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ECHO PRINCETON

MARCH 2026 COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

OLD INSTRUMENT, NEW MUSIC

PHOTO BY KAJA SMITH

HARPSICHORDIST MAHAN ESFAHANI, ABOVE, PERFORMS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF PRINCETON COMPOSER

JULIAN GRANT’S ‘VAUDEVILLE IN TEAL’ WITH THE PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. PAGE 4.

PHOTO BY FRAN MARSHALL, MARSHALL LIGHT STUDIOS

Summer Camps special section, page 9; Pi Day in Princeton, 25; Celebrating Witherspoon-Jackson, 26.

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RWJUH Hamilton March Healthy Living / Community Education Programs THE POWER OF FOOD: NUTRITION STRATEGIES FOR DIABETES

Monday, Mar. 9; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 24; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for our monthly series to learn how to manage and control your diabetes through dietary choices. Learn the basics of diabetes and how nutrition affects blood sugar levels. Gain practical tips for meal planning and preparation to control your diabetes.

BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 10; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

If you are considering surgery, are in the process of preparing or have undergone surgery, you are welcome to attend our group. Family, friends and support persons are also welcome. This is a great opportunity to meet others going through the same weight loss journey.

We focus on achieving optimal wellness through weight loss surgery. We will discuss different topics on nutrition, exercise and healthy living behaviors.

DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: MODERN ADVANCES IN COLORECTAL CANCER PREVENTION & TREATMENT

Monday, Mar. 16; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join us for an informative lecture on colorectal cancer with Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncologist, and Rachel Perez, GI Navigator, the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton. Learn about the importance of early detection, innovative treatments, and lifestyle factors that can reduce your risk.

Dinner provided.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP Tuesday, Mar. 17; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CONSERVATIVE TREATMENTS EXPLORED

Thursday, Mar. 19; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

A look at stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overactive bladder, painful intercourse, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and constipation.

Learn conservative measures to help manage bladder/ bowel problems, led

by Giselle Oriendo, PT, DPT, CLT, of RWJ Rehabilitation Hamilton.

AM I AT RISK? TYPE 2 DIABETES SCREENING.

Sunday, Mar. 22; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Nearly 98 million American adults have prediabetes, and almost 90% are unaware of their condition.

Understanding your risk is vital.

Register for a Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment. A complimentary A1C screening will be completed for those who score moderate risk or higher.

DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: STRONG SHOULDERS AHEAD

Monday, Mar. 23; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Michael R. Duch, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, member of the Orthopedic & Spine Institute at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. Shoulder pain slowing you down? Dr. Duch, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, will provide an

eye-opening session on rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingement and bursitis — three common conditions that can impact your day-to-day comfort. Learn what causes them, how they are treated, and the steps you can take to stay strong and mobile. Dinner provided and registration required.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 24; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Join the Stroke Support Group at RWJUH Hamilton, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. The group will share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient rehabilitation therapists: Ashley Sarrol Speech- Language Pathologist, and Allyson Panikowski-Berry Occupational Therapist. Survivors and care partners at any stage of recovery are encouraged to attend.

FEED YOUR HEART: COOKING FOR HEART HEALTH

Wednesday, Mar. 25; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for our bimonthly heart healthy cooking class. Have some fun learning how to cook nutritious and delicious hearthealthy meals. Explore heart-friendly ingredients and cooking techniques.

WOMAN’S BOOK CLUB: “A VIEW FROM LAKE COMO” BY ADRIANA TRIGIANI

Wednesday, Mar. 25; 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please come prepared to discuss the book. “A novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.”

CREATIVE ARTS: JUNK JOURNALING

them and live a cleaner life.

Wednesday, Mar. 25; 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Junk journaling is a stress reducing activity that allows individuals to express themselves through creativity.

This unique way of journaling involves repurposing old items and transforming them into beautiful and personal works of art. Grab some “junk” and get crafty while working on your mental health and wellness.

UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS (IEPS & 504 PLANS)

Wednesday, Mar. 25; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The session explains parents’ rights and roles at each stage of the special education process, emphasizing collaboration between families and schools to support student success.

Learn about the differences between IEPs and 504 Plans, including who qualifies for each, what supports and accommodations they provide, and how they are developed and reviewed.

Parents will gain practical guidance on reading plans, preparing for meetings, advocating for their child, and knowing what to do if concerns arise.

AVOIDING ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN THE HOME

Thursday, Mar. 26; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Toxins are all around us: in the air we breathe, the products we use and the food we eat. Learn what these toxins can do to our body and ways to avoid

MONTHLY HEARING/BALANCE SCREENINGS

Monday, Mar. 30; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

FREE screenings on the last Wednesday of every month! These 15-minute appointments are designed to help assess your hearing health or your balance health/fall risk. To reserve a required appointment time or to learn more, call 609-245-7390, the RWJ Balance & Hearing Center at RWJUH Hamilton, located at 2 Hamilton Health Pl., Hamilton, NJ.

SACRED BREATHWORK

Monday, Mar. 30; 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Sacred Breathwork can help release negative patterns and fears that keep us stuck. Join us for this powerful work. Please bring a yoga mat, low beach chair, blankets or anything else that will make you comfortable. Chairs available as well. $15

WHAT IS AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO HEARING Tuesday, Mar. 31; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Join Teresa Cole, AuD, of RWJUH Hamilton’s Balance and Hearing Center, where she will discuss what Central Auditory Processing Disorder is and how it relates to hearing loss. Central Auditory Processing Disorder is a deficit in how our brain interprets the sounds we hear.

Contrary to common belief, all ages can be impacted by these deficits. All are welcome to join!

*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.

Better Health is a free program for VIP’s 65+ that combines medical education, interesting topics, and fun activities. Join today!

To accommodate more members, Yoga, Meditation, and Chair Yoga have been expanded into a morning session and an afternoon session. Please only register for one meditation and ONE TYPE of yoga on any single day. Multiple registrations will not be honored.

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Tuesday, Mar. 3, 17and 31, 2026; 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

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Tuesday, Mar. 3, 17 and 31, 2026; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

OR 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS Wednesday, Mar. 4, 18, 25; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

GENTLE JAZZ CLASS

Wednesday, Mar. 4 & 18; 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH AND LEARN: MOBILITY AND FALL PREVENTION WITH BIANCA ESTROPIA, DO Thursday, Mar. 5; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join us as we welcome Bianca Estropia, DO, Geriatrician with the James and Sharon Maida Geriatrics Institute at RWJBarnabas Health Primary Care in Hamilton, and member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. Learn about the importance of mobility and fall prevention as we age, along with recommended exercises to improve balance.

SOCRATES CAFÉ

Thursday, Mar. 12; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

This class encourages open discussion and the sharing of thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and personal experiences. An unofficial mantra is that we learn best when we ask questions and explore them together. This is a safe and welcoming space where all viewpoints are respected. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and curiosity about where the conversation may lead.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, Mar. 12 & 19; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

GAME TIME!

Friday, Mar. 13 & 27; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join us for good wholesome fun – let’s play a game!

Sharpen your skills or jump back into something you always enjoyed. Board games will be available, or you are welcome to bring your own.

TO BECOME A BETTER HEALTH MEMBER FOR FREE SCAN THIS QR CODE

INTERGENERATIONAL MEETUP LUNCH AND SOCIAL Friday, Mar. 20; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

This intergenerational meetup pairs local high school students with seniors for a lively exchange about how daily life differs from “then” to “now.”

Participants will swap stories on everything from vintage technology and fashion to how social trends have shifted over the decades.

GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH: DIGITIZED LUNCH & LEARN: HEALTHY AGING AND AND AT YOUR FINGERTIPS MEDICATION SAFETY WITH GABRIELA Thursday, Mar. 19; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

ALVAREZ, PHARMD, BCPS, BCGP After the legalization of online wagering, the environment around gambling has changed considerably. For many, it is still a fun and harmless pastime. However, the risks for some can lead to severe financial distress, mental health issues and damaged relationships. This presentation will explore the powerful factors behind gambling today, the dangers of addiction and the importance of responsible play.

Thursday, Mar. 26; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Gabriela Alvarez, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, will discuss essential tools to manage prescriptions safely while exploring the core pillars of healthy aging, such as nutrition, physical activity, and social engagement. By combining medication safety with proactive wellness strategies, this session will empower attendees to maintain independence and improve their overall quality of life.

Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed above.

Or visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more March 2026 | Princeton Echo3

Princeton composer goes for baroque in new harpsichord concerto

By Ross Amico

M

ention of the harpsichord likely conjures associations with powdered wigs, ruffles, and flared cuffs. It was, after all, the defining keyboard instrument of the Baroque era (think Johann Sebastian Bach).

But 100 years ago, interest in the harpsichord concerto experienced a revival, thanks in no small part to the eminent harpsichordist Wanda Landowski, who commissioned contemporary composers to write new works for harpsichord and orchestra — most notably Manuel de Falla, in 1926, and Francis Poulenc, in 1929.

Although it never exactly became a craze, other composers did follow suit.

That said, if we’re to be perfectly honest, the number of “modern” harpsichord concertos that have entered the active repertoire could probably be counted on one hand. So the opportunity to actually hear one live is extraordinarily rare.

All the more exciting, then, two upcoming concerts of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium, Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, at 4 p.m.) will feature the world premiere performances of a new concerto for harpsichord,

by Igor Stravinsky, ostensibly based on melodies by Baroque master Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. It was only later that is was learned that the tunes had been misattributed. They are, however, wholly delectable, like the plate of spaghetti so often devoured by the commedia dell’arte character of the ballet’s title.

This is Stravinsky for people who think they don’t like Stravinsky. It was also highly influential, initiating the composer’s widely emulated neoclassical period.

The music is infectious — sunny, tuneful, and memorable — with the 18th century dances brought up to date through the playful use of 20th century rhythms, cadences, and harmonies.

Mahan Esfahani, right, performs Princeton-based composer Julian Grant’s Soprano Aubry Ballarò, tenor Nicho‘Vaudeville in Teal’ with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on March 7 and 8. las Nestorak, and bass-baritone Hunter “Vaudeville in Teal,” by Princeton resident “While one oboist is focused on sound- Enoch will contribute the vocal parts to Julian Grant. ing ‘ordinarily’ fancy, the other oboist is this weekend’s performances. PSO music The program will include two other determined to prove the extra fancy vir- director Rossen Milanov will conduct.

