academy at Trenton Central High School. The job-readiness program teaches 11th and 12th grade girls life skills and provides them with clothing needed for college, vocational training, or employment.

Arm In Arm, with headquarters in Hamilton, received $5,000 for its Arm In Arm: All Communities Thrive program. The Trenton-based program — which grew out of the Community Foundation’s All Kids Thrive program, serves families, including recent immigrants whose needs are deep and complex. Arm In Arm provides food and housing assistance, but the organization also connects families with other critical resources to help them thrive.

To learn more visit pacf. org or contact Michael Nuno, vice president of philanthropic services, at (609) 219-1800.

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eCommuter Fest

continued from page one

we want to celebrate and inspire our community about the benefits of walking, biking, and using public transportation to get around. Attendees will still have the chance to check out some EV models and learn about EV incentives and how to install a home charger.”

The festival will take place in the interior courtyard of the shopping center and will include music from DJ Darius, performances by the Trenton Circus Squad, sustainable second-hand fashion on wheels, a bike safety session, educational tables, and prizes. In the back parking lot there will be a safe eBike test area organized by local bike shops and tours of the all-electric Princeton University TigerTransit buses, which are free and open to the public to use all year round. The University runs a fleet of 17 electric buses, and is working towards net zero carbon emissions by the time of its 300th anniversary in 2046.

“We’ll be there to show off our electric bikes,” said Wendy Reilley, new owner of Pedego Princeton at Kopp’s. “We also hope to participate in the fashion show.”

Symington emphasized the importance of choosing sustainable transportation. “Transportationrelated emissions are one of the largest contributors to Princeton’s overall carbon footprint,” she said. “The more people choose walking, biking, or public transportation, the faster we achieve our town’s

Climate Action Plan goals. Building enthusiasm around and providing information about low-carbon ways to get where you need to go is an important part of the equation. We aim to do that at eCommuter Fest.”

Sponsored by EDENS, AvalonBay, WinnCompanies, and McCaffrey’s Food Markets, the eCommuter Fest is free and open to the public.

Also at Saturday’s event, Sustainable Princeton will be announcing the winners of their Step Up Challenge. More than 100 people signed up and through the month of August tallied their total steps each day — to work, meetings, shopping, dinner and beyond. “The benefits of walking are numerous: exercise, fresh air, less traffic, and savings on gasoline,” the Challenge website stated. “With a walk, you can lower your stress and your carbon footprint.”

Prizes include an outfitting experience with complimentary shoes and insoles ($225 value from Fleet Feet Princeton), a walking safety kit, and a pair of goodr sunglasses.

Sustainable Princeton reports that final results are still being counted, but participants reported 23,851,405 steps, with a 10,000 average daily step total. The aggregate distance covered by the group was 10,841.55 miles.

Another event on the horizon for Sustainable Princeton and interested supporters is a discussion of “15-Minute Neighborhoods,” which will take place on September 11 at 7 p.m. in the Community

Room of the Princeton Public Library.

Planner Jon Carnegie, executive director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, and Alex Ambrose, a policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective, will discuss the concept of the 15-minute neighborhood and how it could make Princeton a more convenient and sustainable place to live.

Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information on these events and to register for the “15-M inute Neighborhoods” presentation. If the eCommuter Fest needs to be moved to the September 14 rain date, an announcement will be made on Facebook and other Sustainable Princeton social media.

—Donald Gilpin

Sheriff’s Safety Tips For Back to School

Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler reminds motorists and pedestrians to be extra careful as the new school year begins. The Sheriff also asks students and parents to be extra cautious when walking or driving to and from school.

“As summer draws to a close and children start heading back to classes, life can get pretty hectic, especially when everyone rushes to get to school before the bell,” said Kemler. “It’s important to remember these basic safety tips that will help keep everyone safe and healthy throughout the school year.”

Kemler advises paying special attention to the instructions of school crossing guards and adhere to traffic signals. Never cross the street against a red light, even if you do not see any traffic coming. Wear bright colors or reflective clothing so drivers can see you more easily — especially at dusk. Remember, as autumn approaches, there is less daylight, and children will be more difficult to see.

Parents should always plan a safe walking route for their children to and from school or to the bus stop. Choose a route with the fewest street crossings and, if possible, use intersections with crossing guards and crosswalks. Drivers must come to a complete stop when the red lights on a school bus are flashing — it is the law. When driving children to school, deliver and pick them up as near the school as possible and always buckle up. Drive

slowly when you see children riding bicycles or walking near the curb. Always slow down around schools and bus stops. Watch your speed when entering or leaving designated school zones.

NJ Conference for Women Student Volunteer Program

The NJ Conference for Women, a program of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Alliance, takes place October 11 at the Hyatt-Regency in West Windsor. Now in its 12th year, the conference brings together nearly 700 business leaders from a variety of business sectors for a day of learning, networking, inspiration and growth.

In an effort to expand the mission and reach the community’s next generation of business leaders, the organization has announced a Student Volunteer Program. The program allows high school seniors the opportunity to experience the conference, spend a day networking with the region’s business leaders, and gain valuable volunteer experience.

Through an application process, 8-10 high school seniors will be selected to serve as 2024 student volunteers. Those students will spend Friday, October 11 at the NJ Conference for Women assisting staff with conference operations. Written documentation of hours served and a letter of recommendation will be supplied where appropriate.

A pre-conference prep session will be held via Zoom for volunteers and parents/guardians the week before the conference. Potential duties may include assisting with breakout

sessions, including welcoming attendees and introducing the speaker; assisting with the on-site registration process; acting as ambassadors at the help desk; assisting attendees with wayfi nding; set up and breakdown; and other duties.

Students must currently be in their senior year of high school, and be a resident of or attend a high school in the organization’s footprint. They must be available to be on-site from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 11.

Applications must be submitted by September 13. Volunteers will be notified on or before September 20. For more information, visit info@ njconferenceforwomen.com.

Community Connect Program Seeks Volunteers

Princeton Community Connect (PCC) Program, which is a part of the Friends of the Davis International Center of Princeton University, is looking for volunteers to connect international students with local families.

The center welcomes and assists international students and visiting scholars by providing English conversation, individual English tutoring, and informal English classes. PCC pairs students with local volunteers. Students become friends and often feel like family as they settle into Princeton and learn about American culture in a casual way.

Students go out to restaurants and share holidays with volunteers. They take part in local activities with their volunteers.

There are several volunteer openings for the current academic year. For further information, email fdic@princeton. edu.

The annual naturalization ceremony for new citizens is September 17.

While Cultural Exchange Night will not include samplings of food, due to health reasons, sponsors are hoping that will change. “Eventually, we’d like to get to that point,” said Fraga. “That is something we’ve been trying to work on.”

Fraga’s favorite feature of Welcoming Week is a simple one. “I have this big map with a headline, ‘Where did your family come from?’ so people can identify by pointing to the map,” she said. “Even for people who were born in the U.S., it can be a teaching moment. I see parents lifting their children to point to where their families came from.”

Anyone interested in participating in Welcoming Week is encouraged to visit princetonnj.gov/1572/Welcoming-Week-2024 or call (609) 688-2055. A full schedule of events can also be accessed at that website.

“More than ever, it is really important for us to let our residents that came here from other countries know that everybody is welcome here,” said Fraga. “This is an opportunity for us as a municipality to bring everyone together and celebrate our diversity. We really want residents and organizations to share their culture with us.”

—Anne Levin

Cranbury Day Festivities

Fill Main Street Sept. 7

What started as a sidewalk sale 46 years ago has become a major event in Cranbury with a street fair, a petting zoo, a puppy parade, refreshments, face painting, and community spirit. The annual Cranbury Day is September 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on and around North Main Street, sponsored by the Cranbury Business Association.

The event originated on the Saturday after Labor Day to sell off items from the summer, said Christine Thomson of the Cranbury Business Association, longtime chair of the event, a position she shares this year with Juliana Lako.

Thompson follows in the footsteps of her father, who was involved in the early days of the event, and started an antique car show on Main Street. Then, the fire department started selling hot dogs, and the Lions Club held an annual chicken barbecue dinner at the old school. As the years went by the event evolved to include outside vendors, music, entertainment and the Helene Cody race, replacing a previous race 5k race. The school district’s eighth grade class has its fundraiser that day, selling baked goods.

“It became a true, community event,” said Thompson, “where neighbors come out to see neighbors, and support local businesses. It’s a fun, community event, even the nursing home brings residents out, and there are a lot of strollers.”

Events include the Cranbury Day Rummage Sale at St David’s Episcopal Church.

90 South Main Street, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Browse household items, appliances, kitchen items, jewelry, CDs, DVDs, and records, children’s games and toys, curtains, linens, and more.

United Methodist Church of Cranbury will be holding its annual “Attic Treasure Rummage Sale” in Fellowship Hall. The Cranbury Lions Club’s 12th annual Rubber Duck Race is at 1:30 p.m. at Brainerd Lake, with Visa card prizes. Tickets are being sold in town businesses.

The Helene Cody 5K Race and Fun Run starts at 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m. at Heritage Park, sponsored by the Helene Cody Foundation. This event honors the memory of Helene Cody, who passed away on her 16th birthday in 2008. She had planned to revive the Cranbury Day 5K that had been previously discontinued as a way to combine her love of distance running and community service. Her classmates hosted the first Helene Cody Cranbury 5K after her passing, and ever since, the Helene Cody Foundation has used the race to bring the community together and fund youth service projects and scholarships. Information can be found at helene.cody. com.

Princeton Ballet School (PBS) will have an event tent offering information about the school and company, including details about classes and upcoming performances. Visitors can explore the PBS Cranbury studio for a guided tour of the facility. Registration information will be available.

Cranbury Therapeutic Massage, 60 North Main Street, is offering a therapeutic chair massage, with all proceeds benefiting Hearts and Home, a ministry of Princeton Alliance Church.

Peace of Chocolate, 21 Park Place West, will have caramel (chocolate dipped) apples.

For more information about Cranbury Day, see the Cranbury Business Association or Cranbury Lions Club Facebook pages.

Police Blotter

Arrest in Campus Lewdness Incident

On August 28, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Princeton University Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report that a male was masturbating in a car parked at the curb on University Place. When the reporting person took out their phone to call the authorities, the driver left the area in a white sedan, traveling west on Dickinson Street. The driver was identifi ed and criminally charged by law enforcement officials that afternoon. The suspect is not a member of the campus community and has been barred from campus.

The Department of Public Safety believes this incident may be unrelated to previous alerts issued last week:

On August 26, at about 8:30 p.m., the DPS received a report that a male was masturbating in a car parked in a metered space on University Place. The car

left the location and traveled south on University Place. Authorities have not located the suspect. The car was described as a dark grey sedan with tinted windows.

On August 26, at about 5:50 p.m., a male exposed himself to a jogger on the D&R Canal towpath west of Alexander Street. The male was traveling east, and the jogger was traveling west. The jogger ran away from the towpath after the incident. Authorities were not able to locate the suspect. The male was described as having a black backpack, with his face covered.

Campus public safety officers ask that anyone with additional information relevant to the incidents contact DPS at (609) 258-1000.

On August 26, at 1:13 p.m., an individual reported that their wallet, containing $680 in cash, was stolen from Albert Way. The wallet contained an Apple Airtag, which allowed police to pinpoint the location of the stolen wallet. A 50-year-old male from Princeton was located and placed under arrest. He was transported to the Princeton Police headquarters where he was processed, charged accordingly, and released.

On August 25, at 2:33 a.m., after the investigation of a verbal dispute, a 19-year-old Princeton male was placed under arrest after he was found to be in possession of a switchblade style knife. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed, charged accordingly, and later released.

On August 25, at 4:39 p.m., a caller reported that

an unknown person shoplifted $165 in merchandise from a retail store on Nassau Street. The suspect is described as a female in her early 20s with long black hair, wearing a white baseball cap, floral dress, and black sandals with a brown/ navy blue duffel bag. She took the items and then fled the area in an unknown direction.

On August 25 at 9:38 p.m., subsequent to the investigation of a criminal sexual contact that occurred on Prospect Avenue, a 25-year-old Trenton male was placed under arrest. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed, charged accordingly, and later released.

On August 24 at 1:47 a.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle stop on Stockton Street, a 24-year-old Ewing male was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters, charged accordingly, and released.

On August 18, at 10:51 a.m., it was reported that an unknown individual entered an unsecured vehicle while it was parked on Bayard Lane. Approximately $35 worth of property was stolen from the vehicle.

On August 17, at 2:55 a.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle stop on PrincetonKingston Road, a 25-yearold male from Monmouth Junction was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed, charged, and released. Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released.

PPS Enrollment Decline Should Be Considered Before Vote on Newest Facilities Referendum

To the Editor:

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has filed for another facilities referendum, its fourth since December of 2018 when taxpayers approved a $27 million dollar referendum.

Taxpayers were also asked to approve a $17.5 million referendum in January of 2022 and a $13 million referendum in November of 2023. The newest referendum, scheduled for a January 2025 vote, is by far the largest referendum in recent years expecting to cost between $85-89.5 million.

