6-18 All Pages by Community News Service

For editorial inquiries:

609-452-7000

Opportunities in progress

ATTENTION TRENTON

COMMUNITY:

The Trenton Film Society is looking for new members!

We’re looking for film lovers who also love the city of Trenton. Do you have any interest or love of film? We’d love to hear from you!

If you have experience in web design, social media management, technology, or film editing, we’d love to have you join us!

If Interesteed Please Email: trentonfilms@gmail. com

With the Subject Line “Board Member Interest”

South Brunswick Arts Commission Show

GEOMETRY OF LIFE

We are pleased to to announce the next exhibit sponsored by the South Brunswick Arts Commission

GEOMETRY OF LIFE

Explore the order, rhythm and beauty created by geometric patterns, structures, and forms that are present everywhere in our natural and manmade worlds. All static media including fine crafts and abstract treatments are welcome.

Exhibit: August 15 to October 3, 2025

U.S. 1 WELCOMES letters to the editor, corrections, and criticisms of our stories and columns. E-mail your thoughts directly to our editor: hastings@princetoninfo. com.

Applications Due July 11, 2025

Link to: APPLICATION PDF

GEOMETRY OF LIFE

Application Due Date Friday, July 11, 2025

Exhibit August 15 to October 3, 2025

The Gallery, South Brunswick Municipal Building 540 Route 522/Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852

Email: southbrunswickgallery@gmail.com – Website: www.sbarts.org

Submission Guidelines: Original artwork will be considered in all media except film and video. Work must not have been exhibited at the Gallery before. The commission will determine any issue of appropriateness.

Submission Specifications:

1. RGB 100 pixels per inch resolution, JPEG format, to a maximum dimension of 2000 pixels. (Image of an 8” x 10” work would be at least 800 pixels by 1000 pixels, a 24” x 24” would be 2000 by 2000 pixels.)

2. Identify each image file name, using underscores to separate your information: Example: initials_applepie_1. jpg

bw_thepassingofthestorm_3. jpg

Framing and Hanging:

Work must be wired and ready to hang. All works on paper must be framed; canvas must be framed or have finished edges.

No saw tooth clips will be accepted.

Works on paper: must be under glass or Plexiglas.

Maximum Framed Size: 60” w x 42”h

3-D: Work must not exceed 20” x 24” footprint.

Sales: Buyers are referred to artists. South Brunswick Arts Commission takes no commission.

Terms: Work is insured upon delivery (maximum value of $1000 – beyond this the artist will need their own insurance) and until pick-up date. Work may be marked not for sale (NFS) but an insured value must be listed on the application form. Work must remain on display until the end of the exhibit.

SUBMISSION METHODS (PLEASE SEND EMAIL TO southbrunswickgallery@gmail. com IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE)

Submission by US Mail: Use this form, or 1. Go to www.sbarts.org/thegallery

2. Download and print submission form PDF file. The form must be filled out completely.

U.S. 1 Is in Print & Online

U.S. 1 has distribution to news boxes located in downtown Princeton and Trenton, at train stations, and in other high-traffic outdoor areas. Additionally, it is now possible to browse full PDFs of recent issues on U.S. 1’s website, www.princetoninfo.com. Click on “Read This Week’s Digital U.S. 1 E-Edition Here.” A full digital edition of U.S. 1 is also distributed by e-mail every Wednesday. Subscribe at www.communitynews.org/ newsletter.

lery@gmail.com.

4. Mail To: South Brunswick Arts Commission

Municipal Building, POB 190 Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852

Submission by e-mail: Obtain and fill out application as above; scan application 2nd page and e-mail along with JPG’s of work to southbrunswickgallery@gmail.com. Application Submission via Web Form: Go to www.sbarts.org and choose web application from Gallery tab, copy and paste to email, fill in and email to southbrunswickgallery@gmail.com.

Hand Delivery: Drop and Sign In at the Main Office

Example of File Naming for 3 works of art: bw_homecoming_1.jpg bw_underthebigbluesky_2.jpg

3. Mail application and CD disc of images (must be labelled with your name, address, phone and email address) OR mail application and email JPGs of entries to southbrunswickgal-

Expect a confirmation e-mail within 3 days of receipt.

CALENDAR Friday, July 11, 2025 Application & Images Due: Send/deliver to South Brunswick Arts Commission Between The Lines

SURVIVAL GUIDE

Business Meetings

Wednesday June 18

Networking, BNI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877-264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting. Speakers: Allison Scharf director consultant; and Fred Voza jamesburg press.com, menus, mailers, and other printing services. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Business After Business, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, K’s Event Decorations and Rentals, LLC, 966 Kuser Road, Hamilton, 609-924-1776. www.princetonmercerchamber.org. Enjoy a delicious menu, beer, and wine while making valuable business connections in a setting that showcases the artistry of event décor. Register. 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday June 19

Networking, BNI Top Flight, Town Diner, 431 Route 130, East Windsor, 609-4438222. www.bninjpa.org. 7 a.m.

Friday June 20

Networking, BNI Driven, Elks Lodge #2622, 1580 Kuser Road, Hamilton, 609585-9610. www.bninjpa.org. Speaker: Danielle Oswald, education and review. 7 a.m.

Networking, X-Factor BNI, VFW 133, 485 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, 908-4216151. www.bninjpa.org. Guests always welcome. RSVP suggested. Contact distinguished@rocketmail.com for more. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

JobSeekers Professional Service Group of Mercer County, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.psgofmercercounty.org. Annual BYO

summer picnic and networking. 9:45 a.m. to noon.

Saturday June 21

Mid-Day Toastmasters Club, 908-4216151. 4139.toastmastersclubs.org. Nonprofit dedicated to effective oral communication and leadership development. Meeting via Zoom. Visit tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday. 10 a.m.

Monday June 23

Mercer County - Connect & Grow, Small Business Development Center of New Jersey, Robbinsville Public Library, 42 Robbinsville Allentown Road, Robbinsville, 609-771-2947. www.sbdcnj.com/events/ mercer-county-connect-grow-june-2025. Dynamic outreach session designed to empower small business owners through insightful discussions and valuable resources. Discover new contracting opportunities tailored for small businesses. Learn about grants and technical assistance programs to enhance your business operations. Gain strategies to compete successfully in government contracting. Connect with representatives from state, local, and federal agencies. Register. Free. 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday June 24

JobSeekers. sites.google.com/site/njjobseekers. Virtual meeting for those seeking employment. Visit website for GoTo Meeting link. 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday June 25

Women of Achievement 2025, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, TPC Jasna Polana, 4519 Province Line Road, Princeton, 609-924-1776. www. princetonmercerchamber.org. The Women of Achievement Award is given to outstanding female leaders in the business community each year. This year’s honorees are Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, founder and CEO of HISPA; Tricia Baker, co-founder of Attitudes in Reverse; and Nina Melker, senior VP of private banking, Mid Penn Bank. Register. 8 to 10:30 a.m.

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS IN YOUR INBOX WEEKLY!

To participate in the U.S. 1 Summer Fiction issue, submit your previously unpublished

story,

or poem. All work must be received no later than Friday, June 27, by email to fiction@princetoninfo.com. Authors retain all rights.