The soloist in the harpsichord concerto works that in some way or other also look tues of multiphones,” writes the composer will be Mahan Esfahani. Esfahani is one of back to the Baroque. “Extra(ordinarily) in his program note. “The orchestra obthe foremost living proponents of the inFantasy,” by Viet Cuong is a genuinely fun serves and joins in as the oboists continustrument, appearing widely in recital and concerto for two oboes and orchestra that ally bicker back and forth…” opens with a Vivaldi-esque riff, before PSO principal oboe Lillian Copeland with major symphony orchestras. His recordings are available on Deutsche Gramwittily drifting into multiphonic territory and Erin Gustafson will be the soloists. (the soloists producing several tones at Following intermission, the PSO will mophon, Hyperion Records, and OUR once). perform the complete ballet “Pulcinella” Recordings.

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by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and its music director, Anne Manson, who will conduct the work in Winnipeg on March 11, again with Esfahani the soloist.

So how does Princeton come to host the premiere? Chalk it up to Grant’s friendships, Manson’s generosity, and Esfahani’s flexibility.

Closer to home, the composer and harpsichordist will participate in a “PSO Soundtracks” event, “From Score to Stage,” at Princeton Public Library on Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. Grant and Esfahani will talk about the concerto, their creative partnership, and the process of translating a new work from written score and shepherding it to actual performance.

The event is free and open to the public.

Attendees will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for tickets to the weekend concerts.

At 19, Grant had actually composed an earlier harpsichord concerto at the request of a fellow student, a harpsichord major.

“It was rather an unholy marriage of Prokofiev and Poulenc,” he muses. The work had gone lost, but his classmate still had her copy, so he was able give it another look before embarking on the new concerto.

This time, he wanted to do his best to approach the instrument idiomatically, so he rented a modern reproduction from Baroque Keyboards of Leonia, New Jersey.

The ‘teal’ in Grant’s title comes from the color of the harpsichord he acquired during his composition process.

At the end of six months, he purchased it.

He also received a lot of advice from professionals. He had been warned that contemporary harpsichord concertos always sound like they’re written at the piano.

Writing for harpsichord and a modern orchestra present some unique challenges for a composer, primarily in terms of volume. The harpsichord is inherently conversational and easily drowned out. So orchestration and the handling of various instrumental voices must be navigated very carefully. It’s not for nothing that harpsichords in contemporary concertos

are often amplified.

Grant notes that, in a lot of the concertos he’s listened to, “the orchestra has all the meat and the harpsichord kind of clanks along in the background, and every so often it’s given a busy configuration to sort of sound like a concerto. I was very conscious of trying to generate all the material for the piece on the harpsichord and to give it some ‘air room.’” In the fifth section, “Spiel,” the instrument plays alone.

The work is scored for string orchestra with an obbligato bass clarinet and an obbligato bassoon. In performance, it will

span 20-25 minutes.

Grant learned from Esfahani that every harpsichord is different. When he shows up, he has to adapt and figure out how best to bring out the colors of the music.

For the week leading up to the Princeton performances, Esfahani will lodge with Grant, so that they can work out any lastminute kinks and interpretive decisions.

As for the title, the harpsichord is teal in color. Alas, it will not be the instrument used for the Richardson concerts.

(The performances will employ another harpsichord from the same company.)

In its way, the choice of “Vaudeville” is equally colorful. Grant wasn’t enthusiastic about writing a standard concerto in three movements. Then he thought about variations, but dismissed the idea as scholarly and dull.

However, the “V” set him on the track of “Vaudeville.”

“It’s rather like a show with lots of disparate acts. You know, like the old-fashioned vaudevilles used to be. You’d have someone come on and do bird impressions, there’d be a flea circus from Russia, Anna Pavlova would do ‘The Dying Swan,’ you know. Some singer would come on and See GRANT, Page 6

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GRANT, continued from page 5

semble, employing musicians from the conservatory, and worked toward mastering the Yang Qin (Butterfly Harp).

Grant settled in Princeton in 2010.

It was at a dinner at the Lawrenceville School, which one of his daughters was attending, that he was seated with Melanie Clark, then executive director of the PSO (a position now held by Marc Uys). She invited him to join the organization’s board.

He is married to the author Peter Rupert Lighte, a former student of Chinese culture at Princeton University, who discovered a talent for international finance.

Together, they adopted two daughters from China, Harriet and Ottilie, now grown. They also made a loving home for Fuqi, a stray dog discovered in a Beijing park. Fuqi passed a year ago. Now Aïda, a rescue, rules the roost.

“There must be some hound in the mix, because she can sing,” Grant observes.

“She can’t quite get it to the top C of ‘O patria mia’ yet,” he adds, referencing Verdi’s operatic heroine, but he has faith that one day she will. He also finds that getting out for a walk with her really helps his composing. “You go for walks, and you do not gaze helplessly at the blank piece of paper,” he says.

His own musical tastes are varied, ranging from Russian Romantics to French music to Italian opera to Kurt Weill to Rodgers and Hammerstein to Franz Lehár.

During the pandemic, he sustained himself on Haydn, Rossini, Offenbach, and Poulenc. “I needed frivolity and dance,” he says, “and I think there’s quite a bit of that in this new piece.”

To learn more about Julian Grant, visit his website at juliangrant.net.

For tickets and information about the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, visit princetonsymphony.org.

YEARS

sing ‘O sole mio.’ I just imagined that the piece would be kind of slightly random sections.”

In the end, there are six of them, played without break: “Curtain,” “Tarantella,” “Threesome,” “Fairies,” “Spiel,” and “Follies.”

“The titles don’t need to suggest much, really. They’re just whimsical, in a way.

The ‘Threesome’ movement is basically a trio,” he says. “I just thought ‘Threesome’ sounded naughtier. The harpsichord gets it on with the solo double bass and the bassoon.”

Born in London, Grant attended Bristol University, where he studied with Derek Bourgeois, who would appear to have been a quixotic figure, having composed 116 symphonies, yet paradoxically, in his teaching, offered a lot of practical advice.

Later, Grant received a scholarship to attend the Banff School of Fine Arts.

At the core of his creative output is a body of 20 operas, which have been performed by English National Opera, The Royal Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera, among others. He is the recipient of a National Opera Association of America New Opera prize and has been nominated for an Olivier Award.

From 2002-07, he served as Director of Music at St. Paul’s Girls’ School, London, a post most famously occupied by composer Gustav Holst. “I had an office which had a big plaque right in from of my desk, saying, ‘In this room Gustav Holst wrote ‘The Planets’’ — which was not helpful,” he says with a laugh.

He spent a number of years living in the East. In Hong Kong, he hosted a classical music radio show. He also lived in Tokyo.

In Beijing, he organized a new music en-

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Wednesday March 4

HAPPENING

The Harpsichord & Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Richardson Auditorium. www.princetonsymphony.org. Rossen Milanov conducts. $40 and up. Also March 8, 4 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Susan Cheever in Conversation with Eliza Griswold, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. www.labyrinthbooks.com.

“When All the Men Wore Hats” is an account of the stories of John Cheever, and the intersecting life and work of the legendary writer John Cheever, as told by his eldest daughter. 6 p.m.

DakhaBrakha, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place. www. mccarter.org. Hailing from Ukraine, DakhaBrakha is a quartet known for its self-described “ethno-chaos” sound — a fusion of Ukrainian folk, global rhythms, and theatrical flair. 7:30 p.m.

Author: Andrew David Edwards, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Historian Andrew David Edwards presents his new book, “Money and the Making of the American Revolution.” Register. 6 p.m.

Sunday March 8

Jersey Art Meetup, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Social event connecting creatives within the greater Central Jersey area through a shared passion for sequential art and new media. Attendees may use this open workshop space to draw, write, and develop their Author Susan Choi reads from her new novel, own artwork. Must be 16+ to attend. Free. Weekly on Wednes- ‘Flashlight,’ as part of People & Stories’ Notable Words benefit on Saturday, March 7, at Princeton Theological days. 7 to 9 p.m.

Circus Quixote, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, 609258-2787. www.mccarter.org. A Lookingglass Theatre Company production based on Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quijote of La Mancha.” Through March 15. 7:30 p.m.

Thursday March 5 After Noon Concert, Princeton University Chapel. chapel. princeton.edu. Organ performance by Stephen Schall, Northmont Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Free. 12:30 p.m.

Grand Homes & Gardens Series, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street. www.morven.org. First event in the annual series, themed “Freedom at Home: Telling the Full Story of America’s Founding Homes & Gardens,” featuring the William Paca House in Annapolis, Maryland with speaker Glenn E. Campbell, Historian Emeritus, Historic Annapolis. Register. $20 virtual; $40 in-person. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

ART OF Yoga Nidra and Sound Healing, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscouncilofprinceton. org. Take a moment for yourself or join with friends to be guided Seminary. through a relaxing yoga Nidra meditation and sound healing ex“The Stranger” (2025) adapted from Albert Camus eponymous perience. Register. $25. 11 a.m. novel by award-winning filmmaker François Ozon, who will be in Signs of Spring Garden Tour, Morven Museum & Garden, attendance with actress Rebecca Marder for a Q&A. In French and Arabic with English subtitles. Register via EventBrite. Free. 7 p.m. 55 Stockton Street. www.morven.org. Discover early signs of spring in Morven’s historic gardens with Horticulturalist Louise The Most Faithful Companion: Lute and Guitar Trios from Senior. Register. $5. 2 to 3 p.m. the 17th Century, The Dryden Ensemble, Unitarian UniversalPrinceton History Walking Tour, Historical Society of ist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road. www.drydenensemble.org.

Daniel Swenberg joined by Adam Cockerham and Dušan Balarin, Princeton, Princeton Battle Monument, 1 Monument Drive. perform on Renaissance and Baroque lutes and Baroque guitars www.princetonhistory.org. Walk around downtown Princeton of various sizes and tunings. Free; donations accepted. 7:30 p.m. and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area. $20. Register. Weekly on Sundays. 2 to 4 p.m.

Friday Night Folk Dance, Princeton Folk Dance, Suzanne The Cook College Ramblers, Princeton Public Library, 65 Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street. www.princetonfolkdance. org. Lesson followed by open dancing. No partner necessary. $10. Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Irish folk music concert featuring rollicking reels, rousing rebel songs and big Irish Weekly on Fridays. 8 p.m. ballads as a lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day. 3 to 4:15 p.m.