The Board of Education (BOE) says the $85-89 million referendum is needed to accommodate 220 new schoolage children that will arrive from 1,100 new housing units that are scheduled to be built in Princeton over the next five years.

However, enrollment in Princeton Public Schools is shrinking due to aging populations and declining birthrates. PPS reported that a recent peak in enrollment occurred in 2019 with 3,855 students and has shrunk to 3,669 students, a net reduction of 186 students. PPS blames shrinking enrollment on the pandemic and conveniently overlooks shrinking births. According to the CDC, the general fertility rate in the Unites States decreased by 3 percent from 2022, reaching a historic low.

The estimated additional tax on the average assessed home of $848,037 is $551.70. This proposed tax increase is in addition to the tax increases for the three recent facilities referenda. Renters as well as homeowners will feel the brunt of these tax increases as landlords pass on tax increases to tenants by raising rents. Our most vulnerable residents will have to choose between the increasing costs of inflation in food and energy and rent and property taxes.

This misguided expansion plan of $85-89.5 million is harmful to students as higher operating costs result in fewer teachers and larger classroom sizes. More classrooms will be vacant as enrollment continues to shrink from record low birthrates and PPS struggles to afford teachers to teach.

The Board of Education also spends money needlessly by scheduling a special election in January of 2025 when voter turnout is expected to be low. This is wasteful and undemocratic. The BOE could have added this referendum question, inexpensively, to the November 5 General Election ballot, and could add this to the June 2025 New Jersey Primary Election ballot, to save money and maximize voter participation.

This Princeton BOE lost the confidence of the community after they fired an experienced and popular high school principal and then forced the superintendent to resign. It is now time for the community to scrutinize this large referendum to prevent additional errors in judgement.

TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.

Five new BOE candidates and one incumbent are presently running for three positions. I believe that it is very important that a new Board have an opportunity to understand why enrollment is declining before scheduling a taxpayer vote on a major new school expansion plan.

The BOE should, at a minimum, postpone the proposed $85-89 million referendum and add it onto the New Jersey Primary ballot in June of 2025.

DANIEL DART

Former BOE Member (2019-2021) Farrand Road

BOE Candidate Chris Santarpio Has Skillset To Help Princeton Public Schools Thrive

To the Editor:

I would like to introduce myself, Chris Santarpio, to the entire Princeton community as a Board of Education candidate. You may have seen my yellow lawn signs pop up around town recently. I chose the color yellow because to me this signifies positive energy, optimism, and sparking creativity. If elected, I will bring these qualities to the BOE.

My husband and I made Princeton our home in early 2020. We chose Princeton because of its vibrant and diverse community. I immediately became involved in the PTO as our son entered kindergarten at Community Park Elementary. I am now serving my second year as PTO Co-President. I have also regularly attended Board of Education meetings, committee meetings, and PTO Council (PTOC) meetings (the PTOC consists of the district administration and leadership from all of the school-level PTOs within PPS, meeting monthly throughout the year). By serving in the PTO and attending these meetings, I became aware of the challenges facing the BOE and realized I could bring my skillset to help PPS thrive.

My professional experience is in finance, operations, and supply chain management. I own a second-generation family business that is a distribution and service provider of industrial controls and material handling equipment serving the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. My skills, experience, and background are transferable to being a member of the PPS Board of Education and I believe I can make a meaningful impact for the benefit of students, staff, and taxpayers. As a BOE member, I will do the following:

Recognize the critical importance of managing budgets and making data-driven decisions to achieve operational excellence; I will ensure the data the district relies on for decision-making is accurate and reliable;

Emphasize the importance of optimization techniques, drawing on my business leadership and supply chain background, to ensure both efficient management and operations across PPS;

Perform a risk assessment of critical third-party providers (i.e., food services, aftercare, etc.) and establish a system to mitigate risks that could disrupt the Princeton Public Schools; I will further aim to establish a continuous cycle of communication, progress monitoring, and status updates between PPS and outsourced third-party providers, ensuring that expectations are mutually understood and consistently met;

Prioritize community and culture-building within the district, fostering and maintaining strong relationships, so that all students have excellent opportunities to thrive; and Create new ways to engage with the entire Princeton community, ensuring that our public schools are an important and positive part of our town’s culture.

Please keep an eye out for various BOE candidate forums

in the coming weeks. I look forward to sharing more about me as well as hearing from you regarding your hopes and aspirations for PPS. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about my background or about my candidacy, please visit ChrisSantarpio.com. Thank you very much and I look forward to connecting with many of you this fall!

CHRIS SANTARPIO Nassau Street

Ari Meisel is Running to Be Proactive, Engaged, Responsive Advocate for All PPS Students, Families

To the Editor:

Since I announced my candidacy for the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education over six weeks ago, I have had the privilege of meeting with dozens of community members, teachers, and administrators. Through these conversations, I have gained a deeper understanding of the diverse aspects of our district, and I am very excited to continue this journey.

My background is rooted in public service and community involvement. I have had the honor of serving as a volunteer EMT, providing critical support to our community during emergencies. Additionally, as the vice chair of the Princeton CARES committee, I have been actively involved in fostering a supportive environment for all residents, ensuring that the voices of our diverse community are heard and valued. In my professional life, I have focused on optimizing systems and improving efficiencies, skills that I believe are directly applicable to the challenges our school district faces today.

My platform is built on three core principles:

1. Transparency and Communication: It is crucial that the Board operates with the utmost transparency. I will advocate for clear communication between the Board, the schools, and the community, ensuring that all stakeholders are well-informed and engaged in the decision-making process.

2. Equitable Opportunities for All Students: Every child in Princeton deserves access to the highest quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. I will work to close the achievement gaps and ensure that all students, particularly those from underserved communities, receive the support they need to succeed.

3. Innovative and Practical Solutions: As a productivity expert, I have spent my career finding creative solutions to complex problems. I intend to bring this same approach to the Board, addressing issues such as resource allocation, curriculum development, and teacher support with innovative strategies that are both practical and sustainable. I am not just running to be a Board member; I am running to be a proactive, engaged, and responsive advocate for all our students and their families. I humbly ask for your support as we work together to create a brighter future for Princeton’s public schools.

For more information about my campaign and vision, please visit my website at ariforprinceton.com.

MEISEL Hamilton Avenue

Letters to the Editor Policy

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

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

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

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

When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there. Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.

ARI

Books

Muldoon Reads Poetry from New U.S. Edition of Book at Labyrinth

Labyrinth Books and Princeton Public Library present a book launch of Paul Muldoon’s U.S. edition of Joy in Service on Rue Tagore . Muldoon will read his poems while discussing his inspiration for this latest collection of his poetry on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m. at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.

The program is also cosponsored by Princeton University Humanities Council, the Department of English, and the Lewis Center for the Arts.

According to the publisher ( Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $27), “Since his 1973 debut, New Weather, Muldoon has created some of the most original and memorable poetry of the past half century. Joy in Service on Rue Tagore sees him writing with the same verve and distinction that have consistently won him the highest accolades.

“Here, from artichokes to zinc, Muldoon navigates an alphabet of image and history, through barleymen and Irish slavers to the last

running wolf in Ulster. The search involves the accumulated bric-a-brac of a life, and a reckoning along the way of gains against loss.

In the poet’s skillful hands, ancient maps are unfurled and brought into focus — the aggregation of Imperial Rome and the dismantling of Standard Oil, the pogroms of a Ukrainian ravine and of a Belfast shipyard. Through modern medicine and warfare, disaster and repair, these poems are electric in their energy, while profoundly humane in their line of inquiry.

Muldoon was born in County Armagh in 1951 and now lives in New York. A former radio and television producer for the BBC in Belfast, he has taught at Princeton University for 30 years. He is the author of more than a dozen previous collections of poetry, including Moy Sand and Gravel, for which he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize; Selected Poems 1968–2014 ; and, recently, Howdie-Skelp For more information, see labyrinthbooks.com.

Atelier@Large Discussion In Richardson Auditorium Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts presents “The Atelier@ Large: Conversations on Art-making in a Vexed Era,” a discussion between scholar, translator, and biographer David Bellos; songwriter Bridget Kearney, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founding member of the band Lake Street Dive; and novelist and journalist Dinaw Mengestu. The event, the first in the 20242025 Atelier@Large series, is on Tuesday, September 10, at 4:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium on Princeton’s campus. The event is free and open to the public, no tickets are required. For more information, visit arts. princeton.edu.

The discussion will be moderated by poet Paul Muldoon, Princeton’s Howard G.B. Clark ’21 University Professor in the Humanities and director of the Princeton Atelier. The series brings guest artists and intellectuals to campus for public discussions on the challenges they face in making art in the modern world.

“Being an artist is tough enough at the best of times,” said Muldoon, “but

it’s particularly difficult just now. Artists are coming under pressure from numerous orthodoxies to both left and right, as to what they must or must not do. Most insidious, perhaps, is the form of self-censorship that has artists second guessing themselves. In addition to honoring some of our finest minds, The Atelier@ Large series provides a rare enough forum in which some of these ideas may be aired.”

The Princeton Atelier was founded in 1994 by Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities, Emeritus, at Princeton University. The Atelier, celebrating its 30th year this season, brings together professional artists from different disciplines and Princeton students to create new work in the context of a semester-long course that culminates in the public presentation of that new work. This year’s series is cosponsored by Labyrinth Books, and recent books by some of the guests will be available for purchase.

The series will continue on October 8 with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker and opera composer Kamala Sankaram, and, on November 12, Muldoon will be joined by writer Jennifer Finney Boylan, composer/director/choreographer Meredith Monk, and Russian poet Maria Stepanova with translator Sasha Dugdale.

Richardson Auditorium is an accessible venue with assistive listening devices available. Guests in need of other access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week prior to the event date.

41 Leigh Avenue, Princeton www.tortugasmv.com

Library Presents Zoom Talk on “Literary Journeys” Illustrated Guide

Editor John McMurtrie will offer a presentation on his book, Literary Journeys , an illustrated guide to over 75 important journeys in world literature, via Zoom on Thursday, September 12 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. through the Princeton Public Library. Register for the link at princetonlibrary.libnet.info/event/11481955.

From Homer’s Odyssey , Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and Cervantes’s Don Quixote to Melville’s Moby-Dick, Kerouac’s On the Road, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah , some of the most powerful works of fiction center on a journey, according to the publisher (Princeton University Press, $29.95). “Extending to the ends of the earth and spanning from ancient Greece to today, Literary Journeys takes readers on a voyage of discovery through some of the most important journeys

in literature. In original essays, an international team of literary critics, scholars, and other writers explore exciting, dangerous, tragic, and uplifting journeys in more than 75 classic and popular works of fiction from around the world.”

Contributors include Robert McCrum, Susan Shillinglaw, Maya Jaggi, Robert Holden, Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Alan Taylor, Michael Bourne, Sarah Mesle, and more.

McMurtrie is an editor at McSweeney’s Publishing and former books editor at the San Francisco Chronicle. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Literary Hub.

The event is presented in partnership with Princeton University Press and with support from the National Endowment for the humanities.

Healthy Lunchbox

David Bellos

September Begins With Dragons, Delon, Baseball, and a Smile

However much my wife and I may disagree about other things, we’ve always been in accord about movies, whether it’s the late Alain Delon’s Once a Thief or HBO’s House of the Dragon

What made the Delon film worth watching was the chance to see him in an American movie from 1965 with stunning location shots of San Francisco from the period when I lived there and was enjoying the first act of a screwball comedy romance with my future wife and viewing partner.

When House of the Dragon debuted two years ago, we gave up after the first episodes. Recently we tried it again out of sheer desperation, found the second season somewhat better, and are now looking forward to the third, which Variety says will go into production in early 2025. As always, the real stars were the dragons. What was lacking besides the sheer fun of Game of Thrones were characters as wild and witty as Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister and as dashing and loveable as Masie Williams’s Arya Stark.

Ulf Meets Silverwing

It is true, however, that toward the end of Season 2, some serious fun arrived in the person of the self-proclaimed Targaryen bastard Ulf, played with pub-crawling, whimsical ambiance by Tom Bennett. This most unlikely dragon rider finds his moment of truth when he steps on a dragon’s egg, crushing it to slime, and instead of being fried to a crisp on the spot, has a meet-cute with a female dragon named Silverwing. Talk about screwball comedy romances. First she gives him a poke with her fearsome snout that lands him on his back looking wonderingly up at his monstrous fate. Ulf naturally assumes that he was born to be a dragon rider (“Silverwing’s a goer, she is. We’re afraid of nothing”), which is fine until he begins to throw his scruffy weight around, leading Queen Rhaenyra to remind him that “A knight will comport himself with grace at the queen’s table,” to which he says, “Best make me a knight then.”

In a recent interview on RadioTimes. com, Bennett calls Ulf “one of the only characters in the show who ever smiles, let alone laughs. Every time I’m on set, I tried to use that.” Asked about going from powerless to powerful, he says, “It’s huge.

Ulf is the bottom of the barrel; he’s Flea Bottom through and through. He’s poor folk and the oppressed. He’s the working class man under the thumb of the ruling classes and lived with that his entire life. Suddenly, he’s sitting on a nuclear warhead. The power shift is huge. Let’s see what he does with that.”