Preference will be given to central New Jersey writers whose work addresses a theme or place relevant to the greater Princeton business community. Submissions from children are not encouraged.

Important: Be sure to include a brief biographical summary with your submission, along with your name, address, and daytime phone number.

Issue Date: Wednesday, July 23 • Deadline: Friday, June 27

PRE VIEW

Event Listings: E-mail events@princetoninfo.com

While many venues have returned to hosting in-person events, others are still taking place online. Event descriptions specify if an event is being held virtually or in a hybrid format. To include your virtual or in-person event in this section email events@princetoninfo.com.

Wednesday June 18

Classical Music

The Sebastians: Baroque Brilliance, Princeton Festival, Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org. Early music ensemble features works by Corelli, Telemann, Vivaldi, Galuppi, and Handel. $50 to $90. 3 and 7 p.m.

World Music

DAY-BY-DAY EVENTS, JUNE 18 TO 25 Caption Lead-In

Summer Sound Journey Office of Religious Life, Murray-Dodge Hall, Princeton University. chapel. princeton.edu. Ruth Cunningham, a sound healing practitioner, offers composed and improvised music for meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Free. 5:30 p.m.

Film

Hollywood Summer Nights, Princeton Garden Theater, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609279-1999. www.thegardentheatre.com. Casablanca. $13.50. 7 p.m.

Wellness

Wild Gentle Yoga: Yoga to Connect with Yourself and Nature, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Road, New Hope, PA. www.bhwp.org. Gentle yoga that builds body awareness, strength, flexibility and a better understanding of how humans connect to and reflect natural systems with Priscilla Hayes. Register. Pay what you can, $8 and up. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Tai Chi, Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton. www.groundsforsculpture.org. Series promotes overall wellness through the practice of Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese art that blends exercise with stress reduction. Each week will include a warmup, followed by basic, low-impact Tai Chi movements. Class takes place outdoors. No experience required. Register. $20. 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Outdoor Yoga Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton. www.princetonhistory.org. Gratitude Yoga offers donationbased Vinyasa Flow classes. All ages and skill levels are welcome. 6 to 7 p.m.

Lectures

Art Talk: Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller, Pennington Public Library www.penningtonlibrary.org. Meta Fuller was born in Philadelphia during Reconstruction and lived until the year that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. A protégée of French sculptor Auguste Rodin, she returned to America from a triumph in Paris to become a luminary of the Harlem Renaissance. Meta Fuller has been described as one of the most imaginative artists of her generation, and her powerful sculptures stand as an historical record of the Black American experience. Presentation via Zoom by Janet Mandel. Register. 7 to 8:15 p.m.

Politics

Annual Dinner, League of Women Voters of Lawrence Township, Cobblestone Creek Country Club, 2170 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. www.lwvlt.org. Annual meeting, presentation of youth leadership award, and keynote speaker Assatta Mann of the NJ Institute for Social Justice. Register. $70 includes Tuscan buffet dinner. 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Socials

Jersey Art Meetup Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Princeton Comic Makers presents: JERSEY ART MEETUPS (JAM), a weekly 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 own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review and feedback from other members if desired. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Must be 16+ to attend. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

Sports

Trenton Thunder, Arm & Hammer Park, Route 29, Trenton, 609-394-3300. www.trentonthunder.com. West Virginia Black Bears. $12. 7 p.m.

Sports for Causes

Solstice Trail Run, The Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. www.thewatershed.org. Run or walk the trails. 15K race at 5:30 p.m.; 10K at 6 p.m.; 5K at 6:15 p.m. Bring your own cup for water stations. Post-race party features Antimo’s Pizza, beer from Old Hights Brewing Company, and music by Ambient DJ. Register. $35 to $45. Proceeds support the Watershed’s mission to keep water safe and clean. 4:30 p.m.

Thursday June 19

Live Music

Vinny Rugnetta, Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-3716000. www.workingdogwinerynj. com. Live music. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Cosmic Jerry Band, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www. coopersnj.com. Grateful Dead tribute. Reservations recommended. 7 p.m.

Outdoor Concerts

Music in the Park, Lawrenceville Main Street, Weeden Park, Lawrenceville. www.lawrencevillemainstreet.com. Concert, food for sale, games and activities for kids, and more. The Lawrence Community Concert Band performs. 6 to 9 p.m.

Pop Music

Masters of Soul, Princeton Festival, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org. Treat yourself to the incredible harmonies and smooth moves made famous by legendary artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and more. $35 to $100. 7 p.m.

Art

Drawing Points of View from the Collections | Watercolors: In the Round, Princeton University Art Museum. artmuseum. princeton.edu. This live virtual art-

making class is iinspired by a redfigure ceramic vessel attributed to the Ariana Painter (ca. 460 BCE). Taught by artist-instructor Barbara DiLorenzo. 8 p.m.

On Stage

The Bridges of Madison County Princeton Summer Theater, Hamilton Murray Theater, Princeton University. www.princetonsummertheater.org. Musical based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel about an Iowa housewife and her romance with visiting photographer. $35. 7:30 p.m.

Film

Hollywood Summer Nights, Princeton Garden Theater, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609279-1999. www.thegardentheatre.com. Nashville. $13.50. 7 p.m.

Literati

Story & Verse: Open Mic, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. artscouncilofprinceton.org. Enjoy an evening of community-created entertainment in the form of storytelling and poetic open mic. All are welcome to tell a well-prepared story or perform their poetry. Performers should bring their own work of their choice for a theme to be announced. Register. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

Farm Markets

Princeton Farmers Market, Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, 609-924-9529. www. princetonfarmersmarket.com. More than 30 vendors including local organic produce, pasture raised meat and eggs, farmstead cheeses, fresh baked goods, empanadas, all-natural dog and cat treats, homemade jam, oldworld style pickles, fresh flowers, handcrafted jewelry, knife sharpening, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

History

Abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey, New Jersey State Library. www. njstatelib.org. Free webinar presented by Ellen D. Alford, a native South Jersey resident and local historian who researches and writes about the Underground Railroad, slavery, abolition and Harriet Tubman in South Jersey. Noon to 1 p.m.

Lectures

Meeting, 55-Plus Club of Princeton, Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton. www.princeton.com/ groups/55plus. Dr. William Hu, director, Center for Healthy Aging Research, associate professor and chief of cognitive neurology at Rutgers-RWJ Medical School and Institute for Health Policy and Aging Research speaks on Long COVID. Meetings are free with a suggested donation of $5. Via Zoom or in person. 10 a.m. Cook Talks: Hydroponic Gardens, Lawrence Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, 609-799-0462. www.mcl.org. Hope from the Robbinsville Town-

Exhibits Show Three Approaches to Fine Art Photography

Three photographers share their work at Gallery 14 in Hopewell in simultaneous exhibits each on view from Saturday, June 21, through Sunday, July 20. Meetand-greet artist talks take place Sundays, June 29 and July 13, at 1:30 p.m.

Below is a statement from each artist on their approach and vision for their exhibits.

“Imaginary Landscapes” by Barbara Warren: Some of my favorite subjects to photograph are landscapes, abstracts, patterns and textures. Due to covid and personal injuries, my ability to pursue landscape photography has been limited in the last few years. So I’ve turned to creating my own imaginary landscapes. These landscapes are created by combining photography with traditional collage techniques. I create the collage elements using my own painted papers and my own printed photographs of abstracts and yes, landscapes.