Saturday March 7

PSO Soundtracks: From Score to Stage, Princeton Public Princeton Canal Walkers, Turning Basin Park, Alexander Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Composer Julian Grant and world-renowned harpsichordist Mahan Es- Road. 3 mile walk on the towpath, weather permitting. Free. Regfahani discuss the process of bringing Grant’s new work “Vaude- ister to canalwalkers@googlegroups.com for notices of weatherrelated cancellations. Weekly on Saturdays. 10 a.m. ville in Teal” to life in the concert hall. 7 to 8 p.m.

Museum Admission and Grounds Tour, Historical Society Friday March 6 of Princeton, 354 Quaker Road. www.princetonhistory.org. GuidHank Bristol Recent Waterscapes, Present Day Club, 72 ed introductory tour of the Historical Society’s late 18th/early 19th Stockton Street, 609-924-1014. Exhibition of recent works by wa- century farmhouse museum and grounds. Museum exhibitions tercolor artist Hank Bristol. Open to the public Fridays in March. include the Einstein Salon and Innovators Gallery and “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection.” Register. $10. Noon and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2 p.m.

Pop-Up Talk: Curator Carolyn Laferrière, Princeton UniNotable Words: In the Afternoon Light with Susan Choi, versity Art Museum. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Curator of Ancient Mediterranean Art Carolyn Laferrière discusses the process People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos, Mackay Lounge, Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer Street. www.peopleandstories. of installing artworks in the new building. 2 to 3 p.m. org. National Book Award winner reads from and discusses her Natural Harmony, D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preslatest novel, “Flashlight.” Light reception and booksigning follow. ervation Place, 609-924-4646. www.drgreenway.org. Opening Register. $125 and up. 2 p.m. reception for exhibit by artists Beatrice Bork, TingTing Hsu, Joe Lecture Recitals from the New School for Music Study, Kazimierczyk, and Michael Schweigart, whose art depicts the quiet rhythm of the natural world. Meet the artists over wine and Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Qin Ling presents “A Journey Through Chinese Picheese. On view through June 9. 5 to 7 p.m. ano Music” as part of a series of four lecture recitals, in which New The Stranger + Q&A, Princeton Film Festival Society, 10 School faculty play and discuss historic repertoire for the piano.

McCosh Hall. allianceprinceton.com. US Premiere screening of Additional lectures March 14 and 21. 3 to 4:30 p.m.

8Princeton Echo | March 2026

Author: Amy Jo Burns in Conversation with Anica Mrose Rissi, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www. princetonlibrary.org. The author presents and discusses her novel “Wait for Me.” Coffee, pastries and live music by The Roly-Polys precede this Book Brunch event. Register. 11 a.m. to noon.

Choral Reading of Bach’s Cantata 150 & Duruflé’s Requiem, Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, Route 206 at Cherry Hill Road. www. musicalamateurs.org. Conducted by Christopher Jackson. Choral singers welcome. No auditions. Vocal scores provided. $10 admission for singers (or annual membership). Free for students and non-singing guests. 4 p.m.

Monday March 9 Author: Tom Griffiths, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Tom Griffiths, head of Princeton’s AI Lab, discusses his new book “The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind.” Book signing to follow. 7 p.m.

Tuesday March 10 2026 Lecture on Public Policy, Institute for Advanced Study, Wolfensohn Hall, 1 Einstein Drive. www.ias.edu. “Rethinking Platform Labor” presented by Juliet B. Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College. Register. Free. 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday Night Folk Dance, Princeton Folk Dance, Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane. www.princetonfolkdance.org. No partner necessary. $5. Weekly on Tuesdays. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

See EVENTS, Page 25

MERCER

C AMP S “THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO BE GREAT”

2026 March 2026 | Mercer Camps9

YMCA CAMP MASON

Summer CampS 2026

PREMIER OVERNIGHT CAM CAMP

Area camps offer a wide variety of summer options

ROM HERE ANY WHERE FFRO

As the school year winds down and calendars begin to open, families across Mercer County turn their attention to one of summer’s biggest planning decisions: how children will spend their time once classes end.

PHONE FREE FUN With dozens of options available locally, this month’s Summer Camps section showDISCOVER ADVENTURE cases a wide range of programs offered MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS throughout the region.

The guide helps families compare camp BUILD CONFIDENCE types, schedules and focus areas, making it LEARN NEW SKILLS easier to match a child’s interests with summer availability.

For many households, summer camps Outdoor Heated Pool strike a balance between structure and freedom, learning and play, supervision and Skatepark independence.

Archery What was once a single type of day camp experience has evolved into a variety of proBoating grams tailored to different interests, ages FREE Day Trips and schedules. Today’s camps reflect shift(tubing on the Delaware River, ing educational priorities and a recognition that children thrive when they can explore hiking the AT, much more) what excites them.

Ropes Courses Traditional day camps remain a popular choice. These programs typically offer Arts & Crafts full- or half-day schedules built around outMountain Biking door activities, organized games, arts and crafts, and social interaction.

Horseback Riding Swimming, team sports and creative projClimbing Wall ects are often part of the daily routine, giving campers a mix of activity and downtime.

Court/Field Games For younger children especially, traditional Farm & Garden Program camps provide consistency and opportunities to build social skills in a relaxed setting.

Campers/Staff from Many traditional camps incorporate around the world themed weeks or rotating activities. One week might focus on outdoor adventure, So much, more! another on creative arts and another on group challenges.

This approach offers flexibility and allows children to try new experiences without committing to a single focus for the entire summer.

STEM and STEAM camps have grown increasingly popular. These programs emphasize science, technology, engineerScan to see ing, arts and mathematics through handsCamp Mason on, project-based learning. in action!

Rather than focusing on classroom-style instruction, campers might build simple machines, experiment with chemistry, OPEN H OUSES design structures, or explore coding. Activi!

March 29, Apr ties encourage collaboration and problemil 26, M ay 9 1-4 pm solving while keeping learning engaging. at Cam p Maso Arts and creative camps provide n enrichment through expression and performance. Programs may focus on visual arts

.

DON’T MISS OUT. Register todayy att ccampmason.org a ampmason.org Call or email us at: shani@campmason.org 908.362.8217 10Mercer Camps | March 2026

such as drawing and painting, or on performing arts like theater, music and dance.

Campers might rehearse a play, learn new techniques or explore storytelling and creative writing. Many culminate in a showcase or performance for family and friends.

Sports and recreation camps continue to attract families seeking active programs.

Some focus on specific sports such as soccer, basketball or swimming, while others introduce campers to a variety of games and fitness activities. Emphasis is often placed on teamwork, sportsmanship and skill development rather than competition alone, creating an inclusive environment for children of all experience levels.

Nature and environmental camps appeal to children who enjoy time outdoors.

Taking advantage of local parks and open spaces, these programs may include hiking, wildlife observation, gardening and environmental science projects.

Campers explore ecosystems, learn about conservation and participate in handson activities that promote stewardship while building independence and resilience.

Academic enrichment camps represent another growing category, particularly for older students. These programs may strengthen skills in reading, writing or math, help students prepare for new grade levels or offer advanced topics for those seeking additional challenges. Smaller group settings and interactive projects help keep students engaged.

Specialty camps focus on niche interests such as cooking, maker workshops or leadership development. Multi-interest camps combine elements from several categories, offering rotating schedules that might include art in the morning and sports in the afternoon. Additional options may include overnight programs, adaptive camps, and faith-based offerings.

With so many choices, selecting the right camp often involves balancing a child’s interests with practical considerations such as age range, schedule, session length and cost. Early planning is important, as many programs fill quickly.

Whether families are seeking enrichment, adventure or simply a fun place for children to spend their days, Mercer County area camps reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

For a guide to camps for all ages and interests in Mercer County and beyond, visit mercercamps.com.

Summer CampS 2026 “I come to camp for all of the great activities.” – 13 year old boy From canoeing to ziplining through the trees to Why Camp Matters performing at the talent show, there is something For more than 125 years, YMCA Camp Mason for everyone! We offer archery, swimming in our has welcomed campers to be a part of our caring, heated pool, boating, arts and crafts, drama, music, inclusive community. We strive for excellence, a climbing tower, zipline, dance, movie making, relevance and innovation and believe that every basketball and other court sports, a skate boarding child deserves the opportunity to discover who they park, mountain biking, hiking, aerial silks, yoga and are and what they can achieve. Our camp focuses countless other activities. Campers can even sign on facilitating a break from technology, encouraging up for FREE off-site trips to explore our fantastic engagement with the natural world, and natural surroundings in the Delaware River Gap participating in an assortment of activities aimed at National Recreation Area. personal development. Our proven programs and “Camp Mason is my home away from home!” – caring counselors engage and encourage young 10 year old boy people and deliver meaningful and memorable Campers stay in comfortable cabins with experiences year after year. each cabin group determined by age and with We could go on and on about the benefits of two counselors who live alongside the campers, YMCA Camp Mason, but our campers say it best! ensuring there is always a caring, watchful eye on “I made so many new friends and now I know I your child. Our counselors, from around the US can do anything!” – 14 year old girl and the world, are professional, trained mentors.

Our schedule allows campers to try new things We teach and live our values of caring, honesty, and improve their skills while developing confidence, respect, responsibility, integrity and inclusion gaining a sense of independence and having fun! throughout the camp day.

Campers enjoy a varied daily schedule that includes “At camp I can be myself.” – 11 year old girl choice activities, group games, swimming and a 98 percent of our camper parents report that their period of recreation time. The friendships gained child felt a sense of belonging at camp, and 93% from their time at camp last a lifetime.

YMCA Camp Mason

of parents indicated that their child’s self-image improved as a result of attending YMCA Camp Mason.

Don’t miss out and join us at YMCA Camp Mason for the BEST SUMMER EVER! If you are ready for your child to out down their phone, thrive, build a positive sense of self, grow in empathy and caring and experience a sense of discovery, then please take a moment to look at our website at www.campmason.org, call 908-362-8217 or email shani@campmason.org for more information or to register.