The Pirate Queen

Another promising new character is Sharako Lohar the pirate queen, who descends on the season 2 finale like the reincarnation of Ziggy Stardust. Played fiercely and funnily by Abigail Thorn, Lohar immediately initiates a competition with Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall, late of Oppenheimer ). These two seafarers take screwball comedy to another level as kick-boxing mud-pit gladiators. Can we look forward to a Westeros variation on Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby ? Probably not. Maybe just a crazy shipboard romance between the Master of Ships and the Pirate Queen. At the end of the battle, which at times evoked the deadly Deadwood match settled by a gouged-out eyeball, Lohar and Lannister emerge as two mud-caked creatures in a brave new world beyond gender, except that during a feast, when Lohar offers him the honor of impregnating her wives, Tyland nervously inquires, “How many wives?”

Always Delon Alain Delon (1935-2024), remembered by the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw as “mesmeric and beautiful” with his “eerie,

heartstopping, almost extraterrestrial gorgeousness,” would be wasted in Westeros. I doubt that many House of the Dragon viewers flash on The Crown’s Prince Philip when they see Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, but cast Delon in the part (or any part, even including Ulf) and they would see Delon, because Delon is always Delon whether he’s lowering himself into a den of thieves in Any Number Can Win , or dying in Ann-Margret’s arms in Once a Thief, or dealing death and dying as a Good Samaritan in Three Men to Kill, or literally losing his head after strangling the police inspector stalking him in Two Men In Town . Delon is harder to locate when playing a dandified Baron de Charlus in Swann in Love , his French translated in subtitles such as “Life is like an artist’s studio, full of half-finished sketches. We sacrifice everything to fantasies that vanish, one after another.” Sounds familiar. Like our streaming lives.

Toast!

Part of the fun of watching series TV and movies at home happens when a character is clearly done for, doomed, or about to be terminated, at which we shout, often in unison, “ Toast! ” This addictive expression, which online authorities date back to Bill Murray in Ghostbusters , could probably be found somewhere in Shakespeare. Another trope in our ongoing couch potato commentary first came into play when we were watching MI5 and it soon became obvious that the unsafest place to be was in a so-called “safe house.”

Speaking of Toast

Oh to be in Westeros now that September’s here and the St. Louis Cardinals are “toast.” At least, that’s the message the team’s owners are putting out. As August ended, my team for life was well south of the final Wild Card spot with 26 games left to play. We still have a mathematical chance, like about one percent, but to quote the Cardinal fan site Viva El Birdos, “this bird is all but cooked.” So the Cards are not only toast, they’re nearly put-afork-in-it cooked.

One way to fire up a team that’s still alive is to write them off, which the owners did around the time the Redbirds lost the first game of last weekend’s series with the New York Yankees. In the second game, the Cards beat the Yanks in the Bronx for the first time since the 1964 World Series. Last Sunday, on the same LG screen where the dragons danced and Delon romanced, I saw the Cardinals begin the fateful month of September by trouncing the Bronx Bombers 14-7 in the deciding third game. To watch the undaunted Cards pile on seven runs after New York had rallied to tie the game at 7 felt almost as good as seeing them win the 2011 World Series or put together the 17-game winning streak that took them to the playoffs in September 2021. Toast they may be, but like St. Louis native Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

SThe September Smile

omething my wife and I don’t have in common is her compulsion to donate to worthy causes; not saying that I don’t support the causes. All I know is I have a slew of complimentary calendars to choose from every year, and my pick for 2024 was the Amnesty International calendar with the smiling girl on the cover, who can also be found on the September page. Seeing that sweet and spirited smile, I’m filled with joyous, mindless hope. She’s from Bogota, Columbia, and she’s wearing a scarf around her neck that reads “Aborto Libre,” meaning “Free Abortion” during the International Women’s Day March. The photo is by Vanessa Jimenez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. The message is a reminder that much more than a playoff spot is at stake two months from this Tuesday.

—Stuart Mitchner

Performing Arts

Soprano Emily Newton to Appear At United Methodist in Pennington

The Pennington United Methodist Church continues its year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of Methodism in its community with a recital on September 14 at 3 p.m. by opera singer Emily Newton. The soprano is a close family friend of one of the church’s members, and gave a concert at the church in 2016.

Pianist Joshua Rupley, a colleague of Newton at the University of Augsburg, Germany, will accompany her. The event will benefit the church’s mission projects with a free will offering. A reception will follow the concert.

Newton grew up along the rural Texas coast. She studied jazz arranging and aspired to be a jazz singer. But professors at North Texas State University convinced her to sing opera after hearing her voice.

Newton sang a Mozart

operatic role with the New Jersey Opera Theater in Princeton several years ago. Since then, she has starred in continental Europe’s premiere of the opera Anna Nicole . She is a member of the Nuremberg State Theater, and has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Bayreuth Festival, Vienna State Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera New Jersey, and other companies. Newton teaches voice at the University of Augsburg, and has given workshops and master classes at Boston University, the University of Miami, Rice University, and elsewhere.

The church is located at 60 South Main Street in Pennington. For more information, visit pumcnj.com.

Garden Theatre Screens Children’s Film Festival

The Garden Theatre will bring the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) to Princeton on Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22. The short films of the festival expose young people to cinema from around the world. The festival debuted at the Garden last year as part of $5 Family Matinees.

The NYICFF was founded in 1997 and “is rooted in the belief of film as a path for young people to understand themselves and others,” according to its mission. Films

chosen for the festival span diverse genres, cultures, and geographies, with “the most beloved, audience favorite and award-winning films” selected to tour around the country at museums, libraries, and independent cinemas like the Garden. This year’s showcase features films such as Coquille from France, and Little Fan from Germany.

The Garden’s $5 Family Matinees are underwritten by jaZams, McCarter Theatre Center, Color Me Mine Princeton, and YWCA Princeton. Visit princetongardentheatre.org/films/nyicff for tickets and further information. Showtimes are 10 a.m. both days.

The Garden is located at 160 Nassau Street.

George Street Playhouse Announces Upcoming Shows

George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick has announced its roster of plays for the coming season. On the schedule are What the Constitution Means to Me, Gene and Gilda, Small, King James, and The Shark is Broken.

What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck opens the season September 24-October

13. The play delves into the relevance of the U.S. Constitution, and how in touch it is with today’s society. Next, from December 3-22 is Cary Gitter’s Gene and Gilda , which explores the love story of comedians Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. Robert Montano’s Small is about the misunderstood life of being a jockey, touching on family, racism, and addiction. The play runs January 14-18, 2025.

King James , by Rajiv Joseph, is a drama focused on two basketball fans’ friendship, drastic life changes, and the paths that could divide them. The play runs March 18-22. Closing the season April 29-May 3 is The Shark is Broken , by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. The play dives into the making of the iconic film Jaws , as through the eyes of its stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw (Ian Shaw is Robert Shaw’s son). The play is directed by David Saint.

All shows are in the Arthur Laurents Theater at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue. Visit georgestreetplayhouse.org for ticket information.

ROBERT BECK

Emily Newton

“I 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

“I 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.”

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 end-of-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.

families and loved ones.”

–DAVID R. BARILE, MD Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice

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

– DAVID R. BARILE, MD

Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice

Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal 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.

Call us today: (609) 883-6026

Or email us at info@greenwoodhouse.org

• 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

greenwoodhouse.org

Our Hospice Team consists of:

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.

• Hospice Medical Director, a board-certified hospice physician

@GreenwoodHouseNJ

*Greenwood House Hospice was established in memory of Renee Denmark Punia.

We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones. Hospice care is provided wherever

about living the fullest life possible according capabilities within a life-limiting condition. choices guide the care we provide. affirms quality of life. Our goal is to prevent pain, discomfort, anxiety and fear.

emotional and spiritual support to patients ones. Hospice care is provided wherever most comfortable or where they call families and caregivers prepare for endchallenges and find creative ways to

• Registered Nurses (RNs) monitoring pain, managing symptoms and guiding patient’s plan of care

House is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Princeton, Mercer, Bucks. *Greenwood House Hospice was established in memory of Renee Denmark Punia. Call us today: (609) 883-6026 Or email us at info@greenwoodhouse.org greenwoodhouse.org @GreenwoodHouseNJ

• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling

Greenwood House is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Princeton, Mercer, Bucks.

• Hospice Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) providing personal

• Bereavement Services offering guidance and education concerning anticipatory grief to families throughout care and bereavement

• Hospice Volunteers assisting with

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.

*Greenwood House Hospice was established in memory of Renee Denmark Punia.

Robert Beck Solo Show

At Morpeth Contemporary

“Here and Now,” an exclusive solo exhibition featuring the latest paintings by Robert Beck, will be on view September 14 to October 6 at Morpeth Contemporary, 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell. This event marks Beck’s first solo exhibition since his acclaimed retrospective at the Michener Art Museum. Receptions are on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 14, 1 to 3 p.m.

Beck, a pivotal figure and a leading voice in the Bucks County, Pa., art and cultural heritage, continues to explore the substance of contemporary life through his iconic and expressive oil paintings. His narrativedriven pieces, capturing unique but ever-present moments, have garnered Beck solo exhibits at three major museums.

“Here and Now” provides an intimate glimpse into Beck’s celebrated artistic journey, featuring a diverse range of studio images and works from life, capturing the overlooked but deeply significant, in images that resonate with authenticity and introspection.

Beck’s subject matter spans locales, from the Delaware Valley and New York City to the rugged maritime villages of upper Maine. “Here and Now” also showcases a selection from Beck’s latest focus on New York life, highlighting cultural snapshots of Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Notably, the exhibition includes the gallery debut of two significant works recently returned from museum exhibits: Thicket, which was selected for this year’s Woodmere Open, and December Scallops, featured in the American Society

of Marine Artists National Exhibition.

“I’m describing things of our time,” said Beck. “The images are based on our common experience. The paintings aren’t just me; they are us. In my work from life, I try to locate the heart of an encounter and describe what it’s like to be there. The studio paintings are freed from those confines and fed by imagination and experience. There is a bit of call-and-response to it, establishing a dialogue with the observer.”

“You know right away they are Robert’s paintings,” said gallery owner Ruth Morpeth, who first showed Beck in 1997. “They have always connected with people, and each exhibition reveals an expansion of depth and eloquence. The images are engaging and deftly painted. They mean something.”

Learn more about Beck at RobertBeck.net.

“GOD”: Stephanie Magdziak of Princeton is shown with her large-scale drawing that was named Best in Show at the Trenton City Museum’s “Ellarslie Open 41. The exhibition is on view through October 6, and a Juror’s Talk is on Saturday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m.

Gallery Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (609) 333-9393 or visit morpethcontemporary. com.

“Ellarslie Open 41” Juror Talk at Trenton City Museum

The juror of Trenton City Museum’s annual “Ellarslie Open,” Kimberly Camp, will give a Juror’s Talk about the 2024 show on Saturday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, located in historic Cadwalader Park.

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

Princeton University Chapel September 4 at 5:30pm

Join Ruth Cunningham, founding member of Anonymous 4 and Sound Healing practitioner, in this time of live music for meditation and introspection.

Refreshments will follow the talk and Q&A. Reserve for $25 or $20 for museum members at ellarslie.org/ eo41-jurors-talk.

After reviewing 550 entries in the categories of sculpture, painting, works on paper, photography, and digital art, Camp selected 110 pieces by 94 artists for the annual showcase. During her Juror’s Talk, Camp will discuss her process for jurying and for selecting award-winners. Camp awarded Best in Show to Stephanie Magdziak of

Princeton for her large-scale drawing GOD. The exhibiting artists, award winners, and online gallery can be viewed at ellarslie.org/eo41. The show is on view online and in the museum through October 6.

Camp’s paintings and dolls have appeared in over 100 solo and group exhibitions. The recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and a Kellogg National Leadership Program Fellowship, Camp also served as a museum president and CEO for 25 years and has taught at several colleges and universities, including Rutgers Camden, Lincoln, and Drexel universities. Cultural institutions she led include the Smithsonian Institution Experimental Gallery, of which she was a founding director (1989–1993); Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (president and CEO 1994–2004); and the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pa. (president and CEO 1998 to 2005). She founded and operates Galerie Marie, located in Collingswood, where people can see her work and that of over 200 international artists. She has been featured in Nouvel Objet, FiberArts , National Geographic World , the Village Voice and Smithsonian Camp received the 2020 ACC Award of Excellence: Craft Makes Us Human for her debut show with the organization, and the Gold Award/ Best of Show at the 51st Annual Peters Valley Craft Fair. Museum and museum store hours are Thursday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee, but donations in support of the museum’s mission and programs are welcomed. Learn more at ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.

“FIRST LIGHT”: This work is part of “Here and Now,” a solo exhibition featuring the latest paintings by Robert Beck, on view at Morpeth Contemporary in Hopwell September 14 through October 6. Beck will be part of the exhibition opening reception on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Kimberly Camp

“PEONIES, PANSIES, AND BADGER”: Janine Dunn Wade, whose work is shown here, has been named Honored Artist of the “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill,” on view September 21 to October 27 at the historic mill in New Hope, Pa.