I create both traditional collages mounted on cradle boards as well as photographs matted and framed. I often photograph the collage after the first layer of papers have been laid down. I then finish the collage in the traditional manner, but also create a photographic variation by adding elements and layers in Photoshop to create a print version.

More on the artist: www.barbarawarren.com

“Narratives in Nature” by Jill Mudge: I consider myself a fine arts photographer and I enjoy taking photos of landscapes, nature, wildlife, and equine photography. I am active with local photography clubs and enjoy staying current with new ideas. I am a member of NANPA, Gallery 14, Princeton Photography Club, Garden Club of

ship Recreation Department discusses growing and maintaining hydroponic gardens. She shares the benefits of their hydroponic farm and teach patrons how to make a take-home mason jar hydro system. Register. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Motown Sound Princeton Festival, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org. As part of the Princeton Festival’s Juneteenth Celebration, take a look at the music of Motown and how the record label helped further the cause of the Civil Rights movement in America. Dr. Rochelle Ellis traces the origins of Motown and how this distinctive sound affected American pop music, spotlighting some of the major groups on the Motown label. Free. 4 p.m.

Native Plants Workshop, Lawrence Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, 609-7990462. www.mcl.org. Learn how to support local wildlife with native plants in this hands-on workshop led by Kelly Rypkema, Director of Environmental Education at Mercer County Park Commission. Discover how to identify native plants, research the best ones for your space, and find local nurseries. Bring a smartphone or laptop if you can. Register. 6 p.m.

Shopping News

Square After Sunset, Palmer Square, Princeton. www.palmersquare.com. Live music by the Erik Daab Trio; extended shopping hours, discounts, and happy hour specials; caricature drawing done by the talented Dan’s Toonz; air brush tattoos by Princeton Events Co.; and lawn games for all ages. 6 to 8 p.m.

Socials

Juneteenth Flag Raising, Princ-

Princeton and Arts Council of Princeton.

More on the artist: Jill MudgePhotos on Facebook and Instagram or www.jmudgephotos.net.

“Still Life Photos +” by Scott Hoerl: My award-winning photography is a product of a lifelong interest in the arts. A native of Delaware, my artistic journey began in my late teens in Vienna, Austria where I studied classical music and where my eye was ﬁrst drawn to the architectural marvels of Europe that have become a theme of my

eton Festival, Monument Plaza, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org. Join the Municipality of Princeton for a special Juneteenth flag raising ceremony leading off Juneteenth Celebration events at the Princeton Festival. 1 p.m.

Sports

Trenton Thunder Arm & Hammer Park, Route 29, Trenton, 609-394-3300. www.trentonthunder.com. West Virginia Black Bears. $12. 7 p.m.

Friday June 20

Classical Music

Viva Vivaldi!, Princeton Festival, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www. princetonsymphony.org. Internationally-renowned duo Daniel Rowland, violin and Maja Bogdanovic, cello, join an ensemble of PSO musicians for program highlighting works by Antonio Vivaldi, Osvaldo Golijov, and Max Richter. $35 to $100. 7 p.m.

Live Music

Williamsboy Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-3716000. www.workingdogwinerynj. com. Live music. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Just Us, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609-737-4465. www. hopewellvalleyvineyards.com. Rock. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Flying Cirus Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Led Zeppelin tribute.

photography. Those early years also instilled a life-long obsession with travel.

‘Still Life Photos +’ features many of my Still Life’s, including various flowers, plants and items I have collected on morning walks with my wife. I especially relish creating textured backgrounds to compliment these images. I have a fascination with shapes, shadows, and reflections which will also be a part of this exhibition.

More on the artist: @ScottRHoerl on Instagram or Scott Hoerl on Facebook.

Reservations recommended. 7 p.m.

Outdoor Concerts

Summer Concert Series, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. www. princetonshoppingcenter.com. Live music in the courtyard by local bands and a pop-up beer garden from Triumph Brewery. Free. 6 to 8 p.m.

Pop Music

No Surrender, Randy Now’s Man Cave, 119 West Ward Street, Hightstown. randy-nows-mancave.ticketleap.com. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Tribute Band. $42. 7 p.m.

Art

Strange Botany: Paintings by Julia Hess, Cross Pollination Gallery, 69 Bridge Street, Lambertville. www.crosspollinationgallery.com. Opening reception in for exhibit by the Lambertville native who seeks to fuse the beauty of the natural world with imagination to create dream-like landscapes. Evening includes refreshments and live music. On view through June 22. 6 to 9 p.m.

On Stage

Leader of the Pack, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania. www.bcptheater.org. Bop along to the songs you love in this Broadway musical celebrating the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the ‘60s charts. 7:30 p.m.

The Bridges of Madison County, Princeton Summer Theater, Hamilton Murray Theater, Princeton University. www.princetonsummertheater.org. Musical

Gallery 14, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment by emailing gallery-

based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel about an Iowa housewife and her romance with visiting photographer. $35. 7:30 p.m.

Much Ado About Nothing, Actors’ NET, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA, 215-2953694. www.actorsnetbucks.org. Shakespeare’s comedy of intertwining love stories. $24. 8 p.m.

The Importance of Being Earnest., Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.org. Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” featuring high society fun presided over by Lady Bracknell. $22. 8 p.m.

Matilda Villagers Theatre, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, 732873-2710. www.villagerstheatre. com. Brave little Matilda knows she has to stand up against the adults in her world, and in doing so, discovers her own remarkable powers. $24. 8 p.m.

Dancing

Friday Night Folk Dance, Princeton Folk Dance, Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonfolkdance.org. Lesson followed by open dancing. No partner necessary. $10. 8 p.m.

Literati

Open Mic & Book Signing, Arts

fourteen@yahoo.com.. Closed July 5 and 6. www.gallery14.org

Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. artscouncilofprinceton.org. Performers are invited to present a piece inspired by the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood or its residents – past, present, or future. Both emerging and established artists are welcome to share their work. Signed copies of Dr. Gregory S. Smith’s “Reflections from a Vibrant Past,” a collection of his poems about the W-J community and the individuals who have made it so special, available for sale. Free. 6 to 8 p.m.

Farm Markets

Farm Market, Blue Moon Acres, 11 Willow Creek Drive, Pennington, 609-737-8333. bluemoonacres.net. Selection of Blue Moongrown Certified Organic produce, micro greens, eggs, rice, Herbarium body care products made with herbs grown on the farm, as well as an array of products from other local vendors. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For Seniors

Women in Retirement Special Presentation Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton. www.cmaprinceton.org. Join certified Feldenkrais instructor Jaclyn Boone for an engaging and interactive presentation on Solvents and Glue and the Feldenkrais Method. This innovative series of movement lessons offers a uniquely effective approach to strengthening, stabilizing, and toning the body. In person or via Zoom. Register. 10 a.m.

Transition to Retirement, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning, 101 Poor Farm Road,

Continued on following page

Caption

Princeton. www.princetonsenior. org. Group facilitated by Paul Knight addresses the many kinds of issues that can arise during the transition to retirement. Hybrid program. Register. Free. In person or via Zoom. 2:30 p.m.