March 2026 | Mercer Camps11

Summer CampS 2026 Hamilton Area YMCA More Than a Summer: The Lasting Benefits of Sawmill Summer Camp At the Hamilton Area YMCA Sawmill Summer Camp, the fun is evident.

The pool splashes, the fields buzz with games, and laughter echoes across 50 acres of outdoor adventure.

But what makes camp truly powerful isn’t just what children do; it’s who they become.

Camp is a place where kids try new things without the pressure of grades, teams, or comparison. They attempt the climbing wall. They test the deep end. They speak up during group activities. Each small win builds confidence. And that confidence doesn’t stay at camp; it shows up in classrooms, on sports fields, and in everyday life.

Camp gently stretches campers’ comfort zones. Whether organiz-

12Mercer Camps | March 2026

ing their backpacks, navigating new friendships, or participating in leadership activities as Trailblazers or CITs, campers learn responsibility in ways that feel natural and empowering.

With trained staff, low camper-tostaff ratios, and a supportive environment grounded in the YMCA’s core

values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, children are encouraged to grow, knowing they are safe and supported.

Camp fosters authentic connections. Without screens or social media, kids build real friendships through shared experiences such as

team challenges, group games, theme weeks, and creative projects.

They learn how to work as part of a team, resolve conflicts, include others, and lead with empathy. These socialemotional skills are some of the most valuable long-term benefits of camp.

From daily swim time in Mercer County’s largest pool to sports, field games, STEM, and specialty programs, campers are busy and on the move all day long. They build strength, coordination, and endurance while associating physical activity with fun.

Swim lessons, taught by certified instructors, provide life-saving skills that benefit children for years to come.

Camp gives children permission to imagine boldly. Arts and crafts, science experiments, performing arts, specialty sports camps, and themed weeks encourage campers to explore new interests and discover hidden talents. In a space free from fear of failure, creativity thrives.

As campers grow, so do their opportunities. Older campers step into

Summer CampS 2026 leadership roles, participate in community projects, travel on field trips, and even train alongside counselors in our CIT program. They learn what it means to guide others, take initiative, and make a positive impact. Skills that shape future leaders.

For over 20 years, the Hamilton Area YMCA Sawmill Summer Camp has created spaces where every child belongs. Financial assistance is available because we believe camp should be accessible to all families.

When parents drop their children

off at Sawmill, they’re not merely sending them to camp. They’re offering them confidence, independence, enduring friendships, and unforgettable memories, all while fostering healthy habits and leadership skills.

The sunshine fades at the end of August, but the growth lasts all year.

This summer, give your child more than something to do. Give them something that shapes who they become. To learn more, visit www. hamiltonymca.org/summer-camp/ sawmill-branch-2026

CENTERCOURT LAWRENCE

YOUR SUMMER. YOUR WAY. MULTI-SPORT CAMP AGES 5-12 HIGH-ENERGY PLAY | SKILL-BUILDING | TEAMWORK | ARTS, CRAFTS & GAMES June 29 - September 4 in weekly themed sessions. Multiple sports - Soccer, Flag Football, Wiffle Ball, Dodgeball, & more -- with a progressive curriculum.

Multi-Week & Sibling Discounts Available. Lunch & Aftercare available.

PRE-K CAMP

VOLLEYBALL

June 29 - September 4 | 9 AM - 1 PM · Movement-based learning · Age-appropriate skill development · Social interaction & teamwork · Lunch available

July 6 - July 24 | Full & Half Day Options · Full Day includes Multi-Sport Camp · Welcoming to beginners (or any level) · Skill-based group instruction · Game play + competitive drills

AGES 5-14

AGES 4-6

these programs. Online registration for seasonal memberships, swim lessons, and Senior Swim/Water Aerobics is required at ewingnj.org/ recregistration. Labor Day is the last Camps & Pools Set for 2026 day that the pools will be open.

The Ewing Community Pools The Ewing Recreation Summer System offers two pools for seasonal Camp will run from June 29 – August members and daily patrons. The pools 22 for grades 1 – 6 and is held on have shaded areas, pool furniture, the grounds of the Fisher School changing rooms, and shower facilities, and Ewing Sr. & Community Center and ESCC has a snack bar. The (ESCC). The hours are from 8:30 Hollowbrook Pool located at 320 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Hollowbrook Drive is scheduled to Early hours are from 7:30 to 8:30 open on weekends & Memorial Day a.m. and late hours are from 4:30 to 6 on Saturday, May 23. Operating hours p.m. Online registration is required at are, Saturdays, 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday ewingnj.org/recregistration.

– Friday noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays Teen Travel will be for grades 7 – can be rented for private events, 9 and will run from July 1 – August email Raquel at rince@ewingnj.org to 16. The camp will travel four days a schedule an event. The ESCC pool week and stay in Ewing the other day. will open on weekends & Memorial Campers can participate in day camp Day starting Saturday, May 23, and on weeks Teen Travel is not being both pools will open full time starting held. Camp also offers a Counselor in on Monday, June 17, from noon Training program for children entering to 8 p.m. Swim lessons start with grades 9 and 10. evaluations on Saturday, June 13, For more information on these and space is limited. Senior Swim and programs call the Ewing Recreation Senior Water Aerobics are offered Office at 609-883-1776 x6203. and will start on Monday, June 22; You can also go to ewingnj.org, seniors needing assistance registering Community Affairs. can register at the Senior Office for

Ewing Recreation Department

BASEBALL WITH MIKE ROGERS AGES 6-12 SKILL DEVELOPMENT | GAMES & COMPETITIONS | PRO COACHING STAFF June 22 - July 17 in weekly sessions. 9 AM - 2 PM outside at Fenton Lane Fields in Chesterfield, New Jersey. Pro-level instruction balanced with a fun, skill-building environment. All levels welcomed, groups broken up by age.

Early Bird (before May 1) and Multi-Week Discounts available

Plus! SOFTBALL | FOOTBALL | LACROSSE | FIELD HOCKEY THE BEST SUMMER STARTS HERE! SCAN THE CODE or visit www.cntrcrt.com/lawrencecamps

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CENTERCOURT LAWRENCE 1080 SPRUCE STREET | LAWRENCE, NJ 609·858·6133 | WWW.CENTERCOURTACADEMY.COM LAWRENCE@CENTERCOURTCLUB.COM

March 2026 | Mercer Camps13

Summer CampS 2026

22 – July 30, in-person or online, on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. The 3-Week Summer Advance Your Child’s Math Program runs in person August 3 – 20 Learning This Summer!

Monday through Thursday with no homework.

Summer math classes at RSM Summer Math Competition Princeton are now enrolling!

Preparation Classes: Math CompetiRSM is an award winning, aftertion Preparation classes are designed school math enrichment program for students interested in advanced trusted by parents for over 25 years mathematical topics and preparing across 80+ locations in North America. Our unique approach consists of a for elite state, national, and internacontinuous K-12 curriculum, taught by tional competitions (Math Kangaroo, MOEMS, AMC 8, 10, 12, USA(J)MO, expert teachers, in a classroom enviand more). The program focuses on ronment of peers who study together teaching students how to approach year after year. competition-level problems. These Featured in NPR and The Atlantic classes are available for grades 2 as a key player in the “Math Revothrough 10 as 6 or 3-week courses lution” and ranked one of the best meeting twice per week. schools in the world by the Johns STEAM Program at RSM EdiHopkins Center for Talented Youth, son: We are thrilled to introduce our RSM uses the rigorous study of mathematics to develop our students’ brand-new Summer STEAM Program, designed for students entering math fluency, intellect, and character, grades K-5. This one-week program empowering them for life. is designed to spark curiosity in young Why Choose RSM’s Summer Prolearners with hands-on activities in gram?

A Program for All Students: RSM Math, Science, Engineering, Chess, Coding, Dance and Art. There is a offers summer classes for K-12 students looking to strengthen their grasp new session each week and students can sign up for multiple sessions. of the fundamentals, prepare for the There are 5 4-hour classes per week upcoming school year, or experience grouped by grade for best learning exadditional challenges.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss: perience and open to all ability levels.

Summer Chess Classes: Chess RSM’s program ensures that students makes its debut at RSM Princeton retain and strengthen their math this summer!

Not only is it a lot of fun, knowledge, keeping them on track but it is also a great tool to improve when they return to school in the fall.

Talented Faculty: All of our teach- your child’s cognitive development, decision-making, creative, and critical ers have a background in mathematthinking skills. The in-person program ics or a related field and a deep meets Monday through Thursday for passion for the subject.

3 weeks.

Classroom Environment: StuGet Started Today! Visit www. dents are instructed by an expert mathschool.com to view the summer teacher leading an interactive lesson schedule for RSM Princeton and other in an in-person class environment.

RSM NJ locations and enroll your Summer Program Details: The child today.

6-Week Summer Program runs June

RSM Princeton

14Mercer Camps | March 2026

Summer CampS 2026 Body Language Dance Center The Stage Is Set for Movement This summer, the stage is set for movement, music, and memorable classes at Body Language Dance Center, where creativity and community come together under the direction of Travis Breen and Eric McCotter.

Located at 5 Scotch Road in the heart of Ewing, the studio continues to be a vibrant hub for dancers ages 2.5–18. The Summer Dance program features an exciting lineup of classes designed to inspire both new and returning students. From high-energy hip-hop and acro to classical ballet and jazz, each class blends strong technical training with expressive artistry in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Breen and McCotter share a deep passion for dance education and performance excellence.

Their leadership emphasizes not only precision and skill development, but also confidence, teamwork, and personal growth. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, explore new styles, and discover their unique voice through movement.

In addition to its recreational classes, Body Language Dance Center is proud to be home to an award-winning competition team that consistently

earns top honors at regional and national events. The team exemplifies dedication, artistry, and sportsmanship, providing dancers with opportunities to grow, perform, and represent the studio with pride.

Classes begin in July, giving students the perfect opportunity to stay active, refine their technique, beginner level through advance, and make the most of their summer break.

Families throughout the community praise Body Language Dance Center for its welcoming atmosphere and dedicated staff. Many students return year after year, drawn by the studio’s commitment to high-quality instruction and positive mentorship.

As the summer season unfolds, Body Language Dance Center remains a place where discipline meets joy — and where every dancer, from beginner to advanced, is empowered to move with confidence and purpose.

Registration for Summer Dance is now open. For more information about class schedules and enrollment, visit BodyLanguageDanceCenter.com or call 609-882-3222.