Janine Dunn Wade Named Honored Artist at Juried Show Doylestown, Pa.-based artist Janine Dunn Wade has been named Honored Artist of the “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill.” She describes the honor as a “dream come true.” Wade has been a contributor to the art show for more than 30 years.

Born in New York City, Dunn Wade received her B.F.A. from Villanova University in 1981, and studied abroad in Paris, Italy, and Mexico. Her work has been widely exhibited, and she has received awards from Phillips’ Mill, the Coryell Gallery, and the American Impressionist Society, among others.

Relocating to Bucks County, Pa., in 1994 with her husband Tim and their family, she soon discovered the wealth of artistic opportunities available at the Mill. “Not only was I enthralled by the whole history of Phillips’ Mill, but the people were also so nice,” said Dunn Wade. She became an active member of the Mill along with Tim, who shares his talent with the drama program.

Dunn Wade describes painting as a dialogue with an ebb and flow. “In paint, the human spirit can soar, emotionally, visually, and in the inherent wholeness of being,” she said. “I work to connect with a specific moment in space and time.”

Known for her still life paintings in pastels and oils, Dunn Wade is represented by the Patricia Hutton Galleries in Doylestown.

The Honored Artist designation is determined each year by considering a living artist who has exhibited in the “Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill” over a substantial

number of years and is familiar to the Art Committee. Art Committee members are invited to submit nominations early in the planning of each annual show. Voting is confidential and only the artist selected is made public. In addition to her awardwinning work, Dunn Wade has long served on the Art Committee, chairing the art show in 2010.

Viewers can see Dunn Wade’s work at the “95 th Juried Art Show,” which runs September 21 to October 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. daily at the historic Mill as well as online. She will be recognized at the opening night Patrons Preview of the show on Friday, September 20. To learn more, visit phillipsmill. org/art/juried-art-show

Phillips’ Mill Community Association is located at 2619 River Road, just north of New Hope, Pa. For more information, call (215) 8620582 or visit phillipsmill.org.

Zimmerli Art Museum Announces Fall Programs

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University–New Brunswick has announced its schedule of free public programs for the fall of 2024, as well as new member experiences. Such favorites as SparkNight, Último Domingo, Art Together, Study Break, and artist talks return, with the addition of monthly highlight tours. Events take place at the Zimmerli, 71 Hamilton Street New Brunswick, unless otherwise noted. For complete details and updates, visit zimmerli.rutgers. edu/events.

The season kicks off with the Fall Opening Reception on Saturday, September 14 from 4 to 7 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Guests can meet Amanda

who select works from rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection.

Último Domingo (Last Sunday), the popular bilingual series that launched earlier this year, continues with various campus and community collaborations throughout the fall. On September 29 the museum celebrates Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, with Rutgers’ Center of Latino Arts and Culture (CLAC), Latino Student Council (LSC), and Latino Alumni Association (LAARU). On October 27, a Celebration of Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) welcomes back CLAC, LSC and LAARU, joined by State Theatre New Jersey. The final fall installation, Latinx Identities in the United States: Community Building, takes place on November 24, with CLAC, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, and RU, Indigenous.

The Zimmerli invites families to get creative at Art Together, the museum’s free drop-in workshops, which return on select Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. The series allows children of all ages to work on thematic projects with adult family members or guardians. Each month spotlights different exhibitions: “Smoke & Mirrors” and “Boundless: Picture Books About Disabilities” (October 13); “Crossing Borders and Painting to Scale” (November 10); and “Prints for Pennies: Jose Guadalupe Posada and Popular Prints” (December 8).

Cultural Arts Commission offer judgment-free zones for learning and sharing ideas. This fall, artists and artisans are encouraged to submit their work or apply for these opportunities at West Windsor Arts: Off the Wall Juried Holiday Market — rolling deadline. The Off the Wall Holiday Market for artisans and crafters will be on display at the art center and online from November 16 through December 23. West Windsor Arts is seeking original, handmade whimsical or functional objects created by makers. This event includes a variety of shopping opportunities, from open gallery hours to donor events to private appointments. Learn more and apply at westwindsorarts.org.

Off the Wall Juried Art Show — deadline September 24. The Off the Wall Juried Art Show, featuring affordable artwork, will be on display in the gallery and lobby of the arts center starting on November 6 and continuing during the Holiday Market (November 16 through December 23). West Windsor Arts is seeking original artwork and sculpture for this exhibition. Buyers will have ample opportunities to view and purchase artwork at the arts center and online. Learn more and apply at westwindsorarts.org.

open 24/7 through September 15. princetoneinstein museum.org.

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

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Visions” September 6 through September 27. Cranburyartscouncil.org.

Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has an art show by the MUGA Group through December 31. Greenbuildingcenter.com.

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

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory. org

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

Cachia, guest curator for this fall’s major exhibition, “Smoke & Mirrors.”

Cachia selected 14 contemporary artists with disabilities from across the globe who conceptualize access through humor, antagonism, transparency, and invisibility. She developed this unprecedented exhibition to showcase work by artists who are underrepresented in museums, while also encouraging visitors with disabilities and their allies to become active participants in telling their own stories.

In addition to the opening, the museum is offering a series of free public programs related to the exhibition including SparkNight: Celebrating Disability Awareness Month on Thursday, October 10; Art Together: Celebrating Differences on Sunday, October 13; and a virtual roundtable on Tuesday, November 5 moderated by Cachia and featuring artists from the exhibition: Carmen Papalia, Syrus Marcus Ware, Liza Sylvestre, and Vanessa Dion Fletcher.

On Thursday, November 21, JJJJJerome Ellis presents a multimedia lectureperformance based on their latest project “Aster of Ceremonies” and videos featured in the exhibition, and Friday, December 13 brings the virtual launch for Cachia’s first book, The Agency of Access: Contemporary Disability Art and Institutional Critique , available this fall from Temple University Press.

Visitors are invited to a new series of free Highlights Tours on select Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m. The public is welcome to drop in on September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21 to join a tour led by the museum’s student educators,

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers is located at 71 Hamilton Street in New Brunswick. For more information, visit zimmerli. rutgers.edu.

Fall Calls for Art: West Windsor Arts

West Windsor Arts has announced a schedule of exhibitions for the upcoming year, including its popular Off the Wall Juried Art Show, which is on display each year during their Holiday Market of unique items. These sister shows feature works of original art and handmade items for sale by local artists and artisans, just in time for the holiday season.

“Last year, a sizable number of artists sold their work during the Holiday Market and Art Show. We encourage artists who are looking not only to sell their work in a consignment-style format, but also to be part of a thriving network of artists and art enthusiasts to keep an eye on our upcoming event. We also host community-driven performances throughout the year, and sponsor an artist in residence once a year,” said Aylin Green, executive director of West Windsor Arts.

“West Windsor Arts is committed to offering a variety of opportunities for artists of all types to display their works, and their talents, throughout the year,” added Green. “We have built an active community of local artists who have been able to elevate their careers while also enhancing the quality of our programming.”

In addition, West Windsor Arts provides networking and collaborative opportunities, as well as discounts on classes and workshops, to its artist members. Monthly artist meetups in collaboration with the Hightstown

Artist in Residence Program — Deadline October 1. For the second year, West Windsor Arts is offering an Artist in Residence Program to enable a local artist to become immersed in a nonprofit arts organization through presentation, teaching, curating and a gallery exhibition. The selected artist will have the ability to share their work with West Windsor Arts’ passionate audience and to participate in a meaningful exchange of ideas, knowledge, and experience. Learn more and apply at westwindsorarts.org.

Area Exhibits

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

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Progressions” September 5 through October 6. An opening reception is on September 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. 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 “Intersecting Identities” through September 28. An opening reception is on Saturday, September 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. Artscouncilof princeton.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,”

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 Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French” through January 5. Michenerartmuseum.org

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

New Hope Arts, 2 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, Pa., has “Raise the Roof: Contemporary Barnscapes” through October 6. Newhopearts.org.

New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts, 2594 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “Timeless Art” through September 8. Newhope colony.org.

Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, has “Pastel Perspectives: An Exploration of the Sourlands Mountain Region, open to the public on Fridays September 6 through October 4. An opening reception is on September 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 13 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 20. Hours are 12 to 5 p.m. on Fridays thereafter. Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has “The Rural Painter” through October 1. Works by Aiden Pesnell and Samantha Renda are at the 254 Nassau Street location through October 1. Smallworldcoffee.com. Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Ellarslie Open 41” through October 6. 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.

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

Wednesday, September 4

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Princeton University Farmers’ Market, Firestone Library/ Chapel Plaza. Fresh, locally grown produce and other goods from area businesses using sustainable practices. Pumarket@ princeton.edu

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

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.

10 a.m .: Meeting of the 55-Plus Club of Princeton at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street. “The Democracy Effects of a

Polarized Legal Profession.”

Discussion led by Deborah Pearlstein, director of the Princeton Program in Law and Public Policy and visiting professor at Princeton University.

11 a.m .: Meet Princeton Community Housing, in the lobby of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Connect with representatives and learn the history and mission of the organization that provides safe and affordable housing in the Princeton area. Princetonlibrary.org.

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.

Saturday, September 7

7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Sourland Spectacular, bike ride to raise funds for the Sourland Conservancy. Four routes for riders of all ages and fitness levels, starting at the Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Register at sourland spectacular.com.

8 a.m.-2 p.m.: Annual Flea Market at Yardley Friends Meeting, 65 North Main Street, Yardley, Pa. Antiques, crafts, books, housewares, and white elephant sale. Music, homemade lunch and desserts. Bring a non-perishable food item for Mercer Street Friends food pantry. Rain date is Saturday, September 14.

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 .: 46th annual Cranbury Day 2024, Cranbury North Main Street. Live music, food, vendors, puppy parade, petting zoo, massages, and more.

11 a.m.-3 p.m .: eCommuter Fest, presented by Sustainable Princeton at Princeton Shopping Center. Second-hand fashion show on bikes, Trenton Circus Squad performance, NJ Bike Walk Coalition Street Savvy Cycling sessions, raffle prize drawings. Free. Sustainableprinceton.org.

11 a.m.-2 p.m .: Mercer County Master Gardeners Insect Fest, at 431A Federal City Road, Hopewell Township. Educational activities for all ages led by Master Gardeners of Mercer County. Mgofmc.org.

Sunday, September 8

1 p.m.: Author Anastasia Rubis discusses her novel Oriana: A Novel of Oriana Fallaci with Laurie Albanese, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

4 p.m.: Concert by The Rebound at Hinds Plaza. Classic rock songs from a wide range of bands and eras. Princetonlibrary.org.

6 p.m .: Oppenheimer Walking Tour, sponsored by the Historical Society of Princeton. Inspired by the movie Oppenheimer, including locations where it was filmed. Princetonhistory.org.

Monday, September 9 Recycling

Tuesday, September 10 9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick: Tractors, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Kids from preschool to age 8 hear a story and take a tractor-drawn wagon ride. $12. Terhuneorchards. com/read-pick-program.

SEPTEMBER

4:30 p.m.: Atelier@Large: Conversations on Art-making in a Vexed Era, at Richardson Auditorium. David Bellos, Bridget Kearney and Dinaw Mengestu, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

7 p.m .: Songwriters Circle and Open Mic, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. The Princeton chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association provides feedback and tips to help songwriters improve; also open mic. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m .: The Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton meets at Peyton Hall, Princeton University, and on Zoom. Professor Neta Bahcall presents “Lighting Up the Dark: Where is the Dark Matter?” Princetonastronomers.org.

Wednesday, September 11 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Princeton University Farmers’ Market, Firestone Library/ Chapel Plaza. Fresh, locally grown produce and other goods from area businesses using sustainable practices. Pumarket@princeton.edu

1-2:30 p.m .: Leighton Listens. Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public at The Meetinghouse, 277 Witherspoon Street. All are welcome.

6 p.m.: Poet Paul Muldoon reads from his book Joy in Service on Rue Tagore , at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Princeton library.org

7-8:30 p.m. Sustainable Princeton presents “15-Minute Neighborhoods” at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, and livestreamed on YouTube. Planner Jon A. Carnegie and policy analyst Alex Ambrose will discuss this concept and how it could make Princeton more convenient and sustainable. Princeton library.org.

8-10:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers present a contra dance at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street. Deanna Palumbo with Flying Circus. $15 ($5-$15 for students and limited income). Princeton countrydancers.org.

Thursday, September 12

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.

6:30-8 p.m .: Poetry Reading and Open Mic at Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Featuring local poets Marie Gray Wise and Lois Marie Harrod. Register at mcl.org.

7:30 p.m .: Editor John McMurtrie presents “Literary Journeys,” an illustrated guide to more than 75 journeys in world literature, via Zoom. Register via princeton publiclibrary.org.

Friday, September 13

4 p.m.: Cultural Exchange Night on Hinds Plaza. Learn about different traditions and connect with neighbors at this event featuring cultural displays, music, art, crafts, and dance performances. Princeton library.org.

7 p.m .: Dancing Under the Stars at Hinds Plaza. Members of Central Jersey Dance demonstrate basic steps and lead an evening of dancing to recorded music of all kinds. Princeton library.org.