Saturday June 21

Live Music

Weekend Music Series, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, 609-924-2310. www. terhuneorchards.com. Live music from 1 to 4 p.m. by Chris P. Lunch fare, homemade treats, ice cream, and wine by the glass available. Noon to 5 p.m.

Wayward Souls and The Dadz, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609-7374465. www.hopewellvalleyvineyards.com. Rock in the afternoon; classic rock in the evening. 1 to 4 and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rave On, Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-371-6000.

www.workingdogwinerynj.com.

Live music plus food truck from Beach Shack. 1 to 5 p.m.

The Seven Band, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Reservations recommended. 7 p.m.

Black Cat Habitat, Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.smallworldcoffee. com. Indie-rock with groove tendencies. 7 p.m.

Outdoor Concerts

Summer Music Series, Palmer Square Green, Princeton. www. palmersquare.com. Vintage Vibe Tribe performs. 1 to 3 p.m.

Music in the Alley, Halo Pub, 9 Hulfish Street, Princeton, 609921-1710. www.halofarm.com. 6 to 9 p.m.

Pop Music

ARRIVAL from Sweden: the Music of ABBA, Princeton Festival, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org. ARRIVAL from Sweden is one of the

world’s most popular ABBA show bands. It was founded by ABBA Original Musician Rutger Gunnarsson and the Swedish artist Vicky Zetterberg in 1995. $20 to $125. 7 p.m.

Social Destruction Randy Now’s Man Cave, 119 West Ward Street, Hightstown. randy-nowsman-cave.ticketleap.com. Celebrating the music of Social Distortion. $20 to $25. 7 p.m.

Art

Member Exhibits, Gallery 14, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, 609333-8511. www.gallery14.org. First day for three member exhibits: Scott Hoerl, “Still Life +”; Jill Mudge, “Narratives in Nature”; and Barbara Warren, “Imaginary Landscapes.” On view through July 20. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gallery Openings Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Opening receptions for three exhibits. “Mirrored Hues” features the work of artists Scott Staats and Christina Sorace MacKinnon and celebrates the radiant spirit of summer

through the expressive lens of color. Also opening are “Places Near and Far” by Ron Berlin “Milagros de Corazon: Wings of Hope in Tin and Paper” by The Princeton Young Achievers. 3 to 5 p.m. Layers of Obscurity’s 11 +1, Studio 17, 17 Seminary Avenue, Hopewell. www.journeywithlightness.com. Collaborative creative project created as a visionary method to bridge the gap between the health of people and the health of the planet invites the observer to feel, remember, and rei-

magine their interconnectedness and interdependence with Mother Earth. Project can be experienced as an installation and a performance including art, music, spoken word, and wood craftsmanship. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

On Stage

Leader of the Pack Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania. www.bcptheater.org. Bop along to the songs you love in this Broadway musical celebrating the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the ‘60s charts. 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The Bridges of Madison County, Princeton Summer Theater Hamilton Murray Theater, Princeton University. www.princetonsummertheater.org. Musical based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel about an Iowa housewife and her romance with visiting photographer. $30 to $35. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Young Frankenstein, Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www. musicmountaintheatre.org. Musical based on Mel Brooks’ classic comedy film masterpiece is the story of the bright young doctor Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) who travels to Transylvania to complete the masterwork of his grandfather by bringing a corpse to life. $35. 3 and 8 p.m. Much Ado About Nothing, Actors’ NET, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA, 215-2953694. www.actorsnetbucks.org. Shakespeare’s comedy of intertwining love stories. $24. 8 p.m. The Importance of Being Earnest., Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.org. Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” featuring high society fun presided over by Lady Bracknell. $22. 8 p.m.

Matilda, Villagers Theatre, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, 732873-2710. www.villagerstheatre. com. Brave little Matilda knows she has to stand up against the adults in her world, and in doing so, discovers her own remarkable powers. $24. 8 p.m.

Family Theater

Disney’s Aladdin Kids, Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www. musicmountaintheatre.org. Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, Iago, and the Genie battle for power and possession of the lamp. $13. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Dancing

No Name Dance Central Jersey Dance Society, Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton, 609-945-1883. www. centraljerseydance.org. Rumba lesson (beginner/intermediate) taught by Donna Boyle followed by open dancing to a playlist of California Mix, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Night Club 2-Step, Country 2-Step, and Latin dance music with Boyle as DJ. No partner needed. Register. $15. 7 to 11 p.m.

Princeton Festival Opera Review: ‘Tosca’

by Neal Zoren

Literati

Princeton Zine Fest 2025, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. princetonlibrary.org. The library’s second Princeton Zine Fest (PtonZF) features an expanded marketplace and a chance to make your own zines. Noon to 5 p.m.

Comedy

Wine & Comedy Night Old York Cellars, 80 Old York Road, Ringoes. www.oldyorkcellars.com. Comedy hosted by Troy Moore featuring Jim Dailakis. Reservations required. $27.50. Food available for purchase. 7 to 10 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Juneteenth 2025: Stories of Freedom, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Mt. Zion AME Church and Reasoner/ True House, Skillman. ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2025. Live music and performances, tours of the museum grounds and the exhibit “The Head That Wears the Crown,” scavenger hunt, story booth, Free Little Library of banned books, and spoken word & read alouds, and food. Rain or shine. Register. $20 to $25. Noon to 4 p.m.

Farm Markets

Farm Market Blue Moon Acres 11 Willow Creek Drive, Pennington, 609-737-8333. bluemoonacres.net. Selection of Blue Moon-

grown Certified Organic produce, micro greens, eggs, rice, Herbarium body care products made with herbs grown on the farm, as well as an array of products from other local vendors. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pennington Farmers Market

Rosedale Mills, 101 Route 31, Pennington. www.penningtonfarmersmarket.org. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and more from local producers. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market, Vaughn Drive Lot, 877 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction. www.wwcfm.org. Up to 50 farms and other vendors on site selling fresh produce, meat, sweets, beer, tea, bread, pickles, and more. Live music and other special events weekly. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Farmers Market, Montgomery Friends of Open Space, Montgomery Township Municipal Center, 100 Community Drive, Skillman, 609-915-0817. www.montgomeryfriends.org. Jersey Fresh produce and farm products, baked goods, sauces, fibers, honey, flowers, coffee, and music. Rain or shine. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wellness

Princeton Yoga Fest 2025, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.

artscouncilofprinceton.org. Classes, guest speakers, kids’ yoga, vendors, and the return of the Silent Disco. Proceeds benefit NAMI Mercer. Register. $10 and up. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kids Stuff

May’s Garden Club by Grow Little Gardener Friends of Herrontown Woods, Herrontown Woods, 600 Snowden Lane, Princeton. www.herrontownwoods.org. Certified Master Gardener and local mom Mathilde Burlion teaches a weekly youth “Nature Club” through her Grow Little Gardener classes. The goal is to have children learn the art of gardening and play in the woods through discovery hikes and games. Register. $15. 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Lectures

Richard Moody: Flying Through Life, Mercer County Library, West Windsor Branch, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction, 609-799-0462. www.mcl.org. Richard Moody talks about his journey from Royal Navy fighter pilot to Coalition for Peace Action member and Quaker, from flying off aircraft carriers to volunteering around the world. Richard is the author of “Flying Through Life –

From Fighter Pilot to Peace Activist.” 2 p.m.