Free Sunshine, Screen and 100% Fun!

2026

EWING RECREATION

Ewing POOLS 12pm - 8pm daily Ewing Pool System locations, Hollowbrook Community Center (HCC) and Ewing Sr. & Community Center (ESCC). Season dates are Monday, May 25th - Labor Day. Open weekends and Memorial Day. Pools open full time starting June 15th.

HCC is available Saturdays for private rentals only. Contact Raquel at rince@ewingnj.org for rentals.

Splashpads are a popular feature at both pools! Pool patrons can pay daily fees or register for season passes at ewingnj.org/RecRegistration. Register and pay before April 10th and save $25!

Swim leSSonS at HCC: Price: $120/ child. Dates: June 20 - July 18. Evaluations, Saturday, June 13th. Sessions are on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Register at: https://secure.rec1.com/nJ/ewing-township-nj/catalog

open to CHildren Day CamP ENTERING GRADEs 1-6 hoose pers C • Cam ies Activit Their ation nsport a r T s • Bu acks h + Sn • Lunc l thru Schoo hip • Pre eaders Teen L

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Camps run from June 29 through August 21 Camp days include swimming, arts and crafts, nature, special events, entertainers, theme days, athletics, dance and drama.

$275/Week, $375/Week for non-residents Counselors in Training (Grade 9 & 10.) (CIT) is $60 and is only open to Ewing residents. Additional fees for early and late hours. Financial assistance is available. Register and pay before April 10th and save 7%.

teen traVel: JuNE 29- AuGusT 14 KIDs ENTERING GRADEs 7 - 9

FREE!

IN TER TO W N E E T I BS VISIT WE CAMP TUITION! E FR E

LibertyLakeDayCamp.com

Travel 4 days a week and one day at camp. Trips to Amusement parks, beaches, aquarium, rock climbing, bowling , laser tag, skating and much more. $375/week for residents, Non-Residents: $475/week. Campers can attend day camp week of August 21.

All activities at EsCC and Fisher school, except trips.

For more information: ewingnj.org/RecRegistration

Recreation Office Hollowbrook CC 320 Hollowbrook Dr., room 208, Ewing, NJ • 609-883-1776 email: nancy at npappano@ewingnj.org or ted at tforst@ewingnj.org.

March 2026 | Mercer Camps15

Summer CampS 2026 For the Kuenys, opening the facility represents both a business venture and a personal mission.

As parents of two former college athletes, they understand the preparation and discipline required Building Stronger Athletes and a Stron- to compete beyond high school. That perspective shapes how they engage with members and ger Community families who walk through the doors.

Families in the Mercer and Bucks areas Programming is organized by age and stage seeking structured, coach-led fitness, and athletic of development, with Rookie training for ages 7 development now have a dedicated destination to 11, Developmental for ages 12 to 14, Prep for at D1 Training, located just outside Newtown ages 15 to 18, and adult options. In addition to in Langhorne, PA. The facility delivers a sports group sessions, members can choose semi private science-backed approach designed to help youth or one on one coaching. This structure allows and adults improve performance, build strength, individualized attention within a motivating team and develop long-term healthy habits. environment.

Unlike traditional gyms, D1 Training follows Beyond daily training, the owners aim to make a structured model rooted in athletic principles. an impact in the broader community. They have Each workout is organized around five tenets: expressed interest in creating a grant program to dynamic warm-up, performance, strength, core and support underserved youth athletes who may not conditioning, and cool down. This system focuses otherwise access this type of training. The goal is on training the whole body while supporting safe, to expand opportunity while reinforcing the life skills consistent progress for participants at every level. that sports can teach.

The Newtown location is owned by Matt and D1 Training was founded in 2001 by former Tracy Kueny, whose professional backgrounds NFL player Will Bartholomew and has grown into combine athletic coaching and operational a national brand with more than 150 locations leadership. Matt brings more than 20 years of and many additional facilities in development. Its experience as a Junior Olympic softball coach, 5 Star Training System emphasizes total body guiding high school athletes to refine their skills and development and measurable progress rather than pursue higher levels of competition. Tracy has spent short term trends.

14 years at Princeton University as Senior Financial For local residents, the facility offers a place Manager in the Office of the Dean of the College, where athletes, students, and adults can train with overseeing initiatives at one of the nation’s most intention and accountability. Coaches work closely respected institutions. with members to set goals, track improvement, and

D1 Training Newtown

Matt and Tracy Kueny with A J Brown from the Eagles. celebrate milestones. The environment encourages consistency, effort, and confidence, qualities that extend beyond workouts into school, careers, and daily life. As Newtown area families continue to prioritize health and activity, D1 Training Newtown stands as a resource committed to helping individuals reach their potential and sustain active lifestyles for years to come.

With expert coaching, thoughtful programming, and a community minded approach, the facility positions itself as a long term partner in personal fitness, athletic development, and overall wellness for residents throughout the region. Looking ahead.

D1 Training | Newtown, 864 Town Center Drive, Langhorne, Pennsylvania. d1training.com/facility/ newtown.

the eco-friendly, play-based “Cardboard Creations” camp, which are new themes this year.

Summer Camps at Leaping Dog and Sleeping Cat complement each other as “two studios, one creative home,” says director Jennifer Szeto. “Both Never a Dull Moment at Art Camp! spaces feel as part of the same studio. Our beloved Leaping Dog Art Studios and its new second instructors work at both locations and we are exlocation, Sleeping Cat Art Studios, is a communitycited to welcome some new, enthusiastic instructors centered art studio providing art classes, art camps, on staff this coming summer for 2026. Our studio is private art lessons, and art parties for both kids and a safe space, a positive space and each summer adults in drawing, painting, pottery, and more in we cannot wait to meet new campers and welcome downtown Bordentown City. back returning campers as one does family. The Unlike a traditional art school with grades and fact is, many of our campers have been coming and critiques, Leaping Dog & Sleeping Cat offers a more often they come for multiple weeks each summer. relaxed educational atmosphere, free of judgment, We have become like a second home, a creative are always excited to see what new things they and strives to meet students where they are at in home for these students, a place where they feel get to do and create each day and each week. For their creative journey and help them to grow as an safe in, can meet new friends, try new things, learn artist. Their kids Summer Camp program in particu- example, one day we may be learning to draw faces new skills, gain confidence and feel inspired.” and another day, we’re making magic wands or polar has become a popular choice for local parents Online Registration is now open. since they first opened back in 2014 and are known tions and creating fantastical creatures out of clay For more info and to find the latest schedule of or with paper mache. to fill up fast. What makes their camps special? classes and events, including “Arty Pizza Nights”, While all ceramics or clay-centered camps will For one thing, they always keep camp numbers “Bookish Art Club” meetings, “Coffee and Craftbe offered at the Leaping Dog location (including small (under 15) to make sure that each camper ernoons” and monthly musical performances like “Foodie Clay Camp” and “Pottery Wheel” camps), gets individualized attention by caring and talented Open Mic Nights and Jazz Jams, follow them on camps at Sleeping Cat will focus on two-dimeninstructors. Secondly, camp at Leaping Dog, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/leapingdogartstusional and performance art related themes includnow Sleeping Cat is never dull! With a full load dios or visit their website at www.leapingdogartstuing “We Love Music & Theater Art” Camp, Fashion of artful themes offered throughout the entire ten dios.com.

Design Camp, Cartooning and Digital Art Camp and weeks of summer, instructors and campers alike

Leaping Dog & Sleeping Cat Art Studios

16Mercer Camps | March 2026

March 2026 | Mercer Camps17

Summer CampS 2026 A production of ‘Beetlejuice’ from a previous year’s Tomato Patch Workshop.

Tomato Patch at Kelsey Theatre Now Registering for Its 53rd Year!

Kelsey Theatre at Mercer is now registering for Tomato Patch!

Now in its 53rd year, Tomato Patch is the longest-running, most successful multi-disciplinary Visual and Performing Arts program in Central New Jersey. Featuring classes for ages 10-18, Tomato Patch is taught by a talented staff of professional artists. Check us out online at www.tomatopatch.org.

Here are some fun things about Tomato Patch: First: It is truly multi-disciplinary.

You choose a major in the morning in either theater, dance, vocal music or visual art and have classes in your

major, then after lunch you have four electives — and you can mix and match between theater, dance, music,

visual arts and video.

Second: It culminates in a Festival of The Arts Performance and Gallery

Centercourt More Than Sports: Summer Fun with a Purpose in Lawrence Centercourt Club & Sports has become a trusted hub for youth sports in the community, offering year-round training, development programs, and structured leagues for multiple sports across the region. As summer approaches, the facility is inviting parents to take advantage of flexible camp options designed to fit every child’s interests and goals.

The message this season is simple: design summer your way.

Conveniently located in Lawrence Township, Centercourt offers a range of camp experiences that allow families to choose the structure, sport focus, and environment that best fits their child.

For families seeking a well-rounded, highenergy experience, Centercourt’s Multi-Sport Summer Camp delivers action-packed days built around movement, teamwork, and fun.

Campers rotate through structured sports sessions including soccer, flag football, wiffle ball and field games, along with team challenges and themed programming. The focus goes beyond simply staying active — it is about building confidence, encouraging sportsmanship, and creating friendships that last well beyond the summer months.

For younger campers, Centercourt’s Pre-K Camp provides a supportive and engaging introduction to group activities. Designed specifically for early learners, the program

18Mercer Camps | March 2026

emphasizes age-appropriate skill development, cooperative play, and structured fun in a safe and nurturing environment. It is an ideal first camp experience for families looking to build routine and social confidence before the school year begins.

Baseball players have a unique opportunity this summer with Michael Rogers Baseball Camp.

Known for his player development expertise and ability to connect with young athletes, Rogers brings a high-level instructional approach. Campers receive focused skill instruction, position-specific training, and game-based learning designed to elevate performance while maintaining

Exhibit.

Third: You will make lasting friendships — something we have seen for many years, as you find friends that have a lot in common with you.

Tomato Patch Workshops this summer has 2 sessions: Session 1 for ages 13-18, June 29July 24 (four weeks).

Session 2 for ages 10-12, July 27-August 13 (3 weeks).

We also feature a Master Class in Acting which is full-day 3 week theater intensive summer program for ages 13-19. July 27-August 14.