8 p.m .: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico performs at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39-$229. Stnj.org.

Saturday, September 14

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

9 a.m.-3 p.m .: New Jersey State Button Society Fall Show and Competition, Union Fire Company, 1396 River Road (Route 29), Titusville. Free. Newjersey buttonsociety.com.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Fall Family Fun Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, go on pony rides, play with tractors, games, mazes, barnyard, and much more. Food and live music by Catmoondaddy. $18 in advance; $22 day of the event. Terhuneorchards.com.

12-2 p.m .: Summer Music Series on the Green at Palmer Square. Palmersquare.com.

3-10:30 p.m . Princeton Country Dancers present contra and English dances at Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street. Anna Rain with Joyful Noise. $15 ($5-$15 students and limited income). Princeton countrydancers.org.

7 p.m .: Full Moon Bike Ride sponsored by Lawrence Hopewell Trail, in Mercer Meadows. Meet at Rosedale Lake off Federal City Road in Pennington. For kids and adults, 6-mile ride, lots of activities, music, and more. Riders must be 12 and older. Visit lhtrail.org.

8 p.m .: The Princeton Symphony Orchestra performs at Richardson Auditorium. Rossen Milanov conducts; Aubree Oliverson is violin soloist. Works by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and Gemma Peacocke. Princetonsymphony.org.

Tell them you

S ports

Bolstered by the Return of U.S. Olympian Yeager, PU Field Hockey Primed to Get Back on Winning Track

The Princeton University field hockey team has Beth Yeager back.

That fact alone gives the Tigers confidence that they can improve on last year, but Princeton has a lot more to be excited about than the return of Yeager, who played for the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It’s very helpful to have her experience and her leadership,” said Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente. “She specifically has a specialty skill on penalty corners. That’s a lot of goals not in that lineup last year and a lot of playmaking missed. I don’t think we’re by any means a one-person show. We’re the probably the most balanced we’ve been in a long, long time, but having her back is definitely super helpful.”

Junior star Yeager was one of nine new faces when Princeton kicked off its preseason practices two weeks ago, though she and senior Grace Schulze, the Tigers’ leading returning scorer in 2023 (6 goals, 12 assists in 2022) who played only the opening weekend last year before going down with a season-ending injury, are hardly entirely new to the Tigers. There are also seven new freshmen, of which three could be starting and most of the class is expected to contribute and add much needed depth after an 8-9 season in 2023.

“We’re a lot deeper than we were last year and a lot more talented as well in terms of the depth through the line so it’s been fun,” said Tagliente. “Training has been super competitive, and it’s just been good to be back at it.”

Princeton jumps right into a schedule that matches up with anyone in the country for its difficulty. The Tigers will play at Louisville on September 6 and remain there to face North Carolina on September 8. The Tigers will play six of their first seven games on the road.

“Sometimes your team loves being on the road, sometimes they don’t,” said Tagliente. “We’ll find out real quick here, but I think we actually were a bit better on the road than we were at home last year. I love being on the road the opening weekend. You get off campus. It’s a long weekend together. I think there’s a bit of team bonding. I’d rather travel early than travel in October. If we’re traveling in October, it’s usually more stressful for the girls with midterms. So I don’t mind it too much.”

The first games will provide an early test of the retooled Tigers. Princeton was outscored by teams for the season last year. The Tigers didn’t have a player with more than four goals on the season. Yeager and Schulze provide a lot of firepower themselves, and there is now a group of Tiger players that are more experienced plus an influx of new talent.

“I think offensively we’re pretty good,” said Tagliente. “I think my concern is we’ve

got to lock down defensively and be very stingy and defend very well. Attack is fun. It makes highlight reels, but we’re still growing into the defending part a little bit so that part is always a bit of a concern because for me that’s where it needs to be a strength because we’re so athletic and we can transition so quickly. We’ve got to be able to create pressure, win the ball and attack in that manner. How we grow into that is critical. We need kids coming in and contributing right away when they come into the game. I don’t think we ever got there last year.”

Tagliente is confident that the depth of this year’s team can make a big difference. Princeton could not go deep enough without falling off in ability last year. The Tigers want to sustain an up-tempo pace and level of play regardless of who is on the field, and to be at their best, they will have to give even their top players breaks.

“This isn’t like soccer where you’re going to play a full match,” explained Tagliente. “In order to play the tempo you want to play you have to rotate off. Forwards are rotating off in three- and four-minute bursts. Midfield, anywhere from six to seven to eight minutes. Backs, you’re probably rotating one back in for one to two minutes depending on how many you’re playing with. We finally have that. It’s just now making sure when we rotate there’s not a drop off, and the quality continues and the connections continue.”

Making those connections up the field will give the offense more scoring chances. And with Yeager’s return along with Schulze the Princeton offense is more capable of finishing those opportunities.

“Beth’s got a great flick, but we’ve got two other kids that have great corner skills,” said Tagliente of Yeager, who totaled 29 goals and 15 assists in her first two seasons with the Tigers. “So I think the balance there is great because teams can’t focus just on her. We can also set up stuff where there’s so much focus on her that it opens up opportunities for others with counters and we can make different calls. I think the best thing about this team is just the balance that we’re going to have across the board.”

The freshmen class bolsters the Tigers’ depth immediately. Three are from England and four from the United States.

“They will see a handful making a big impact right away and I think the sky’s the limit,” said Tagliente. “We could have potentially three starting out of that group, which is kind of crazy considering we are returning quite a bit. Probably the most ready to go right now are Anna Faulstich and Clem Houlden. They will definitely be locking in spots and then Lilly Wojcik probably as well.”

Pru Lindsey, Molly Nye, Izzy Morgan, and Libby

Smith round out the firstyear class. Lindsey is coming back from recent injuries that have kept her out of action, Morgan figures to play half the game and Nye has had days where she looks like a starter at times. Smith is a goalie, a tough spot to make an impact this year behind the established senior Robyn Thompson (1.78 goals against average, 89 saves in 2023), but the future is hers.

“Of the six field players, they’re all impactful players,” said Tagliente. “Our upside really is dependent on how quickly they can be game-ready. But it’s exciting because I think where we were very thin in the midfield, even in the back where we need a bit more of a deeper rotation to play the pace we want to play — we didn’t have it last year — and do now, and now the hard part is just trying to figure out the best rotations.”

Thompson, Schulze, Gracie McGowan, Aimee Jungfer, Clare Brennan (1 assist in 2023), and Lily Webb (1 goal) are all seniors. The junior class features Yeager, but also has Helena Gro ss e (1 assist) and talented local product Talia Schenck (3 goals, 1 assist), who played for Lawrence High School, and a much improved Ava Dempsey (1 goal, 2 assists), who trained with the Wales national team.

“Talia really was peaking towards the end of last season and she’s kind of picked up where she left off,” said Tagliente. “Not that last year she didn’t have a good year, but I think it took her time to get going. I really think this is like a breakout year for her. She’s very dynamic player. She had a good summer training .”

Ottilie Sykes, who led Princeton in points last year with four goals and three assists, and Ella Cashman (3 goals) come off standout freshman years for the sophomore class. The returning players come back all understanding the system and style that Princeton wants to play, and that has helped them start ahead of prior years. The staff has been left with just sorting out how to combine their pieces for the best results.

“There’s a lot of talent there,” said Tagliente. “And then complementing it with the freshmen coming in, and adding their talents, it’s going to be fun.”

Princeton also has a new assistant on staff. Pat Harris is a former United States men’s national team coach and coach and player in Europe.

“He’s got great insight into the game,” said Tagliente. “I think right now one of his biggest impacts is just technically, him and his feedback to players and helping them develop little skills and honing and find certain skills. It’s been very, very helpful. He’s got a wealth of knowledge and experience. I think he’s going to be very helpful in the short term and the long run.”

Princeton got a sneak

ENGAGEMENT: Princeton University field

Louisville on

peek at some of its possible combinations in a scrimmage against Monmouth last week. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead and won 3-2, an encouraging sign against a team that had more practices in than them.

“They’re a good side. It was good for us to play against them because it’s not a team we can steamroll and get away with doing things that aren’t going to work,” said Tagliente. “We have to play good hockey. We were comfortably up 3-0 in that and then we let in two. I subbed pretty liberally so I’m not too concerned. If that was regular season, they also probably would make changes, but I think that’s a game that we would have comfortably won, which is I think a good marker. I think last year that game would have been a tight one-goal game for us, whereas this year games like that I think we’re three goals better. I just think our offensive firepower is way more beyond what it’s been.”

When the real games begin this weekend, the Tigers will get a tougher test against a pair of teams that already have played. Both Louisville (No. 7) and UNC (No. 2) were preseason top-seven picks by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

“The opening weekend, they’re two very different teams,” said Tagliente , whose team is ranked No. 15 in the NFHCA poll. “Louisville is a very defensive minded team. They have been the last few years, and watching them against Maryland they are again. They play for their limited opportunities and they try to be highly, highly efficient with those. UNC is more of an offensive powerhouse. They’ve got a lot of dynamic players. They play a very attacking style — I think there’s others that would rate higher for me, but they’re very seasoned. They’ve got a lot of experience returning.”

The two contrasting styles are important for the Tigers to see now. Princeton will run into a myriad of different strengths in the Ivy League season and their non-conference schedule.

“It’s two very different

looks,” said Tagliente. “I think the Louisville game, we really need to break them early because they just bleed you dry in terms of how they just defend, defend, defend, and in some ways those games are harder for us compared to teams like UNC where we get to open things up with them and we both have great athletes and play with a lot of speed. So that game could be an offensive shootout.”

Princeton also has such powers as Northwestern, Maryland, Syracuse, Penn State, and Rutgers on the non-conference schedule.

“Our non-conference schedule is what we need it to be in order to prepare us to be where we want to be,” said Tagliente. “It sets us up for an at-large bid should we not win Ivy, so that we’re comfortably in either way.”

Princeton reached the Ivy League Tournament final last year before falling 2-1 to Harvard. Harvard again will be

good, but Tagliente also sees Yale coming back with a lot of talent, Penn with the ability to compete with anyone, Dartmouth vastly improved, and Brown with some very new talent, Cornell is positioned to improve if they can replace their top scorer and Columbia could surprise. The net effect is a league that’s more competitive than ever, according to Tagliente.

“Across the league you’re just seeing an influx of better and better players, better international players, and it’s just getting more competitive,” said Tagliente. “I don’t think there’s really a game you can really overlook, whereas it used to be this will be a game but we’re going to get through it comfortably type of mentality.” Princeton is looking forward to starting its season and seeing how its improved balance and depth help the Tigers match their high expectations

—Justin Feil

RETURN

hockey star Beth Yeager, center, bolts through two foes in a 2021 game. Yeager, who took a hiatus from Princeton for the 2023-24 school year to play for the U.S. national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is back with the Tigers for her junior campaign. Princeton starts its 2024 season by heading to Louisville, Ky.,this weekend to face

September 6 and North Carolina on September 8.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Roundup

Princeton Men’s Soccer Falls to Rutgers in Opener

Giuliano Fravolini

Whitchurch scored the lone goal for the Princeton University men’s soccer team as it fell 3-1 at Rutgers last Friday in its season opener.

Princeton hosts New Hampshire on September 6 before playing at St. John’s on September 10.

Tiger Women’s Rugby Loses to Sacred Heart

Making history last Saturday by playing the first game at its new Rickerson Field at Haaga House, the Princeton University women’s rugby team ran into a buzz-saw as it fell 67-0 to visiting Sacred Heart.

The Tigers generated several attacking opportunities but couldn’t get through a tough Sacred Heart side which made the semis in the 2023 National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Division I championships.

Princeton is next in action when it plays at Dartmouth on September 14.

Former Lacrosse Star Donovan Makes U.S. Box National Team

Former Princeton University women’s lacrosse star, Marge Donovan ’22, has been named to the U.S. Women’s Box National Team.

Donovan was one of 23 players selected to represent the U.S. at the World Lacrosse Box Championships from September 2029 in Utica, N.Y. The U.S.

will be one of 10 nations competing in the women’s championship, the first time World Lacrosse has hosted a women’s box world championship.

At Princeton, Donovan, a 5’10 native of Catonsville, Md., set program records for draw controls in a career (214), draw controls in a season (112), and draw controls in a game (12, vs. Yale on May 8, 2022).

In 2022 she was a secondteam Inside Lacrosse AllAmerican, a second-team USA Lacrosse All-American, a third-team Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association (IWLCA) All-American, a first-team IWLCA AllRegion selection the Ivy League Defender of the Year and the Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

In addition, Donovan collected All-Ivy honors three times in her career and was named to the Inside Lacrosse All-Rookie Team in 2018.

Princeton Women’s Hockey Adds Wenczkowski to Staff Boasting both professional and national program experience, Taylor Wenczkowski has joined the Princeton University women’s ice hockey staff as an assistant coach.

Wenczkowski spent the 2023-24 season playing for Boston in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in the league’s inaugural season. Prior to the PWHL, she played three years in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Boston Pride, winning back-to-back Isobel Cups as the league champion in 2021 and 2022. Wenczkowski scored

the game-winning goal in both championship games and earned MVP honors in 2022.