Outdoor Action

Stewardship Session, Friends of Princeton Open Space, Mountain Lakes Preserve, Mountain Avenue, Princeton. www.fopos. org/events-programs. Volunteers work under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship team to perform ecosystem restoration and invasive species removal. Register. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m.

Dairying, Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, 609-737-3299. www. howellfarm.org. Join farmer Katelyn as she demonstrates handling and milking the farm cow, Bliz-

zard. Learn about cow breeds, milk and cream production, history, and more. In the farmhouse you can also help make cheese and butter before churning and tasting a batch of old-fashioned ice cream. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Princeton Canal Walkers, Turning Basin Park, Alexander Road, Princeton. 3 mile walk on the towpath, weather permitting. Free. Register to canalwalkers@googlegroups.com for notices of weather-related cancellations. 10 a.m.

Socials

Antique Car Show, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road,

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Caption

Exhibit of African American Art Honors Selma Burke

Phillips’ Mill Community Association pays homage to one of America’s most notable sculptors and art educators of the 20th century in a new exhibition, The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show, on view through June 29 in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Born in Mooresville, North Carolina, in 1900, Selma Burke spent the last 40 of her 95 years in New Hope. She rose to national prominence through her contributions to American art, namely her extraordinary artwork and dedication to teaching others. She became an integral figure of the Harlem Renaissance, founded the Selma Burke School of Art, and earned her MFA from Columbia University. She later founded the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh and eventually settled in New Hope, Pennsylvania, leaving an indelible mark on the local arts community through her leadership at the Solebury School and Robert McClellan’s New Hope School of Art. In 1977, she also founded the Bucks County Sculpture Show, which is still held annually today.

This signature exhibition features more than 60 works by many African American artists Burke mentored, taught, and inspired, including James E. Duprée and Kimberly Camp.

Burke’s work can be found in major institutions, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the James A. Michener Art Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of

American Art. She is perhaps best known for her relief portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which became the model for the dime.

The exhibition showcases a dynamic range of contemporary and historical works by Burkementored and -inspired artists, including celebrated New Hope resident James E. Duprée.

“James was invited to exhibit in the show Artists for Goode (1984–85),” recalls Mary Flamer, PMCA board member and chair of the Selma Burke Show Committee. “Ms. Burke attended the event and immediately took a liking to him, supporting his later exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem.” Duprée’s work is held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art collections, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York, and Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen.

lery.

Award-winning artist Kimberly Camp, also featured in the show, fondly remembers Burke’s generosity. “Selma Burke was extremely generous to us back in the ’70s and ’80s, letting us know we could come to her studio. I can remember meeting her at a National Conference of Artists meeting. She was very involved with the organization’s Philadelphia chapter,” recalls Camp, a former president and CEO of the Barnes Foundation and founding director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Experimental Gal-

Camp’s paintings and distinctive dolls have been exhibited in more than 100 shows, including the Smithsonian and a recent exhibition at the Hunterdon Art Museum. Camp will display three dolls at Phillips’ Mill, including a possible tribute piece to Burke herself. “I love that Phillips’ Mill is doing this tribute to Selma Burke because women artists, especially Black American women artists, are often tossed aside,” says Camp. “Most museum collections still have not made progress in this area.”

Joining Duprée and Camp, are more than two dozen artists whose works have been loaned directly or sourced from essential collectors such as Trenton arts champion Lawrence Hilton. Expect to see works by Chakaia Booker, Adjoa Jackson Burrowes, Frank Bowling, Wendell Brooks, Willie Cole, Lamerol Gatewood, Lonnie Holley,

Curlee Raven Holton, Kenneth Lewis Sr., James Little, Vivian McDuffie, Lisette Morel, Nell Painter, Janet Taylor Pickett, Danielle Scott, Danny Simmons, Ron Tarver, and Mickalene Thomas. The exhibition also features historical works by renowned artists such as Faith Ringgold, Romare Bearden, Edward Bannister, Thornton Dial, Herbert Gentry, Richard Hunt, Wifredo Lam, Norman Lewis, and Hale Woodruff.

Flamer says she is excited to be bringing this exhibition to Phillips’ Mill, introducing many of these esteemed artists, whose works are included in museums, collections, and galleries internationally, to the local area for the first time. She notes that over the years, Black artists like Selma Burke have helped preserve the nation’s history and culture.

“Art explains things that sometimes words can’t,” says Flamer.

“Through her art, Selma portrayed strong figures, many Black women, which challenged stereotypes and celebrated Black art, history, and culture.”

Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show, Phillips’ Mill Community Association, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. On view through Sunday, June 29. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $7; free for PMCA members. Most artwork will be available for purchase. www.phillipsmill.org.

Regional Festivities Mark Juneteenth Holiday

The Princeton Festival celebrates the contributions of Motown to popular culture and the Civil Rights Movement on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. The day-long commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation includes free community events presented in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton, and culminates in a ticketed performance of Masters of Soul, A Motown Review in the Festival’s main performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden.

Masters of Soul, A Motown Review features harmonies and smooth moves made famous by legendary artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and others. The show authentically reproduces the look, choreography, style and sound made famous by record labels that were relatively unknown at the time but went on to profoundly influence the history of popular music: Motown Records, Stax, and others.

The performance goes beyond the music to preserve the integrity of the entire Motown experience. The show features a completely live performance with seasoned musicians and world-class performers from The TFC Band. This group has toured extensively worldwide for more than 40 years and created the Masters of Soul show in 2008 as a way to heighten the experience for their fans and deliver a stage show that captures the sights, sounds, and feel of the Motown era.

Tickets to the 7 p.m. perfor-

mance start at $35, and are available at princetonsymphony.org/ festival or by calling 609-4970020.

Several free Juneteenth events precede the evening concert:

The public is invited to a Juneteenth Flag-raising at 1 p.m. at Monument Plaza in front of the Monument Hall at the corner of Nassau Street and Bayard Lane with remarks by Council Members.

At 4 p.m., Dr. Rochelle Ellis, lecturer of voice at Princeton University, takes a look at the music of Motown and how the record label helped further the cause of the Civil Rights Movement in America in a talk titled “The Motown Sound.” She traces the origins of Motown and how this distinctive sound affected American pop music, spotlighting some of the major groups on the Motown label. The free presentation takes place at Stockton Education Center at Morven Museum & Garden.

A community celebration fol-

lows from 5 to 7 p.m., also on the Morven grounds. The familyfriendly event includes the sharing of Juneteenth resources, history, crafts, and education commemorating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with community partners: Art Against Racism, The Historical Society of Princeton, The Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, Morven Museum and Garden, The Municipality of Princeton, Princeton Parents for Black Children, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and YWCA Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden offers free museum admission all day during their normal hours.

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) in Skillman hosts its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration, Stories of Freedom, on Saturday June 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the historic Mt. Zion AME Church

and Reasoner/True House.

The day includes live performances, interactive exhibits, food, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Live performances include the SSAAM Heritage Singers and Band with songs rooted in African American musical traditions; Keith Spencer, a celebrated baritone and storyteller bringing freedom narratives to life through music and spoken word; Luna Stage: The Ground On Which We Stand, a theatrical journey exploring themes of identity, resistance, and remembrance; and Mr. Boom Boom’s Drum Circle, an all-ages drum experience uniting rhythm and community.