The Master Class in Theater culminates in A Night of One Acts!

Call 609-570-3566 for more information.

the excitement that makes summer baseball memorable. Baseball camp takes place at Fenton Lane Park in Chesterfield.

Adding to the lineup this year, there are four brand new indoor Volleyball courts, expanding to trainings, league, and Volleyball Camp. As volleyball continues to grow in popularity across the region, Centercourt is proud to introduce enhanced training opportunities and gameplay. Athletes will work on fundamentals, strategy, and team play under experienced coaches, making it an exciting new option for both beginners and experienced players. The best of both worlds, Multi-Sport + Volleyball Combo Camp includes a half day of Volleyball and a half day of Multi-Sport activities.

Additional sport-specific camps, including Softball, Football, and Lacrosse, will be announced soon, giving even more athletes the opportunity to train and compete in a structured summer environment.

What connects all of these programs is Centercourt’s commitment to coach-led instruction and intentional programming. Each session is supervised and thoughtfully designed to promote both athletic development and character growth.

Families are encouraged to explore the full lineup of camp options and secure their spots early, as sessions typically fill quickly. To see all Centercourt Lawrence camp offerings and register, visit www.cntrcrt.com/lawrence-camps.

At Centercourt Lawrence, summer is not one-size-fits-all — it is built around flexibility, development, and community, giving every family the opportunity to design a season that works for them.

Summer CampS 2026 Liberty Lake Day Camp Marking 25 Years With Expanded Leadership, Safety Initiatives, and Growing Regional Demand As Liberty Lake Day Camp enters its 25th year serving families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the well-known Bordentown program is marking the milestone with strengthened leadership, expanded safety initiatives, and continued emphasis on inclusion and youth development.

Founded in 2001 by educator and former American Camp Association (ACA) NY/NJ President Andy Pritikin, Liberty Lake Day Camp has grown into one of the region’s most established summer day camps.

These 60 shady acres are the summer home base to thousands of campers each season, offering a mix of outdoor recreation, instructional activities, and values-based programming.

“This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate but also to continue raising the bar,” Pritikin said. “The needs of children and families evolve, and we want to grow with them.” If you are looking for more details about “life in the day of a camper”, on December 24, 2025 — Liberty Lake Day Camp announced the release of its 2025 Video Yearbook, highlighting a summer filled with confidence-building programs, meaningful friendships, and personal growth…great video!

Leadership Expansion: A Second Generation Joins the Team. The camp’s 25th anniversary also marks the return of Justin Pritikin, Andy’s

son, to the leadership team. Justin, a former Liberty Lake camper, brings experience in youth programming, staff training, and leadership development.

His professional background includes roles in corporate leadership at lululemon and program oversight at Everwood Day Camp, Liberty Lake’s sister camp in Massachusetts. Justin is also known for his TED Talk on resilience, inspired by his seven-year battle with childhood leukemia. His full biography appears here “Coming back to Liberty Lake feels like the right moment,” Justin said.

“This place shaped me as a child, and I’m honored to contribute to its next chapter.”

Safety Enhancements Remain Central to Camp Operations.

Safety continues to be one of the most scrutinized aspects of youth programs, and Liberty Lake Day Camp has worked to maintain what many parents describe as a “proactive and visible” safety culture.

The camp regularly exceeds New Jersey’s staffing and training requirements, particularly in its waterfront program, where additional certified lifeguards and layered supervision are standard practices.

Staff complete multiple rounds of emergency-preparedness training, and daily risk assessments are part of the camp’s routine. A detailed summary of Liberty Lake Day Camp’s safety procedures is available.

“Our philosophy is that safety should be built into every aspect of operation,” Andy Pritikin said. “It’s not a document — it’s a culture.”

Growing Focus on Inclusion and Social-Emotional Support.

Alongside traditional activities, Liberty Lake Day Camp has expanded its inclusion and social-emotional programming. Counselors receive training in supporting neurodiverse campers, managing peer interactions, and fostering communication skills.

The camp’s long-standing 5-Star Points — Independence, Integrity,

Inspiration, Teamwork, and Friendship — remain at the center of its youthdevelopment model.

“Parents today are looking for camps where their children feel welcome and understood,” Justin said. “We want every child to feel successful here.”

Regional Interest From Both NJ and PA Families. Liberty Lake Day Camp draws campers from Burlington, Mercer, Camden, and Gloucester counties, as well as from across the river in Philadelphia and Bucks County. Many families cite the camp’s leadership, staff stability, and safety practices as deciding factors in enrollment.

Families new to the camp often look for information on schedules, meals, transportation, and program structure.

A resource page answering these questions is available at: libertylakedaycamp.com/liberty-lakeday-camp-top-questions-guides/ Looking Ahead: Planning for the Next 25 Years. As Liberty Lake Day Camp celebrates their 25th anniversary, this milestone also marks its next chapter. Andy and Justin say their focus remains consistent: delivering high-quality programming that helps children grow socially, emotionally, and physically.

“The elements that make camp meaningful have stayed the same,” Andy said. “Children need outdoor experiences, friendship, and opportunities that help them step outside their comfort zone. We’re committed to providing that for the next generation.”

Enrollment for the upcoming summer is currently open, with certain age groups expected to reach capacity based on prior years’ trends.

Visit www.libertylakedaycamp.com.

Read about the camps featured in MERCER CAMPS and many more on our website!

merCer

C AMP S Day Camps / Summer Camps / Residential Camps / Sports Camps / Study Camps

mercercamps.com March 2026 | Mercer Camps19

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MARCH 2026

B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H

Capital Health Named One of U.S. News & World Report’s

BEST HOSPITALS FOR MATERNITY CARE IN 2026 U.S. News & World Report, a global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell as a 2026 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study, now in its fifth edition.

Capital Health is one of 27 hospitals in New Jersey and the only hospital in the Greater Mercer County area to earn this recognition. This is the third consecutive year that Capital Health earned a place on the U.S. News High Performing Hospitals list for Maternity Care and the fourth time in five years since U.S. News published its first list of Best Hospitals for Maternity. U.S. News also recognized Capital Health in April 2024 for achieving excellent outcomes for cesarean sections and unexpected newborn complications among black patients.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and birthing-friendly practices, among other measures.

“Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high performing hospital for the third year in a row—and four out of the five years the study has been published—is an important

honor for our Maternity Services team and our patients at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell,” said Dr. Kira Przybylko, medical director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Capital Health.

“It validates all the hard work our incredible staff does every day at the Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center, and it tells expectant mothers that we consistently provide highest level of care as we help their growing families get off to the healthiest and safest start possible.”

“Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders. This recognition means they are consistently hitting crucial patient safety benchmarks compared to other hospitals,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “It’s a clear signal to expectant parents about where the highest standards of care are being practiced – when parents see this designation, they can be assured they are choosing a hospital dedicated to exceptional, evidence-based maternity care.”

The Maternity Services Program at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell makes up the most complete maternity facility in the area. From routine deliveries to high-risk needs, staff at the Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell provide a full range of prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care options so newborns have the greatest chance for a healthy start. The designated Regional Perinatal Center provides neonatal care, including Mercer County’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for at-risk births.

To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org/maternity.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Princeton Echo21

Capital Health Receives Five-Year Grant Award from Merck Foundation to Launch New Initiative to Improve Cardiovascular Care in Trenton Capital Health has been awarded a grant through the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, a five-year initiative funded by the Merck Foundation aimed at enhancing access to high quality, person-centered health care for people living with heart conditions in the United States. As one of 11 awardees in the United States, Capital Health will receive $1.7 million over five years to develop its Cardiac Opportunities for Resilience and Empowerment (CORE) Program as part of its Institute for Urban Care. The program’s goal is to help to close gaps in the delivery of cardiac care to underserved communities in Trenton, New Jersey.

“Capital Health has a long history of working with community partners to address the health care challenges that impact Trenton residents every day,” said Dr. Eric Schwartz, executive director of Capital Health’s Institute for Urban Care and director of the CORE Program.

“Our CORE Program aims to connect people living with heart conditions with care providers, community education programs, and guidance for healthy eating, all of which will enable them to better self-manage their heart health.”

Residents in the City of Trenton face a number of systemic barriers and inequities. Life expectancy is 4.4 years less than other measured cities, 26% percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, impacts more than one third (36.1%) of the community.

communities across the country,” said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, vice president and head, Social Impact & Sustainability, Merck.

Capital Health recently opened its new, state-of-the-art Al Maghazehe Heart and Vascular Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, marking a significant expansion that covers 12,650 square feet with three operating rooms: one cardiac surgery room for open-heart procedures, one hybrid operating room, and one catheterization laboratory for interventional procedures. The new center is part of the larger Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers comprehensive care with a multi-specialty approach at locations throughout the greater Mercer and Bucks county region.

Through the Merck Foundation’s Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, Capital Health’s CORE Program will build sustainable community partnerships to address barriers to cardiac care and improve outcomes and quality of life for people with heart conditions. Capital Health will work with Trenton Health Team and other community partners to manage and monitor the CORE program.

In addition to Capital Health, Merck Foundation’s program grantees include La Clínica del Pueblo, Public Health Institute/ Population Health Innovation Lab, University of Chicago, UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care, Providence Medical Foundation, The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, Zufall Health Center, Georgia State University Research Foundation/ Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement, MedNorth Health Center, and Gallup Community Health.

“Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one cause of death for men and women living in the U.S., and its burden hits under-resourced communities the hardest. By addressing the medical and social needs of people living with heart conditions, the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care will have a significant, lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and

Capital Health Institute for Urban Care works to advance the health and well-being of Trenton residents by growing and aligning Capital Health’s services with a robust network of community partners in the City of Trenton to improve medical care while overcoming the complex social determinants of health. To learn more about the Institute, visit capitalhealth.org/urbancare.

22 Princeton Echo | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Capital Thrift Named Best Thrift Store of 2025 in Mercer County Capital Thrift has been recognized as the Best Thrift Store in Mercer County for 2025. This honor was certified by BusinessRate, an online platform that provides comprehensive performance metrics for businesses against local competitors based on advanced Google review data. Located at 2783 US-1 South in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Capital Thrift is organized and operated by volunteers from Capital Health and Capital Health Foundation. The shop received top honors for excellence in customer satisfaction, brand reputation, and service excellence.