In 2021, Wenczkowski launched TW Hockey Academy to focus on player development in the Greater Boston area with a vision to teach, challenge, and develop the next generation of elite hockey players by creating a highly skilled and challenging performance development program of high-speed game-specific skills and situations.

Wenczkowski played collegiately at New Hampshire, serving as team captain her senior season. In 2019, she was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and was a member of the Hockey East All-Star Team.

Prior to college, Wenczkowski played in the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) for the Boston Shamrocks for three seasons. She was also a member of the USA U18 Select Team in 2013 and 2014.

“I am honored to join the Princeton staff and coach at such a prestigious university,” said Wenczkowski, reflecting on joining the Tiger staff. “The combination of academics and elite athletics set the University apart. I am excited to work alongside Cara [Morey] and Jamie [Lundmark] with our team of elite and high-caliber women and to compete for championships. I look forward to sharing my passion to the next generation.”

Princeton head coach Morey, for her part, sees Wenczkowski as a key addition to the program.

“We are so excited to have

Taylor join our staff at Princeton,” said Morey. “She has played hockey at the highest level professionally and can bring perspective to our players who also aspire to play in the PWHL one day. Taylor has a great understanding of the game and has already had a successful career in player development. We are grateful she chose Princeton to begin her college coaching career and we are confident Taylor will continue to elevate our program into the national spotlight.”

Town Topics

NABBING A WIN: Princeton University women’s soccer player Heather McNab boots the ball last Thursday night against Seton Hall. Senior forward McNab scored a goal to help Princeton defeat the Pirates 3-1.

Wojtowicz)

Carusone Displays Versatility on Both Sides of the Ball As

PHS Football Loses 29-21 at Lawrence in Opener

Carmine Carusone was not going to be denied.

With the Princeton High football team trailing Lawrence 9-0 in the second quarter last Friday night in the season opener for both teams, Tiger junior running back Carusone caught a pass near the Cardinal 20yard line and raced down the sideline, breaking several tackles before he dove in for a touchdown

“I caught the ball and I turned around, I saw a couple of blocks and then I saw a couple of red shirts and then I saw the end zone and I am like, ‘all right, I have got to get there,’” said Carusone. “I saw the finish line and I reached out. I hit one juke move and a couple of guys came on my legs and I just kept driving my legs and tried to get to the end zone.”

With PHS trailing 16-14 at halftime, the Tigers focused on having greater attention to detail after the break.

“We went into the locker room at halftime and we brought in all of the main guys, that ones that play offense and defense,” said Carusone. “We just talked about the little things that we needed to change, like being in the spots that we need to be because they kept running the ball on us. We tried to change our personnel a little bit and make some plays.”

Late in the third quarter, Carusone made another big play, bulling for a one-yard TD plunge as the Tigers trimmed the Lawrence lead to 23-21.

“That was a big touchdown,” said Carusone. “I saw the linebacker come down and I was like alright we are hitting each other but I am getting in the end zone. There is no stopping.”

PHS, though, never got closer as the Cardinals tacked on a TD late in the third and held on for a 2921 victory.

“We definitely gave a lot of our energy,” said Carusone, reflecting on the setback. “We had a couple of guys knocked down but everyone that was in gave their best with 100 percent. That is what we are going to need this whole season.”

Carusone showed plenty of energy on defense, making a team-high 13 tackles and forcing a fumble by Lawrence running back James Lyons late in the fourth quarter.

“Usually I play corner and I told coach move me into linebacker because they kept running it,” said Carusone. “I see that gap and I could tell throughout the game which way the ball was going to run. I saw the gap and blitzed right through it. On the fumble, he (Lyons) didn’t get the ball completely yet. I was able to get in there and get him to fumble the ball.

Big Rich [Jean-Pierre] got on the ball.”

Making his first start at running back, Carusone was excited to get the ball as he had nine carries in gaining 44 yards.

“It was great, it felt good to be on the offensive side of the things and try to put on a couple of moves and hit some kids,” said Carusone.

Making the move to football last year after having played soccer for years has turned out to be a great decision for Carusone.

“It was a big change; I really enjoyed soccer throughout my life but it just got to the point where I didn’t enjoy it enough,” said Carusone, who uses his soccer skills to handle the kicking duties for PHS and converted all three extra point attempts against Lawrence.

“I came to football and I was like holy cow, I missed out on this my whole life.”

With one football season under his belt, Carusone was determined to build on the progress he made in his debut campaign on the gridiron.

“I took in what I did last year and I said I need to improve,” said Carusone.

“I worked hard in the offseason. I went to camps, I worked out. I did a lot of things in the offseason to prepare for this moment and the following moments coming up.”

PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher appreciates all of the things that Carusone is doing for the Tigers.

“Carmine is just one of a kind, he is at running back and corner,” said Gallagher. “Somewhere along the line he is at corner and then the next thing you know he is at linebacker. At the very end, I said why is he back at corner, he is our best linebacker. He is a fearless player. You know why he is a great guy, he will do anything for you. He is kicking and doing whatever else.”

Gallagher liked the way his team played without fear collectively against Lawrence.

“It was resilience, the kids battled adversity,” said Gallagher. “You are down, we score and they score. We are missing some guys, it is tough, guys like Truman Arshan and Andrew Foreman

really stepped up. Julian Frevert and Brady Collier were in there at linebacker making plays.”

Senior quarterback Travis Petrone and junior running back Andrew Foreman made some big plays. Petrone completed 11-of-22 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown while Foreman rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown on seven carries

“Travis did a great job of moving the ball around and getting the ball to different receivers,” said Gallagher. “We play him on defense too because he is our best option at corner. He made some really nice big hits. Andrew had a great game also, he had some really big runs.”

Having been hit by injuries in the preseason, the Tigers had to modify their offensive approach.

“We have to get a little more diverse in our play calling,” said Gallagher. “It was the first game. We were scrimmaging and playing a certain offense and the next thing you know some players were not going to be able to be there so we tweaked the offense a little bit. We got 21 on the board, which is a good start but unfortunately 21 didn’t get us the win.”

Gallagher credited Lawrence with outplaying PHS in the trenches as Lyons rushed for 291 yards and two TDs.

“They were a little bigger up front, Rob Radice does a good job coaching, “ said Gallagher. “They got us up the middle a little bit. That is what happens when you are getting linebackers in there, getting some of their first reps. We had a great offseason, we were in the weight room and did a phenomenal job. We got some bad breaks. With some good luck, we will get some players back and get some more points on the board. We will coach them up.”

While the result in the opener was disappointing,

Gallagher believes his squad will keep battling as it returns to action by hosting Allentown on September 7.

“I just love the overall effort that the guys gave,” said Gallagher. “You don’t know what you have in the first game. You don’t know what is in store, you don’t know what they have. You are

watching a couple of scrimmages, you don’t know who is playing. I think we have some of the best linebackers but guess what, they are not playing any more with injury. That was our strength, having said that, who knows what happens next week.”

Carusone, for his part, is confident that the Tigers will

keep giving a strong effort.

“I think the energy that we had, knowing that we had guys down and we kept fighting was something that we need to keep,” said Carusone. “Even if we are down a touchdown, we just need to keep moving forward and keep going.”

— Bill Alden

MULTI-TASKING: Princeton High running back Carmine Carusone turns the corner last Friday night against Lawrence High. Junior standout Carusone rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown, made three catches for 49 yards and a TD, kicked three extra points, and made a teamhigh 13 tackles but it wasn’t enough as PHS fell 29-21 to the Cardinals in the season opener for both teams. The Tigers host Allentown on September 7.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming off a historic 2023 campaign that saw it go 22-2 on the way to winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state title, the Princeton High boys’ soccer team knows that it has a big target on its back this fall.

Despite losing nine seniors to graduation from last year’s squad and with two other stars not coming back this year to play academy instead, PHS head coach Ryan Walsh believes his players won’t be fazed by wearing that bull’s eye.

“The guys know that every team is going to bring their best against us but they are really excited,” said Walsh, who is in his second year at the helm of the program. “These guys love the competition and they love the challenge.”

The Tigers will feature an exciting one-two punch at forward in senior co-captain Azariah Breitman (11 goals, 4 assists in 2023) and senior Brian Donis (4 goals) as they look to fill the void left by Pasquale Carusone, who scored 28 goals last fall in his senior season.

“They are looking sharp; Azariah was just voted one of the captains and is trying to take on a leadership role,” said Walsh. “They are both looking great. They have played some significant minutes over the last two years at the varsity level. In their sophomore year, they both started at forward so they played a lot of minutes together. It is an easy

connection to rekindle.”

While PHS will miss Carusone’s production, Walsh believes that spreading out the scoring will make the Tigers dangerous.

“I think this year you are going to see a little more balanced scoring as opposed to last year where Pasquale scored most of the goals,” said Walsh, noting that junior Isaiah de la Espriella will also be seeing time at forward.

“We have a lot of guys who are capable of scoring, that is sometimes hard to defend.”

In the midfield, senior co-captain Archie Smith (6 goals, 15 assists) will be hard to defend.

“Archie is going to score some goals for us too, he will play attacking center midfielder,” said Walsh. “He is looking fantastic and is taking on that leadership role with Azariah.”

Joining Smith in the midfield will be senior Derrick Leiva, junior Aaron Thyrum (1 goals, 3 assists), sophomore Kian Asiaie, senior Matt Chao (2 assists), and senior Theo Kristensen.

“Derrick came off the bench last year, he is currently playing the holding center midfielder,” said Walsh. “Aaron played for our varsity team last year, he is playing in midfield. We have Kian who is a talented player and is vying for a spot in the midfield. Matt is a senior, this is his third year on varsity, he will get some pretty good time in the midfield. Theo is a senior transfer and he will see some time.”

On defense, the pair of senior of Connor Hewitt (5 assists) and junior Chase Hamerschlag (5 goals, 2 assists), a converted forward, will be anchoring the back line.

“Connor is the experienced back,” said Walsh, who will also be playing senior Thomsen Lord in the defensive unit. “He is definitely our leader back there, he is playing like that right now. Chase right now is our center back. He has embraced it, it was his idea. He knew that we were losing a bunch of center backs with Nick [Matese] and Jamie [Reynolds] graduating and he thought it would be a good spot for him to move to and we agreed. All summer he trained there and he is playing pretty well. He will still go forward on set pieces.”

Senior goalie Nicolas Holmelund (107 saves in 2023) is playing very well and has taken on a big leadership role as a co-captain.

“Nick is rock solid, his experience last year is going to be huge to help rebuild our back four,” said Walsh. “We lost three defenders from last year’s championship team. Having Nick lead that back line, they have confidence that were they to make a mistake, Nick is there to bail them out. Hopefully we can limit the mistakes. Early on, there are going to be some mistakes. That is how we are going to learn fast. Nick started as a sophomore and last year he wasn’t taking a leadership role because we had so many seniors. This year, he came in at the end

of the summer and he was fit, he was vocal. That is why the guys voted him captain. He is ready to lead that line.”

In Walsh’s view, the Tigers will be ready to excel once again by the time postseason play rolls around.

“These guys just need to take everything day-by-day,”

September 17, 2024

said Walsh. “Last year’s team is last year’s team, we need to take that experience that we had last year and use it when times get tough. It is a long season, things change dayto-day and week-to-week.

We will be a lot better in four weeks than we are right now.

The guys need to understand

that and everyday just get a little better so we are playing our best at tournament time like we were last year.”

a Princeton tradition!

IN CONTROL: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Archie Smith controls the ball in action last year. Senior midfielder and team co-captain Smith will be counted on for his production and leadership this fall. PHS, the defending New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state champion, is kicking off its 2024 campaign by hosting Hightstown on September 5.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

—Bill Alden

Brennan Excited to be Guiding PHS Girls’ Soccer,

Applying Lessons She Gained While Playing for Tigers

Meghan Brennan is coming full circle as she takes the helm of the Princeton High girls’ soccer team this fall.

Brennan, a 2013 PHS alumna, starred for the Tiger program during her high years before going on to play at Hamilton College.

In 2019, Brennan returned to PHS as a volunteer assistant coach of the girls’ squad and then became a full-fledged assistant coach in 2021 when she took a job as a school counselor at her alma mater.

This season, she has moved up to the head coaching role, succeeding Dave Kosa.

For Brennan, playing at PHS changed the course of her life.

“I played for Greg Hand and Val Rodriguez, it was an incredible experience,” said Brennan, who helped PHS go 10-9-1 in 2023. “It was definitely something that was pretty transformative, they were wonderful coaches. They were instrumental in my development as a player as well as my desire to be a coach.”

That experience led Brennan to return to PHS in 2019 to work with the Tiger girls’ soccer program.

“Coaching with Val was wonderful, part of the reason I reached out in grad school to volunteer with her was because I wanted to learn from her,” said Brennan. “She does a really,

really great job of connecting with players. Especially as a counselor, that is something that is super important to me. I felt like I could learn from her how to develop a program that is super competitive but also maintains a strong sense of community and strong relationships. I think that is something that Val and Greg did really well, they cared about us as people first and then players.”