SSAAM’s current special exhibit is “The Head That Wears the Crown,” exploring the cultural and

spiritual legacy of African American women’s headwear across generations. Additionally, guided tours of the church, heritage garden, and museum grounds will be offered. Other community activities include a story booth in which attendees can record personal reflections on freedom and history; spoken word & read-alouds featuring stories of struggle, joy, and liberation from voices of all ages; scavenger hunts; and a Little Free Library of Banned Books.

Tickets for adults are $20 online or $25 at the door. Children ages 14 and under are $10 online or $15 at the door. For more information, visit: ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2025.

Caption

Princeton Summer Theater: ‘Bridges of Madison County’

Gorgeous vocals, rich in context and emotion as well as lithe, pitch-perfect sound, combine with palpable, believable romance and smooth storytelling to make Princeton Summer Theater’s production of “The Bridges of Madison County” an early highlight of the fledgling summer season.

Eliyana Abraham’s staging moves deftly between intense passages in which unexpected love takes root, buds, and blooms to burgeoning and mundane sequences that show the everyday give-andtake of Iowa farmwife. A conversation between strangers leads to unintended flirtation, intimacy, and passion in a way that makes the Summer Theater audience fall as much in love with the involved couple as they fall in love with each other. Scenes that offset this romance show the contrast between the special and the usual in a natural way that is never jarring.

Though the acting is at different levels, the tone of Abraham’s direction keeps “Bridges” in balance, so that scenes that take place at a distant county fair, at a bar, or in a snoopy neighbor’s kitchen provide just the right quantity of relief from the love story that dominates Marsha Norman’s well-structured book and Jason Robert Brown’s evocative, revealing score.

Sudden eye-opening, perspective-changing, life-enhancing love, the stuff of fantasy becoming a vibrant reality is the subject of Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel and Norman and Brown’s 2014 musical. It is the encapsulation of an extraordinary moment in two people’s lives, one that may stay a moment because of the individual circumstances of those lives. Of high importance among all that Abraham sensitively presents in her production is a lack of moral judgment about the characters or their affair. The romance involves a married woman who family is away for a few days. Norman’s script and Brown’s songs show the crisis awakening, fulfilling love creates for her while never questioning her straying or putting an onus on any

December 20

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Lawrence, 609-924-2310. www. terhuneorchards.com. Antique Automobile Club of America MidJersey Region brings a display of pre-Wordl War II vehicles to Terhune. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sports for Causes

Walk for Wellness, Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, Veterans Park, 2201 Kuser Road, Hamilton. www.icgmc.org/walkforwellness2025. 1 mile or 3 kilometer walk for ages 18 and up. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit’s Project Healthy Bones classes for seniors across Mercer County. Register. $35. 9 a.m.

Sunday June 22

Live Music

Weekend Music Series, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, 609-924-2310. www. terhuneorchards.com. Live music from 1 to 4 p.m. by Michael Mon-

by Neal Zoren

decision she may make about where this love might take her. Abraham skillfully follows suit and lets the outcome of the romance be moot compared to the passion of romance itself.

This letting love take its course, tempered by the characters weighing maturity and responsibility from their point of view, adds to the drama of the musical and this excellent production of it.

Eliyana Abraham has an obvious affinity with Jason Robert Brown. Her 2024 production of his musical, “The Last Five Years,” elevated the status of Princeton Summer Theater by giving it a more professional sheen and a promise of the work that could be done there.

“The Bridges of Madison County” eclipses the achievement of “The Last Five Years” and now ranks as the best work I’ve seen at Summer Theater since I began reviewing there a decade or so ago.

Some of the same reasons — good material, tasteful direction, and sharp-eyed casting — contribute to these successes.

Casting is prime. Alison Silldorf’s program bio lists no credit that hints of her previously playing a leading role as complex as Francesca, who comes to Iowa from Italy in 1946 as a war bride and stoically embraces Midwestern farmlife, including skepticism about her native foods like homemade mozzarella, only to be reminded of what she left in Naples by the appearance at her door of a photographer (Robert, played by Cory Garcia, Jr.) whose world travels for National Geographic and satisfied artist bent charm her and fill her with shelved longings.

Alison Silldorf’s bio may mention nothing more than college appearances and the Princeton Glee Club, but her performance as Francesca is of Broadway-caliber.

First, there’s her voice, expressive as it is clear, and in total control as Silldorf leaps seamlessly from chest voice to high notes with operatic ease.

Silldorf not only makes the most

of Jason Robert Brown’s songs, some of which tell extended stories, several of which give Francesca the chance to reveal ambitions, emotions, regrets, and compensations, the best of which express her passion, she makes them into their own little plays, arias that find every nuance in both vocalization and characterization.

Silldorf is a magnificent singer who can also act. Her carriage as Francesca is natural. She shows the character’s continental side, including ideas and talents that have little use and earn little notice in Iowa, and her accepting side as an ordinary woman living an ordinary, and not so bad, a life.

Silldorf makes you clearly understand the many facets of Francesca, even those she subdued or put aside to tend to the practical needs of running a farm and raising a family in a place that is, after 18 years, no longer foreign but not quite home.

Silldorf’s Francesca not only responds to Robert’s lovemaking but shows disappointment at her husband’s small, barely intimate gestures of affection, the difference, let’s say of a full-blown telling kiss vs. a perfunctory peck on the cheek or squeezing of a shoulder.

Silldorf’s performance is so complete, so knowing, and so moving, it makes me hope I someday read bios of her having played several major roles on stages throughout the country.

Romance needs a partner, and Silldotf has one in Cory Garcia, Jr., another whose resume boasts mostly college performances but who has the talent and matinee idol looks to go much further.

Vocally, Garcia matches Silldorf, his elegant, flexible baritone telling you everything you need to know about Robert Kincaid and his love for Francesca.

Robert is also romantically reawakened by this Italian woman living in remote Iowa, cooking marvelous food and making fine sketches of the bridges he’s photographing. Garcia lets you share Robert’s feelings.

Garcia and Silldorf have a stage chemistry that makes their discovering each other, coming together,

and deep love real.

Garcia may not look like the ‘60s hippy several characters denote him as being — he’s meticulously well-groomed, not even a hint of a neglected beard or a hair longer than a quarter inch — but he is someone who would make a woman take notice, even a woman like Francesca who falls in love Robert’s sensitivity, independence, and breadth of thought more than looks to which she never refers.

Garcia grows into the naturalness Silldorf seems to have innately. His acting would benefit from the ease and confidence of his singing, which is glorious.

As much as Silldorf, Garcia has command of his voice. His range and the seeming effortlessness with which he takes full advantage of it brings both grace and power to every song. Duets with Silldorf are particular treats.

Singing, the fact of having a tone and music to underscore it, seems to free Garcia. It gives his voice colors and his body a physical ease he needs to develop more in delivering dialogue. Once he has that in his repertoire, he has the makings of leading man directors will cast and audiences will savor.

Francesca and Robert receive “Bridges’s” main focus, but there are ancillary plot lines about Francesca’s husband and teenage children showing cattle at an Indiana State Fair and a next-door neighbor who is both newsy and kind.