“This recognition is a direct reflection of the dedication, warmth, and commitment of the incredible volunteers who manage and operate Capital Thrift with care and purpose each day,” said Leslie Gibbons, volunteer store manager. “Their efforts not only create a welcoming retail experience but also advance Capital Health’s mission by supporting programs that benefit our patients and community.”

Capital Health Foundation works to raise and steward charitable funds to advance Capital Health’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the urban and suburban communities it serves.

Through philanthropy, the Foundation partners with corporations, community organizations, community leaders, Capital Health colleagues, and grateful patients and families to drive impact and transform health care in the Mercer and Bucks county region. To learn more about the Capital Health Foundation, or to make a gift of support, visit CapitalHealth.org/Foundation. To learn more about Capital Thrift and for store hours, find them on Facebook at Capital Thrift NJ or call the store at 609.882.4717.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Princeton Echo23

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Class size is limited. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Is That Bump a Hernia? A Free Screening Event Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell NJ PURE Conference Center, One Capital Way, Pennington, NJ 08534 Hernias can affect many areas of the body, often appearing as a bump under the skin in the abdomen or groin and causing varying levels of pain.

If you have pain that affects your ability to perform day-to-day activities and think it might be a hernia, join Dr. Jooyeun Chung, director of Capital Health’s Robotic-Assisted Surgery Program, for a free hernia screening and a discussion of the latest treatment options. Staff will be available to schedule follow-up appointments, as needed. Please wear loose clothing.

Registration is required. Visit capitalhealth.org/events to reserve your spot today.

Prediabetes: What It Is and How to Prevent Diabetes Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting Prediabetes affects millions of people and often has no clear symptoms, yet it can lead to type 2 diabetes and other health problems if not addressed early. Join Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist LaShanta Dawkins as she explains what prediabetes is, who is at risk, and how it can be detected through simple health screenings.

ADDITIONAL FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS: LATEST UPDATES ON ATRIAL FIBRILLATION MANAGEMENT Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Zoom Meeting

OUR KIDNEYS MATTER: A GUIDE TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE Monday, March 30, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Zoom Meeting

24 Princeton Echo | Health Headlines by Capital Health

STOP THE BLEED Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 6 – 8 p.m.

Capital Health EMS Education

2480 Pennington Road, Suite 107 Pennington, NJ 08534

Celebrate Albert Einstein’s 147th birthday on Pi Day in Princeton

T

he Princeton community celebrates the birthday of famed theoretical physicist and former resident Albert Einstein on Saturday, March 14, with a series of Pi Day events hosted by the Historical Society of Princeton.

Einstein, who was born March 14, 1879, lived in Princeton for more than two decades.

The Historical Society, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of Einstein’s personal belongings, will offer two public programs marking what would have been his 147th birthday.

The day will begin at 11 a.m. with a talk by author and journalist Benyamin Cohen at the Princeton Public Library.

Cohen will discuss Einstein’s enduring popularity and share anecdotes from his book, “The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds.”

Cohen manages the official social media accounts dedicated to Einstein’s legacy.

The program is free, though registration is requested. The event is supported by The Graduate Princeton.

From 1 to 4 p.m., the celebration will continue at the Historical Society’s museum at Updike Farmstead on Quaker Road.

Visitors have the opportunity to view Einstein’s furniture and other personal items, including special collections not typically on public display.

A costumed Einstein will be on hand to answer questions and pose for photos.

Additional hands-on activities will be offered by the Princeton Einstein Museum of Science, including magnetism games, a mini black hole exhibit, and free compasses or Pi Day tattoos for children 12 and under.

Admission to the museum program is $5, with free entry for children ages 6 and under.

Visitors who purchase tickets online before March 14 will receive a First Day of Issue stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s birth, limited to Bill Agress, left, as Einstein and ‘Einstein one per family. www.princetonhistory. Effect’ author Benyamin Cohen are part org. of Pi Day festivities on March 14.

EVENTS, continued from page 8

Jessie Ball duPont Memorial Library. Register. $20 virtual; $40 in-person. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sunday March 15

Wednesday March 11

Daughters of the American Revolution National Conservation Award, D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, 609-924-4646. www.drgreenway.org. Award presented to D&R Greenway Land Trust along with a panel discussion on “historic landscapes of signficance.” Light refreshements served. Register. $10 donation. Come as you are or in your cOsmO, McCarter Theater, 91 University colonial finest. 2 to 4 p.m.

Place, 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Two Open Mic Afternoon, Arts Council of Princcosmic clowns create worlds out of yarn, light, eton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscounmusic, and imagination in this wordless show for cilofprinceton.org. Afternoon of heartfelt stoages 3 to 7. $29 to $39. 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. rytelling, community connection, and reflection Author: Benyamin Cohen, Princeton Pub- celebrating the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborlic Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princ- hood, Princeton’s 20th historic district. Free. 2 to etonlibrary.org. Author and journalist discusses 4 p.m. his book, “The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Chaucer Talk, English Speaking Union Favorite Genius Got Into Our Cars, Our BathPrinceton Branch, Monument Hall, One Monurooms, and Our Minds.” 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ment Drive. legacy.esuus.org/princeton. Glenn A. Sustainable Home Expo, Sustainable Steinberg, professor of English at The College of Princeton, Princeton Middle School, Walnut New Jersey, examines two specific areas in which Lane. www.sustainableprinceton.org. Local ven- Chaucer’s apparent detachment and universality dors and seminars on such topics as Sustainable is being increasingly questioned — the areas of Accessory Dwelling Units, Sustainable Yards & literary and social politics. $10 charge for nonGardens, Home Energy Efficiency & Solar Instal- members. 3 p.m. lations, and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Open Acoustic Jam, Princeton Public LiLittle Listeners: Time for Music, Princeton brary, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonliUniversity Concerts, Richardson Auditorium. brary.org. At this inclusive and open jam for local concerts.princeton.edu. Rami Vamos and the musicians, chord charts and lyrics for songs will Bayberry String Quartet present an interactive be provided. Bring your acoustic guitar, uke, viojourney exploring works by Haydn, Mozart, lin, resonator, tambourine or your voice to join Beethoven, Dvorák, Rorem, and Anderson for the fun. 3 p.m. ages 3 to 6. $11 adults; $6 children. 1 and 3 p.m.

Hollywood Awards Party, Princeton GarBob Crawford in Conversation with Sean den Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. www.princWilentz, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. etongardentheatre.org. Red carpet reception www.labyrinthbooks.com. Conversation be- with drinks and hors d’oeuvres followed by an tween musician, historian, and author Bob Oscars viewing on the big screen with interacCrawford and Sean Wilentz, Princeton Univer- tive games during commercial breaks and botsity professor of American history, centered on tomless popcorn and soda. Register. $25 and up Crawford’s new book, “America’s Founding Son: for watch party only; $160 includes reception John Quincy Adams, from President to Political and reserved seating. 5:30 p.m.

Maverick.” Register. 4 p.m.

Yasmin Williams, McCarter Theater, 91 Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale, Stuart University Place. www.mccarter.org. The VirginCountry Day School, 1200 Stuart Road. www. ia-born musician uses an innovative fingerstyle bmandwbooks.com. 60+ categories of books acoustic guitar technique and incorporates kora, in excellent condition. Opening day; ticket re- harp guitar, and banjo. $35 to $65. 7:30 p.m. quired. $32. Continues through March 15, free Saturday March 14 admission. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Empowher: A Conversation with Anuja Gupta, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street. www.princetonsenior.org. Gupta is an educator, leadership coach, and facilitator. Hybrid event.

Register. $5. An in-person celebration of Holi, the festival of colors, follows, $10. 4 p.m.

Opening & Closing Receptions, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www. princetonlibrary.org. Meet the artists exhibiting in the Princeton Environmental Film Festival’s art show “Shaped by Earth, Moved By Water” and the photographers whose works are part of “The Poetry of Nature.” 6 p.m.

ART OF Slow Stitching, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www. artscouncilofprinceton.org. Discover peacefulness as you repurpose scraps of fabric and thread. Register. $45. 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday March 12 Princeton Farmers Market, Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street. Also March 26. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ART OF Making Matcha at Home, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Class with Ooika Matcha on how to make your favorite matcha lattes at home. Register. $60. 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Grand Homes & Gardens Series, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street. www. morven.org. Second event in the annual series featuring Stratford Hall in Virginia with speaker Gordon Blaine Steffey, director of research at the

Monday March 16 Monthly Meeting, Women’s College Club of Princeton, Morven Museum, 55 Stockton Street. www.wccpnj.org. “The Art of the Judiciary,” presented by Phil Carchman. Free. 1 to 3 p.m.

Tuesday March 17 Movie: “Waking Ned Devine”, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www. princetonlibrary.org. 3 p.m.

Friends Annual Mary Pitcairn Keating Lecture, Princeton University Art Museum, McCosh Hall 10. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Multimedia artist Nick Cave and Museum Director James Steward discuss Cave’s artistic evolution and public art. Reception follows. 5:30 p.m.

Book Talk with Steven Weitzman, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. www.labyrinthbooks.com. His new book is “Disasters of Biblical Proportions: The Ten Plagues Then, Now, and at the End of the World.” 6 p.m.

Songwriters Circle and Open Mic, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Princeton Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association provides feedback and tips to help songwriters improve.

Includes an acoustic open mic. 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday March 18 Anny Gaul in Conversation with Hanna Garth, Labyrinth Books, 219 Aaron Burr Hall. www.labyrinthbooks.com. Gaul’s new book is “Nile Nightshade: An Egyptian Culinary History of the Tomato.” Garth is assistant professor of anthropology at Princeton. Noon.

Demonstration: Pysanky Decorating and History, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Artist Jenny Santa Maria demonstrates how to create pysanky, eggs decorated using the centuries-old Ukrainian method using beeswax and richly layered dyes. Register. 4 to 5:30 p.m.

See EVENTS, Page 26

March 2026 | Princeton Echo25

Open mic event celebrates historic neighborhood

T

he Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) invites the public to an afternoon of heartfelt storytelling, community connection, and reflection at an open mic event on Sunday, March 15, from 2 to 4 p.m., celebrating the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, Princeton’s 20th historic district and a community rich in cultural and historical significance.