With PHS opening its 2024 season by playing at Marlboro on September 9, Brennan is taking a page out of Rodriguez’s book as she has gotten her squad ready for the fall.

“My main thing this season is to help these girls develop team chemistry; that has been our goal throughout preseason and the summer,” said Brennan. “We have great talent and I just want them to find that chemistry and play together. Once they start playing to each other’s strengths and really coming together, I think we are going to see great things.”

The players have bought into that approach. “I do think they are building chemistry, we did the 7-on7 league this summer and I thought they looked really, really good,” said Brennan. “I think they are well on their way, I am also blessed with a great, great group of captains, two seniors and two juniors (seniors Ava Tabeart and Marina Zaldarriaga along with juniors Romy

and co-captain Zaldarriaga is looking to come up big in her final season with PHS. The Tigers, who have a new head coach in Meghan Brennan, open their 2024 campaign by playing at Marlboro on September 9.

Johnson and Kasey Howes). I had high expectations for them but they have exceeded them. They are doing such a great job jfostering a positive, inclusive team environment.”

At forward, PHS should get a positive contribution from the quartet of Howes (4 goals, 4 assists in 2023), senior Manuela Dante Boarato (2 goals, 1 assist), sophomore Leah O’Neill, and sophomore Olivia Hegedus.

“Kasey was a center mid last year, she can also do great things at forward; Manu is very good,” said Brennan. “We have younger players too like Leah and Olivia. We have a bunch of new talent combined with Manu and Kasey.”

Across the midfield, sophomore Taylor Hamerschlag (1 assist), junior Clara Burton (1 assist), senior Marina Zaldarriaga (1 assist), junior Quinn Gallagher (5 goals, 2 assists), junior Emily Walden 1 goal), and sophomore Maddie Aboumeri are poised to do some good things.

“In the midfield there are a bunch of girls, Taylor and Clara are super, super solid,” said Brennan. “They are really coming into their own, they are really skilled players. We have them at center mids. Marina is going to be good on the outside as is Quinn. Emily played center mid and has done really well. Maddie is new this year but she has really impressed me as well.”

On defense, co-captains Johnson (1 goals, 1 assist) and Tabeart (2 assists) will be spearheading the back line with sophomore Mathilde Pouliot, sophomore Helena Murray, and senior Charlotte Colarusso in the mix.

“Romy and Ava will anchor our back line,” said Brennan. “We have some new faces that will probably be back there as well. Mathilde looks really good. Helena and Charlotte have been looking good. They are making my job hard, I am definitely grateful for the scrimmages that we have.”

Brennan is grateful to have sophomore Julia Zaldarriaga (85 saves in 2023) back at goalie.

“Julia is incredible, she was so good last year and has gotten even better,” said Brennan. “I have nothing but amazing things to say about her. She is so skilled and knows the game so well. She is such a good leader and a good teammate. Everyone has the utmost respect for her. She does speak up on the field and people know that she knows what she is doing.”

Looking ahead to the fall, Brennan believes that PHS can get better and better as it goes through the season.

“I truly feel like us playing together and playing good, quality soccer is going to the key,” said Brennan. “We have so much talent, we just need to learn to play together and play to each other’s talents. We have started to see glimmers of, ‘oh this is going to be really good.’ I think the more that they start getting used to each other and playing to each other’s strengths, the better they will be. It takes time but it has not even been two weeks and they have already started to do that more. I think they are going to grow a lot this season.”

— Bill Alden

With Roberts Taking the Helm of PDS Boys’ Soccer, Panthers Focused

support in the center of the field.

on Making Daily Improvement

Gary Roberts has built an extensive coaching resume in local soccer circles.

Roberts has helped run the Patriot FC club in Bucks County, Pa., for years, coaching more than 15 teams and 400 players and winning several Pennsylvania USYS State Cups along the way.

On the high school scene, Roberts served as an assistant coach for the Hun School girls’ soccer program, playing a key role tactically as the Raiders won the Prep A title in 2021. He went on to take the helm of the George School (Pa.) girls’ soccer team and helped the program go from a winless record to .500 campaigns.

So it is no surprise that when Princeton Day School was looking for new head coach of its boys’ soccer team this spring after Brian Thomsen stepped down, it reached out to Roberts.

“I got a call one day from Katie (athletic director Katie Fay) at PDS, and she said our boys’ coach quit and multiple people gave me your name and will you please come in,” said Roberts. “I never applied, I never looked on line, I knew nothing about it. They came to me and it basically took like three days. I met all of the heads of school.”

Roberts, a Hamilton native, was impressed by what he saw and took the job.

As he takes the helm of the Panthers, Roberts is relishing the special challenges of coaching the beautiful game.

“It is not really about soccer, it is about man management,” said Roberts, who also runs a local technology company. “The game of soccer is so different than say football or basketball where every play is puppeteered by the coach marching up and down the sideline calling plays or with the play being radioed in. Soccer is a true players game. You prepare them but the players have to do the work.”

Roberts is confident that he can get the PDS players to work better.

“I believe I can get 10 percent more out of a player than they think they have,” said Roberts, who is taking over a program that posted a 3-16-1 record last fall but did make a late run in advancing to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B semifinals. “I also provide a good environment. I am super-demanding, but not in a demeaning manner.”

As the preseason has unfolded, the squad has responded positively to the environment Roberts is seeking to create.

“According to all feedback, it has been a phenomenal response,” said Roberts. “The seniors have been really receptive and really supportive of me and have been exceptionally good with the younger players. We have been bonding, we went bowling as a team the other day.”

Roberts himself developed lifelong bonds from his high school soccer experience.

“It is making sure that you leave this school having said

these are my best friends and I had the time of my life,” said Roberts. “My high school teammates are still my best friends, that is what I want these guys to get out of it.”

In order to have a good time this year, the PDS players will need concentrate on daily improvement.

“The players believe they are going to be good,” said Roberts. “A definition of success for me for this year especially, isn’t winning this or winning that or how our record is, it is do we get better every day. That is our motto.”

At forward, senior Penn von Zelowitz (2 goals in 2023) and sophomore Keegan Fullman (1 assist) should give the Panthers some good production.

“The two main goal scorers will be Penn and Keegan,” said Roberts. “They bring pace and they have physicality. They have the ability to make some good dynamic runs off the ball, they are the attacking players. Penn is good enough that he may have to fill in all over the field if there is injury or something like that.”

In the midfield, seniors Todd Devin (2 goals, 2 assists) and Hart Nowakoski (2 goals, 5 assists) will be leading the way.

“Todd and Hart will hold the team together in the center of the midfield,” said Roberts.

One new face, freshman Mathias Ramos, should give Devin and Nowakoski good

“Matthias is small but he has the has a God’s gift of soccer IQ,” said Roberts, noting that the roster includes eight freshmen who are all technically sound on the pitch.

The Panther back line will feature senior Marc Nahas, sophomore Brady DeCore (2 assists), senior Max Schragger (1 assist), and junior Aiden Luciano.

“I think they are coming together OK,” said Roberts. “Marc has a physical presence and senior leadership. Max has good work rate and lots of experience. Brady is an excellent athlete, he has got pace. Aidan is growing into that role at center back, he has a huge upside.”

Senior goalie Oren Yakoby (173 saves in 2023) figures to be a huge plus for PDS this fall.

“I do have faith in the goalkeeper,” said Roberts. “Oren is a pure athlete, he is fearless, and has got good hands.”

Roberts, for his part, has faith that the team will get up to speed as it gets used to his approach while he familiarizes himself with the Colonial Valley Conference competition the Panthers will be facing.

“I know we will get better every day in this system that I am creating, which is a quality game of soccer, combination play, and build-up play, not the traditional high school game, said Roberts. “As much as it is going to be a learning experience for them, it is going to be that much more a learning experience for me.”

— Bill Alden

were slated to get their 2024 season underway by hosting Hightstown on September 3 before playing at New Egypt on September 10.

ON THE BALL: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Todd Devin, right, goes after the ball in a 2023 game. Senior midfielder Devin figures to play a key role for PDS this fall. The Panthers, who will be guided by a new head coach, Gary Roberts,

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

FANCY FOOTWORK: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Marina Zaldarriaga, right, controls the ball in a game last year. Senior midfielder

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

•

Coming Off a Stirring Run to Non-Public A State Title, PDS Girls’ Soccer Aiming to Re-create Championship Focus

As the players on the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team have gone through their preseason preparation, the squad’s veterans are looking to reproduce last year’s heroics.

With PDS having ended its 2023 campaign with a stirring run to the program’s first-ever New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A title, the Panther returners got a boost of confidence from that achievement.

“I think they are feeling good about what they did last year,” said PDS head coach Chris Pettit, whose squad posted a 17-2-3 record last fall. “It was such an exciting, energizing time, I think there is a lot of enthusiasm to be back to try and recreate that with this year’s team.”

While PDS suffered some key graduation losses, Pettit is enthusiastic about the fi repower the squad returns at forward in sophomore Ava Katz (5 goals, 17 assists in 2023), junior Mackenzie Brodel (8 goals, 6 assists), and senior Makena Graham (3 goals, 2 assists).

“Ava got a ton of assists last year, my expectation would be this year that she adds goals,” said Pettit, whose team gets its 2024 season going by playing at Peddie School on September 5 and then hosting the Hun School on September 7. “Mac scored eight last year, I think she can do those numbers or be slightly improved. I would expect Makena get some more moments and contribute some more goals this year as well.”

With that talent on hand, Pettit believes the Panthers can produce a balanced attack.

“We had a lot of people chipping in with goals last year,” said Pettit. “My hope and expectation is the style that we play and the talent that we have, that we can spread the goals around the team rather than being one of those teams that needs somebody to score 30 goals. We could end up with four people all getting eight each. It is a case of re-acquainting themselves with each other in a positional sense and how we want to play and making sure that they understand formation and the movements that we want to see and the passing patterns so the players are in the right position to score eight, 10 goals.”

PDS should also get some goals from its one-two punch in the midfield of sophomore Sophia Vriesendorp (3 goals, 7 assists) and junior Jules Hartman (8 goals, 2 assists).

“Sophia will hopefully chip in with a few again and Jules will also chip in,” said Pettit.

With senior Sophia Zhou sidelined with a leg injury, freshman Eva Najarro and junior Lucia McKee (1 goal) will be shoring up the midfield defense along with Hartman.

“I think Jules will also be playing that position,” said Pettit. “Eva is going to get some time in the middle. Lucia McKee will have to step up now with Sophia [Zhou] injured and play that role as well.”

The Panther back line will feature junior Ella McLaren (1 goal, 1 assist), junior Emma Burns (2 assists), junior Ava “A.J.” Szalabofka (4 goals, 3 assists), senior Reese Overman (1 assist), and junior Zuri Graham.

“Ella was phenomenal last year, her and Tochi [Owunna] really had that partnership, the whole defense last year was led by Tochi,” said Pettit. “This year without her, Ella needs to step up and lead that defensive unit. She will be ably supported. Emma was very strong last year as was A.J., those two were part of that defensive unit last year so they will be the same. Reese was in our defensive unit and played a decent amount last year. Zuri looked good in preseason and will play some of those

minutes that have been left.”

At goalie, senior Shelby Ruf (48 saves in 2023) is poised for another stellar season.

“Two years ago, she had never played goal before; you wouldn’t know that if you were to watch her now,” said Pettit. “She committed to a D-I lacrosse program (Merrimack College). Over the summer, she has really worked on her goalkeeping. I am expecting another big season from Shelby between the sticks. Her biggest strength is her mentality, attitude and desire to win and the high standard she sets for herself and her teammates. She is naturally athletic, she has a good physical presence.”

In order to recreate last year’s success, the Panthers will need to display an intense mentality from beginning to end.

“The focus has got to be there, last year some of those losses were losses that should not have happened,” said Pettit. “It was because we would play really well for 40 minutes and then we would switch off for 15 and then would play well again. What happened in states was that we fl ipped the switch with the girls, saying if we lose we are done. They sharpened their focus and played for the full 80-85 minutes. So for us this year, we are going to need to be focused for that entire time.”

— Bill Alden

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A-PLUS: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Ava Katz kicks the ball in action last season. Sophomore forward Katz, who tallied five goals and 17 assists last fall in her debut campaign for PDS, figures to be a key offensive weapon this fall for the Panthers. PDS gets its 2024 season going by playing at Peddie School on September 5 and then hosting the Hun School on September 7.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Developing a Positive Chemistry During Preseason, Hun Boys’ Soccer Emphasizing

Pat Quirk likes the vibe he is seeing around his Hun School boys’ soccer team as it has gone through its preseason training.

“Guys are excited, it is a really great group of kids that are super connected,” said Hun head coach Quirk who guided the Raiders to a 9-9-1 record last fall on the way to the Prep A state semifinals. “They are very supportive of each other. It is a good returning group who because of injuries last year, most of them saw a significant amount of time.”

Hun boasts some exciting players at forward in senior Toba Olaleye (3 goals, 3 assists in 2023), senior Luke Donahue (5 goals), senior Luciano Verduci (3 goals, 2 assists), and senior Hayden Gronczewski.