Zach Lee shows Buzz, the American soldier who brings Francesca to Iowa, to be a solid guy who keeps track of his business and children and who is fond of his wife but who is not demonstrative or exciting. Buzz is workaday and focused on his farm and family. He left romance in Italy, assuming he had it there. In Lee’s hands, he comes across as responsible if a bit hard on his son who has teenage things and secret ambitions on his mind.

Lee also has a versatile, expressive singing voice.

Lucy Grunden fits into Silldorf’s natural mode as Francesca and Buzz’s daughter. Lana Gaige is all rambunctious clumsiness as their son. Grunden and Gaige add

to the lovely harmonies Silldorf and Garcia create.

Lucy Shea is fun in an Alice Kravitz way as the neighbor who suspects hanky panky but is supportive when it counts. Shea gives her character range that enhances the production.

Sidney Humes-James does well in several roles and is one more vocal ace, abetted by Shea and Emma Collins in presentational musical numbers that provide entertainment at the Indiana bar where Buzz hangs out while at the fair.

Carolina Kertesz’s mobile set serves Abraham’s production well while making you worry at times about the safety of the actors. There are two platforms. To get from one to the other, performers have to make a long stride that seems awkward. I know if I was in the cast, I’d spend every possible moment rehearsing going from one platform to another to make sure it looks graceful and worry-free. In most cases it is, but there was one nearaccident the night I attended.

Susan McLernon’s costumes, especially for Francesca and the children, are right for the characters, especially when they illustrate Francesca’s good taste. Kat McLaughlin’s lighting and Orion Lopez-Ramirez’s sound design are assets, I am especially grateful that Lopez-Ramirez kept the sound level pitched in a way that favored rather than drowned out Silldorf’s at times soaring soprano.

The Bridges of Madison County, Princeton Summer Theater, Hamilton Murray Theater, Princeton University. Through Saturday, June 28, 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $30 to $35. www. princetonsummertheater.org or 609-359-2309

temurro. Lunch fare, homemade treats, ice cream, and wine by the glass available. Noon to 5 p.m.

Chris Giakas, Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-3716000. www.workingdogwinerynj. com. Live music. 1 to 5 p.m. Blue Jersey Band, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609-737-4465. www. hopewellvalleyvineyards.com. Jazz. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Art

Ellarslie Open 42 Opening Weekend, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, 609-989-1191. www.ellarslie.org. Opening reception for 42nd annual juried show. This year’s juror is Sheryl Liebman Fisher. On view through September 7 in person and online. 1 to 4 p.m.

On Stage

Much Ado About Nothing, Actors’ NET, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA, 215-2953694. www.actorsnetbucks.org. Shakespeare’s comedy of intertwining love stories. $24. 2 p.m. The Importance of Being Earnest., Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.org. Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” featuring high society fun presided over by Lady Bracknell. $22. 2 p.m.

Film

Hollywood Summer Nights, Princeton Garden Theater, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609279-1999. www.thegardentheatre.com. Casablanca. $13.50. 1 p.m.

Wellness

Free Class, Yoga4Sobriety, Plainsboro Municipal Building, 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro. Yoga4Sobriety.com/schedule. Free 12 step-based yoga class. Beginners welcome; no experience required. Bring a mat and an open mind. No registration required for in-person attendance; visit website for access via Zoom. 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

History

Princeton History Walking Tour Historical Society of Princeton, Princeton Battle Monument, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. www.princetonhistory.org. Walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Nassau Hall, University Chapel and Palmer Square. $20. Register. 2 to 4 p.m.

Lectures

A Sampling of Hunterdon County Needlework, Lambertville Historical Society, Acme Screening Room, 25 South Union Street, Lambertville. lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org. Samplers are a visual and graphic reminder of a young girl or teenager’s education, as well as of the talented women who taught them these skills. As a farming community in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Hunterdon County was home to a number of diverse sampler groups. Presentation by independent textile scholar Marty Campanelli. Attendees are welcome to bring their Hunterdon samplers (or a photo of) for documentation. Register. $10. 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Outdoor Action

Ciclovia Princeton, Sustainable Princeton, Walnut Lane, Princeton. www.sustainableprinceton. org. Walk, run, bike, skate, roll, push strollers, dance, and enjoy the road at your own pace while the road is shut to vehicle traffic between Guyot and Hamilton avenues. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nature Poetry Walk Friends of Princeton Open Space, Moun-

Continued on following page

L.e.A.d. FeSt

Coming to Mercer County Park June 27 to July 6

Carnivals and state fairs are beloved summer traditions. There’s no better place for the whole family to enjoy rides, food, music and fun than at 2025 L.E.A.D. FEST events. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s events include carnivals and a 10-day State Fair taking place from June 27 to July 6 at Mercer County Park Fairgrounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township.

The jam-packed State Fair promises something for everyone including nightly musical entertainment, featuring three national acts: Liverpool Legends—the toprated Beatles experience show—Dave Bray USA, and Vegas McGraw, as well as a great lineup of local and regional bands. Live animal shows include the Dock Dogs stunt dog competition and fan favorites Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Cow Town USA. Plus: Fireworks on three nights–6/27, 6/30, and of course, 7/4! Access to the bands, shows, and fireworks is free with gate admission.

The State Fair’s midway provider, Reithoffer Shows, will ensure there’s plenty of delicious food, carnival games and prizes, and rides for children and adults alike. In fact, they are bringing the largest traveling coaster in New Jersey—the Crazy Mouse—as well as the largest traveling Himalaya, the largest traveling swing ride, and the largest traveling carousel. Complimenting these is a variety of other rides and attractions sure to suit thrill seekers of all ages.

Presented by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence), L.E.A.D. FEST events benefit the organi-

December 20

tain Lakes Preserve, Mountain Avenue, Princeton. www.fopos. org/events-programs. Nature Poetry Walk around the lake with local poets Winifred Hughes Spar and Barbara H. Williams. Register. Free. 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Socials

Veblen Birthday Bash, Friends of Herrontown Woods, Herrontown Woods, 600 Snowden Lane, Princeton. www.herrontownwoods.org. Celebrate summer and the birthdays of the Veblens, who donated Herrontown Woods as Princeton’s first nature preserve. Free. 5 to 9 p.m.

Monday June 23

Good Causes

Arm In Arm Mobile Food Pantry, Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville. www.arminarm.org. Food and personal care products made available to those in need. No registration required. The Lawrence Township Health Department, the Mercer County Board of Social Services and the Mercer County Nutrition Program will have informational tables. 2 to 4 p.m.

Lectures

Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness, Mercer County Library. www.mcl.org. Learn how to prepare your family for evacuation and shelter-in-place scenarios, as well as seasonal safety concerns such as ticks and mosquitos. Presented by Yonatan Gershon, Certified Health Education Specialist, Mercer County Division of Public Health. 6:30 p.m.

zation’s programs and related initiatives. L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources, and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. The Allentown-based national nonprofit’s programs help to provide youth and adults strategies for avoiding drug use, drug-related crimes, bullying, and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill, and relations between law enforcement agencies and their communities.