The program begins at 2 p.m. with book signings, followed by remarks from ACP Executive Director Adam Welch, and a conversation with the Rev. Gregory S. Smith, Evelyn Turner-Counts, and Aaron Fisher. Following the discussion, performers are invited to participate in an open mic session, sharing spoken word pieces and poetry inspired by the spirit of the Witherspoon-Jackson community.

“Reflections from a Vibrant Past Volume 3” by Smith is the next in the series

The Rev. Gregory S. Smith, left, Evelyn Turner-Counts, and Aaron Fisher speak at the Arts Council of Princeton on Sunday, March 15.

featuring a collection of poetry and essays inspired by the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, capturing the voices, histories, and lived experiences of its residents. Through vivid language and evocative imagery, the book offers an intimate portrait of a community shaped by resilience, memory, and pride.

Fisher describes the work as “a powerful and intimate tribute, this collection gives voice to Black Princetonians with honesty,

pride, and deep emotional resonance.”

Smith reflects on the project, stating, “I am pleased to join with two fellow community friends in the production of this third book of poetry, depicting the lives and characters of the Witherspoon-Jackson community.” He adds, “This book forced me to revisit stories and memories of people that lived on the edges of my mind for many years. I often wondered, ‘What purpose does it serve?’ Now I know.

EVENTS, continued from page 25

Samaritan, Paoli, Pennsylvania. Free. 12:30 p.m. The fragile recovery of communities and rare wildlife in the mining-scarred Nimba Mountains Annual Phyllis Marchand Leadership is threatened by a global steel company using Lecture, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherconservation promises to brand a new mining spoon Street. Talk presented by astrophysicist venture as green. 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Jenny Greene, along with a special performance Lily Neill & Clive Carroll, Princeton Folk by the Princeton Girlchoir. Register. 6:30 p.m.

Music Society, Christ Congregation Church, 50 Story & Verse: Open Mic, Arts Council of Walnut Lane. www.princetonfolk.org. The harp Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Communiand guitar duo performs a mix of blues, dances ty-created entertainment in the form of storyHanna Garth in Conversation with Bon- telling and poetic open mic. Performers should from Eastern Europe, tunes from the Balkans, netta Adeeb and Ruha Benjamin, Labyrinth bring their own work of their choice for open Irish airs, Ragtime numbers, and Elizabethan lute classics. $25. Livestream available. 8 p.m.

Books, 122 Nassau Street. www.labyrinthbooks. theme night. Register. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. com. Garth, assistant professor of anthropolChamber Series at Trinity, Princeton Sym- Saturday March 21 ogy at Princeton, discusses “Food Justice Unphony Orchestra, Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Princeton 5K, Princeton High School, 151 done: Lessons for Building a Better Movement,” Street. www.princetonsymphony.org. The HelMoore Street. runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Princewith Adeeb, founder and president of nonprofit sinki-based Erinys Quartet performs. $45. 7 p.m. ton/PrincetonNJ5K. Run (or walk) to support the STEAM ONWARD, Inc; and Benjamin, professor Roy Wood Jr.: The Man of Many Fathers Princeton High School Cross Country and Track & of African American studies at Princeton. 6 p.m.

Book Tour, McCarter Theatre, 91 University Field teams. Register. $40 to $45; $15 for 300m Documentary Screening: Porcelain War, Place. www.mccarter.org. Laugh-out-loud mem- kids’ dash, ages 10 and under. 8:30 a.m.

Princeton University Concerts, Princeton Garoir revealing that sometimes the best advice Gallery Openings: The Ephemeral Waltz den Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. concerts.princcomes from the most surprising teachers. Ticket of the Butterfly; Wild Clay; and The Traveleton.edu. Portrait of artists on the frontlines of purchase includes book. $50 to $60. 7:30 p.m. ing Waffle House Interviews, Arts Council the war in Ukraine. Screening sets the stage for Tabea Zimmermann, Viola & Javier Peri- of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www. violinist Lisa Batiashvili’s April conversation and anes, Piano, Princeton University Concerts, artscouncilofprinceton.org. Receptions for three performance at PUC. $8.50 to $13.75. 7 p.m.

Richardson Auditorium. concerts.princeton.edu. new exhibits on view through April 18. 3 to 5 Ravi Shankar Ensemble, McCarter The$33 to $54. 7:30 p.m. p.m. ater, 91 University Place. www.mccarter.org. $46 to $76. 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 20 Sunday March 22 Aging in Place: The Experiences of Older People in Prison, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street. www.princetonsenior.org.

Maggie Leigey, professor of criminology at TCNJ, shares insights from her ongoing longitudinal research project on aging and incarceration. Hybrid event. Register. $10. 4 p.m.

Jazz Vespers, Princeton University Chapel. music.princeton.edu. An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. 8 p.m.

Thursday March 19

Women in Retirement Special Presentation: The USA Celebrates 250 Years, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Monument Hall, One Monument Drive. www.princetonsenior. org. Presenter Sandy Smith is a member of the League of Women Voters-Lawrence Township.

Register. Free. 10 a.m. to noon.

After Noon Concert, Princeton University Overburden, Princeton Environmental Chapel. chapel.princeton.edu. Organ perforFilm Festival, Robertson Hall Bowl 16, 20 Prosmance by Connor Fluharty, Church of the Good pect Avenue. www.princetonlibrary.org/peff.

26Princeton Echo | March 2026

Laurie Berkner, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place. www.mccarter.org. Princeton native is a singer, songwriter, performer, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records. Morning performance, $34, is a solo, sensory friendly show. Afternoon show, $47 to $61, includes Berkner’s band. 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Monday March 23 Author: Curtis Dozier, Princeton Public Li-

I hope this book inspires readers to reflect on their own life stories and the people who made it possible for them to become who they are today.”

Turner-Counts also shared her enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “I feel thrilled and honored to collaborate with these two talented gentlemen in this endeavor.”

Welch releases his new book, “Paul Robeson Place: How a Street Got Its Name,” and re-releases his zine Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood: Revised and Expanded. Also available for purchase will be Welch’s “The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood: How One Community Changed Princeton.”

The event is free and open to the public, inviting community members, readers, and supporters. Copies of all six books will be available for purchase and signing.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. artscouncilofprinceton. org.

brary, 65 Witherspoon Street. www.princetonlibrary.org. Classicist and author presents his book “The White Pedestal: How White Nationalists Use Ancient Greece and Rome to Justify Hate.”

Register. 6 p.m.

Wednesday March 25 Percival Everett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Princeton University Public Lecture Series, McCosh Hall 50. lectures.princeton.edu.

Percival Everett is a professor of English at the University of Southern California. His 2024 novel, “James,” a reinvented version of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Part of the Spencer Trask Lecture Series. 5 to 6:30 p.m.

People & Peace Talk Show, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street. www.princetonsenior.org. Host Conrad Strauch welcomes Mayor Mark Freda for a wide-ranging conversation about civic leadership in complex times. Hybrid event. Register. $5. 5 p.m.

Thursday March 26 Afternoon Tea with The Secret Tea Room, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street. www.morven.org. Choice of tea or infusion accompanied by scones, tea sandwiches, dessert, and a sparkling drink. Register for noon or 2:15 p.m. seating. $50 includes optional tour.

Also March 27. Noon to 3:30 p.m.

Durba Mitra in Conversation with Chandra Mohanty, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. www.labyrinthbooks.com. The feminist historian and theorist discusses her book “The Future That Was: A History of Third World Feminism Against Authoritarianism” with Mohanty, professor women’s and gender studies at Syracuse University. 6 p.m.

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Grand Homes & Gardens Series, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street. www.morven.org. Third event in the annual series. Gardens of Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia with speaker Peter Hatch of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Register. $20 virtual; $40 in-person. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

ty Art Museum, Grand Hall. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Celebrate the legacy of spoken word as art, activism, and a tool for survival.

See performances by poets as well as local artists and storytellers.

Sign ups for the open mic begin at 5:30 p.m. 6 to 8 p.m.

Cafe Improv, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Patricia Kopatchinskaja: Dies Irae, Princeton University Stree. Local music, poetry, comedy. $2. 7 to 10 p.m.

Concerts, Princeton University Chapel. concerts.princeton.edu.

Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens, McCarter Semi-staged performance offers a musical reflection on the dev- Theater, 91 University Place. www.mccarter.org. “Sanctuary: astating consequences of global warming, resource wars, and the The Power of Resonance and Ritual” is a new program from the refugee crisis. $37 to $63. 7:30 p.m.

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Friday March 27

sunday March 29

Nature Book Club, Friends of Princeton Open Space, MounPratima: Singularity and Beyond, Arts Council of Princtain Lakes House, Mountain Avenue. www.fopos.org/events-pro- eton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. grams. Discuss “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau. Register. 10:30 Artist-in-Residence Nisha Pradeep’s residency ends with a classical a.m. to noon.

Indian dance performance. Guided discussion follows. 3 to 5 p.m.

Time and Other Materials, Princeton University Art MuseThe Making of Life on Our Planet: Dinosaurs, McCarter um, Tuttle Lecture Hall. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Documentary Theater, 91 University Place. www.mccarter.org. An immersive explores the worlds and artistic processes of five women artists live experience that reveals how millions of years of Earth’s history working in animation, ceramics, installation, large-scale sculpture, were brought to life. Host Barny Revill leads audiences through and more. Discussion with one of the artists follows. 2 to 3:30 p.m. the screening and conversation. $34 to $54. 3 p.m.

Lucius: A History Worth Repeating, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place. www.mccarter.org. Grammy-nominated indiepop band. $35 to $75. 8 p.m.

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Tuesday March 31 Bach for Solo Strings, Princeton University Chapel. chapel. princeton.edu. Celebrate Bach’s birthday with a marathon presentation of his solo works for violin and cello. Free. 3 to 8:30 p.m.

Art Pop-Up: Recent Works by Joe Kossow, Arts Council of On the Palestinian Diaspora and the Dream of Return, Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. www.artscouncilofprinceton. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. www.labyrinthbooks.com. A org. Pop-up exhibition invites audiences to explore and collect the conversation between Princeton professor of comparative literaPrinceton-based artist’s recent pieces. Free. Noon to 5 p.m. ture Max Weiss and Hannah Lillith Assadi on her novel “Paradiso Resist, Reclaim, Restore: An Open Mic, Princeton Universi- 17.” 6 p.m.

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