“Toba has come back a lot stronger and very physical, he has been getting dangerous,” said Quirk, whose squad will get its 2024 campaign underway by playing at Hopewell Valley on September 7 and hosting Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 10.

“Luke gets dangerous in any set piece, he is a great athlete. Luciano is trying to fill his brother’s footsteps (former Hun standout Max). Hayden is going to play a little but up there; he is pretty feisty and wants to score too.”

The Hun midfield has been bolstered by the addition of two feisty player from overseas, Gonzalo Perez Nunez, a native of Madrid, Spain, and Sasha Mykhalchuk, who hails from Kyiv, Ukraine.

a Balanced Attack

“Gonzalo has quick feet, he makes some very dangerous runs,” said Quirk. “He creates space for other guys, he plays quickly. He has been playing with Max Frost (1 goal, 1 assist) and Marius So (1 assist) who both return from last year. Sasha plays out on the wing. He is a strong, fast player. There are times when he just puts his head down and wants to dribble.”

Quirk has some other strong options at midfield in junior Donovan Hayes (1 goals, 1 assist), junior Christian Wolfe (1 assist), and freshman Chad Barrett.

“Donovan has gotten a lot of playing time, he is a super tricky player out there,” said Quirk, who will also be using sophomore Lucas Choi in the midfield.

“Christian got some playing time last year, he has been playing a little bit in the midfield. Chad has really impressed us. Eventually he will get some time, he will be really good in the future and he is good right now.”

The quartet of senior Bradford Barnes (1 assist), junior Chris Meehan (1 assist), senior Austin Rollins (1 goal), and junior Noah Silvestre (4 goals) will be spearheading the back line for Hun.

“We return Bradford as a center back and Chris,” said Quirk, whose defensive unit will include senior Alexander Betru and junior Caleb Willner. “It feels like Chris has been with us for 10 years. He has started at center back since his first game as a freshman. He and Bradford are working at center

back and doing really well. Austin is an outside back, he gets very dangerous from that position. Noah is a very technical player, he is also going to get dangerous from outside back.”

Senior goalie Diego Pena (79 saves in 2023), who has competed for the Dominican Republic U-17 national program, is primed to do really well in his final campaign with the program.

“Returning Diego is a huge plus for us, he has been a leader for the last three years,” said Quirk, whose backup goalie will be post-graduate Max McCarty, who previously played at Rumson-Fair Haven. “His leadership and vocalness in the back has improved so much. With the athleticism that he has, he plays like a sweeper keeper. We have no problem playing to his feet because we know his distribution is great.”

In Quirk’s view, the team’s positive chemistry could translate into wins this fall.

“Obviously staying healthy is important; I think sharing the ball and moving it is going to be our key to success,” said Quirk. “We don’t have a Joey [Bucchere] or a Connor [Frykholm] that can take over a game but we have a lot of solid pieces. The kids seem excited to be with each other and excited to support each other. I think that is really important. Other than practicing, they have been hanging out a bunch on campus, getting to know each other. That’s been good.”

—Bill Alden

Football : Sparked by a huge passing performance from Jack Moran, Hun defeated Mount Carmel (Ill.) 42-38 last Thursday in its season opener. Moran completed 18-of-27 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns for the Raiders. Hun plays at Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) on September 7.

Local

Sports Hun

Bailey Basketball Academy Offering Fall Programs

The Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA) has set the schedule for its upcoming fall hoops programs.

Players will have an opportunity for competitive travel play, individualized instruction, skills development, and fundamentals through the offerings. The BBA is led by former Princeton Day School girls’ hoops coach and Philadelphia 76ers International Camps clinician Kamau Bailey.

The BBA fall program will include two competitive boys’ travel teams (2nd-8th grade), weekly practices, Shot King Shooting Program, and Player Development Skill Sessions for elementary through high school players (boys and girls) along with two new competitive team opportunities for girls (grades 3-10) and boys (grades 9-10).

BBA programs stress fundamentals and team play with emphasis on ball handling, shooting, passing, footwork, speed, agility, movement with and without the ball, one-on one moves, defense, and other basketball skills.

The BBA Fall Skill Development Sessions for boys and girls will be held every Monday and Wednesday, beginning September 4 with grades 3-6 (6 to 7:15 p.m. and grades 7-10 (7:15 to 8:30 p.m.). The sessions run through November 25 and will be held at the Princeton Middle School.

The BBA Competitive boys’ and girls’ teams practices begin September 5 for grades 3-6 (6 to 7:15 p.m.) and grades 7-10 (7:15 to 8:30 p.m.) with interested players and parents invited to attend. The practices run through November 26 and will be held at Princeton Middle School. BBA teams will play games on weekends in the Monroe Sports Complex Fall Leagues.

For more information, contact Bailey at (917) 6265785 or kamau.bailey@ gmail.com.

Helene Cody 5K Race Set for September 7

The 16th annual Helene Cody 5-kilometer race and 1-mile fun run is taking place on September 7 with the start and finish line at Heritage Park in Cranbury.

The fun run begins at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K starts at 9 a.m. The 5K is chip-timed and USATF-certified with water stations throughout the course.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and

female finishers overall and in each age group for the 5K. Every fun run finisher will receive a medal and trophies will be awarded to the top three boys and girls. The Cranbury Day celebration will begin immediately after the race on Main Street. Additional race information and on-line registration is available at helenecody. com/5k-and-1-mile-runwalk. html.

This event is the main fundraiser for the Helene Cody Foundation, whose mission is to inspire youth to volunteer, to better their communities and themselves. Prior to her death in 2008, Helene Cody, a Princeton High student, planned to revive the Cranbury Day 5K, a community event that had been discontinued in 2006, as a way to combine her love of distance running and community service for her Girl Scout gold award project. When she passed away, a classmate organized the first Helene Cody Cranbury 5K in memory of Helene for his Eagle Scout project. Every year since, the Helene Cody Foundation has used the event to bring the community together and use the proceeds to sponsor youth service projects and provide scholarships. All proceeds go directly to the Helene Cody Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charity.

well loved and well read since 1946

KICKING OFF: Hun School boys’ soccer goalie Diego Pena clears the ball in a 2022 game. Senior Pena is primed to produce a big final campaign in his third season as starter for the Raiders. Hun kicks off its 2024 season by playing at Hopewell Valley on September 7 and hosting Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Obituaries

August 22,

Always elegant, extraordinarily generous, intelligent, curious, and widely-read, she loved both poetry and politics. She was both admired and loved by all who knew her.

Dosky loved art and poetry all her life, and became an accomplished poet in her later years. She was particularly fond of horses, and once had her own, Frost, a dappled-gray.

David John Suomi June 30, 1973 –August 27, 2024

David John Suomi, age 51, of Princeton, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on August 27, 2024.

David was born on June 30, 1973 in Naples, FL. He attended schools in West Windsor, NJ, and graduated from Princeton Day School in 1991. At PDS, he was a member of the varsity tennis and soccer teams. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, where he was also a member of SAE fraternity.

David had an extended career in Finance, working as an Equity Sales Trader and Equity Analyst in New York, Los Angeles, and London. He was active in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC youth mentoring program.

Born in New York City in 1930, Dosky had been a resident of Princeton since 1932, when her parents, Dorothy Stevens Fleming and Matthew Corry Fleming, Jr. built a house on North Road for her and her younger sister, Angie. She graduated Miss Fine’s School in 1948, and married her first husband, Edward M. Gorman – also of Princeton – in 1949, with whom she had two children, Kathy and Steve.

Dosky was divorced from Edward Gorman in 1964, and married Bruce French, a local attorney, in 1969; she and Mr. French were divorced in 1985.

Although primarily a homemaker, Dosky volunteered extensively for numerous organizations, especially for the Red Cross and the Princeton Hospital, which she also supported with significant financial contributions. Her other charitable contributions were numerous and varied. Both financially savvy and stylish, she was a co-owner of a women’s dress shop in

He is survived by his mother Barbara, his father Marvin, and his brother Peter (Elizabeth) and his sister Amanda Gorrie (Robert). David deeply loved his four nephews and niece, Noah, Isla, and Leo Gorrie and Finn and Price Suomi. He is also survived by his half-siblings Josh, Jacob, and Grace Suomi. David was predeceased by his grandparents Henry and Sonia Kaufman of Naples, FL, and William and Hulda Suomi of Wakefield, MI.

David was a caring big brother and a loyal friend to so many. He loved to spend time in warm weather, sitting on the beach, and traveling. He was a competitive tennis player in his youth, and he also enjoyed music, gardening, and all sports, but most of all, Michigan football.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton on Friday, September 20, followed by a reception at the church. All are welcome. Private burial services will be held at the Princeton Cemetery for family.

pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available

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

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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

Dosky was proud of her New Jersey roots, which go back through many family generations to John Stevens, who arrived in New York/New Jersey at the end of the 17th century. The Stevens family included many leading figures of colonial America such as Col. John Stevens, an early Treasurer of the State of New Jersey and noted steam and railroad pioneer, whose son, Robert, designed the T-rail system that trains still roll on today. Other Stevens family members included John Cox Stevens, first Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and owner of the yacht America, after which the cup is named; and Dosky’s great-grandfather, Edwin Augustus Stevens, who founded the eponymous Stevens Institute of Technology

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience,

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We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in David’s honor to the following organizations: Motts Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, or the Princeton Tennis Program. More information on services and donations can be found at matherhodge.com.

pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

We

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

to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with

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

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

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.

Condolences and memories of David can be shared on his tribute wall at matherhodge.com.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

THE PERFECT MEMORIAL ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

to you.

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you

We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you

We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER

Dosky is survived by her children, Kathleen Colket and her husband, Meredith, of Avon, CT; and Stephen Gorman and his wife, Rosalie, of Whitefish, MT; five grown grandchildren: Alex, Laura, and Caroline Colket; and Brian and Kevin Gorman; and four great-grandchildren, Solan and Nova Colket-Jacobs; and Declan and Ainsley Gorman. She is also survived by two special nieces, Vicki Austin-Smith and Franny Gorman, both of Princeton, as well as many other nieces and nephews. Funeral Services for Dosky will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Red Cross or an animal humane organization.

Dorothy “Dosky” F. French, 94, of Princeton, NJ, passed away at home on

2024.

Dorothy Stevens Fleming French Pennington, “Reynolds,” in the 1970s.

MANDALA CEREMONY: From August 21-24, the Buddhist Monks of Gaden Shartse constructed, displayed, and then dissolved a sand mandala in Channing Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton (UUCP) on Cherry Hill Road. They are shown with members of the UUCP’s Meditation Group during the closing ceremony on August 24. (Photo courtesy of UUCP)

Artwork by Nicole Steacy

Put

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS

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

STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT

JOE’S LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON

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 tf

HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:

Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130 tf EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER

Available part-time With excellent references in the greater Princeton area (609) 216-5000 tf

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

HOUSE FOR RENT IN KINGSTON VILLAGE

Just 2 miles from Princeton proper, white stucco house, located at 9 Prospect Street in Kingston, about 200 yards from main street, Route 27 and bus route to Princeton. 2 story house, suitable for four, built in 1952. Large eat-in kitchen, two full

front

10

neighborhood, quiet with ample parking on street and driveway. Call or email John: (609) 577-5736 or johnbrindley@msn.com. 09-11

AWARD-WINNING ESSAYIST & former Phillips Exeter Academy English teacher available for tutoring & college essay coaching. Princeton ’84 & Bennington MFA. https:// suerepko.com. wordgardenessays@ gmail.com. (609) 436-0208. 09-18

SPORTS CARDS WANTED

IMMEDIATE CASH PAID!!

UNOPENED BOXES, SETS, CASES

PRIVATE COLLECTOR (646) 344-0431 09-18

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.

tf

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.

tf WE BUY CARS

Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris tf 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

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPANION AVAILABLE: NJ certified and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 09-18

OPEN HOUSE

137 VALLEY ROAD

PRINCETON

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 12-4

Split level, 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1852 sq ft, 1/3 acre. Needs upgrades. Great location within walking distance of everything Princeton has to offer! $979,000. 09-04

WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?

A Gift Subscription!

Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!

Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; 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.

IT ’ S BACK TO SCHOOL!!

As the school season kicks off, it's crucial to remind ourselves to drive safely. With kids heading back to school, you ’ll notice an increase in foot traffic, bicycles, and school buses on the roads. Children are often distracted and may not always be aware of their surroundings, so it ’s important to stay vigilant, especially in school zones and residential areas.

Keep an eye out for crossing guards and always obey the speed limits. If you see a school bus with its stop sign extended, remember to stop it's not just a suggestion but the law. Reduce distractions in your vehicle and avoid using your phone while driving. By practicing patience and mindfulness, we can help ensure that everyone makes it to school and home safely. Let ’s all do our part to create a safe environment for our kids this school year.

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.

Professional, Courteous and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Drywall Repair

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•Quality Craftsmanship

•Reasonable Rates

•Licensed, Bonded & Insured

•Free Estimates

•Deck Sealing/Staining (609) 799-9211 www.fivestarpaintinginc.com License # 13VH047