“Funds raised at our carnivals and the State Fair are important to L.E.A.D.’s mission, allowing us to make our programs more accessible to a greater number of youngsters in the communities we serve. We are excited to bring more amazing events to New Jersey this year. Our goal is to create family-friendly, community-based events that are fun for everyone while at the same time promoting anti-drug and anti-violence activities in the state,” said Nick DeMauro, L.E.A.D. executive director.

“The L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair is our biggest event of the season and this year we are delivering more value for your money.”

Gate admission is $5 on weekdays when the carnival opens at 5pm and $10 on weekends and holidays when the carnival opens at 3pm; kids under 12 always pay only $5 admission. Discounted MegaPasses—unlimited rides plus gate admission—are on sale now at theleadfest.com. Gate admission and ride tickets will also be available for purchase on-site at the carnival. Parking at Mercer County Park is free for this event!

For more information, including hours and attendance policies, visit theleadfest. com. Hours subject to change due to weather or safety situations. For more information about L.E.A.D., visit leadrugs. org or email info@leadrugs.org.

Tuesday June 24

Live Music

Acappella Chorus Rehearsal, The Gardenstatesmen, Plainsboro Recreation Center, 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, 609-462-3371. Male acapella chorus invites all guests to rehearsals to sing or listen and stay as long as they wish. Call to confirm before visiting. 7:30 p.m.

On Stage

Dancing

Tuesday Night Folk Dance,

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

Wellness

Resources and Services for the Print Disabled, New Jersey State Library. www.njstatelib.org. In honor of Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, Liz Kelly, Adult Services Librarian, and Luisa Martucci, Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, from The NJ Talking Book and Braille Center provide an overview of the resources and services available at no cost to qualified NJ residents. Free webinar. Noon to 1 p.m.

Kids Stuff

Read and Pick: Green Beans, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Lawrence, 609-924-2310. www.terhuneorchards.com. Read books highlighting green beans followed by an educational component. Everyone picks a small container of green beans. Register. $12 per child includes all materials. 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Outdoor Storytime Princeton

Public Library, Princeton Shopping Center Courtyard, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. www. princetonlibrary.org. This interactive storytime features books, songs, rhymes and movement for kids 18 months and older, accompanied by an adult. Bring a blanket. 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Sports Trenton Thunder, Arm & Hammer Park, Route 29, Trenton, 609-394-3300. www.trentonthunder.com. Mahoning Valley Scrappers. $12. 7 p.m.

Wednesday June 25

Pop Music

Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown, Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. www.brtstage.org. Cover bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction alternate sets of Beatles’ and Rolling Stones’ classics, concluding with a joint encore. $50 and up. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

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Metal Recycling: Going Green to Earn Some Green

‘Earn some green and sell it to a local scrap metal dealer,” the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection declared last January. With two old steel filing cabinets and a pair of barbells to unload, my husband, Toby, and I thought that good advice. After all, why dump something in a landfill when you can get paid for keeping it out.

We learned that the greater Trenton area is the scrap metal recycling center in Mercer County. Although an internet search reveals that there might be six or more firms under the broad definition of metal recycling, most primarily deal with cars and car parts. This is a far cry from a half century ago when numerous steel companies (remember Roebling?) were located in the area. When those companies — and their nonautomotive scrap metal filings — disappeared, so too did the bulk of the metal recycling companies that existed at the time.

Today, there are only two companies that handle a significant amount of nonautomotive metal recycling: Sims Metal in Ewing and Scarpati Recycling and Auto Salvage in Trenton. Sims is an international company, one with its headquarters in Australia. Scarpati is a local, family-owned company that is now in its 48th year of business. It is the only metal recycling company with deep personal ties to the area and a commitment to it.

We visited Sims first. An appointment is not necessary (we had checked the hours of operation). To me, it was like entering another world. There were huge, almost grotesque piles of black, white, and sparkling gray metal scrap of all sizes, twisted and warped and strewn about. Over this hovered dinosaur-like green cranes with long necks dangling immense claw-shaped attachments to haul the scrap. Thankfully there were clear paths to drive through it all. We were asked what we were bringing and then instructed to roll down the driver window and drive up what appeared to me to be a 5 foot tall ramp (when told later to call Sims’ Australian headquarters to get confirmation on such details, I deferred on incurring such charges). When we brought our car to a

Art

by Patricia A. Taylor

halt after slowly arriving at the ramp top, a voice from the speaker phone on the driver’s side ordered us to stop briefly and asked Toby his name. After he dutifully shouted that out, we were then told to drive off and follow a designated path to where our filing cabinets could be dumped.

Toby hauled out the cabinets — he said they were not that heavy; I would have found them so — and randomly discarded them in a pile bordering our car. With that accomplished, we followed the earlier instructions given through the speaker phone on the ramp and drove back on it.

I find this part totally amazing: The weight difference before our car’s first and second stop on the ramp showed the poundage of our filing cabinets.

After Toby once again shouted out his name, we were ordered to drive to a designated building. There, Toby not only once more announced his name but also showed his driver’s license to a person seated behind a doubleglassed window. And with that — presto! — two $5 bills appeared through the slot underneath. We had just been paid for an amazing experience while ensuring we were not contributing to a landfill.

From that impersonal but extremely interesting encounter at Sims, we next explored Scarpati’s. If that name should sound familiar to readers of this article, it is because the company’s founder — John Scarpati — also established Hamilton’s widely popular Italian American festival, which returns this fall after a COVID-induced absence for the past five years.

Today, his son — John Jr. — and numerous Scarpati members (all Hamilton residents) work at the company which consists of two divisions. As the company name implies, one division deals with salvaged auto parts and the other with a diverse array of scrap metals.

While our experience was similar to that of Sims, we felt there was a more welcoming atmosphere at the Scarpati site. This was reinforced by the staff offering to help us to remove the barbells (Toby declined but I would have accepted)

Nook & Fern Pop-Up Small World Coffee, 254 Nassau Street, Princeton. www. smallworldcoffee.com. Nook and Fern is a handmade and curated shop centered around the home that offers one-of-a-kind creations including dried floral arrangements, charcuterie and cutting boards, and home textiles; antiques; and vintage finds such as glassware, pottery, and other curios. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Stage

Film

Hollywood Summer Nights, Princeton Garden Theater, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609-279-1999. www.thegardentheatre.com. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. $13.50. 7 p.m.

Wellness

Scrap Metal Prices

and the fact that it was locally owned. Bottom line: it was not expensive to call John Jr. to get more information.

It is a business, he told me, that is heavily regulated, no matter what kind of metal scrap is being dealt with. There are generally two kinds of scales used, the ramp (Sims) and the flat (Scarpati). Both types are certified by the state and receive a yearly certificate by the National Conference on Weights and Measures stating that they meet fair trade requirements.

There’s more, John Jr. said. A scrap yard must receive both state and municipal licenses. Four times a year, these yards are inspected by the state to ensure that they meet legal environmental standards.

As noted in the side bar, scrap metal prices vary considerably. They differ not only due to the type and quality of the metal but also the

how humans connect to and reflect natural systems with Priscilla Hayes. Register. Pay what you can, $8 and up. 8 to 9 a.m.

Outdoor Yoga, Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton. www.princetonhistory. org. Gratitude Yoga offers donation-based Vinyasa Flow classes. All ages and skill levels are welcome. 6 to 7 p.m.

Socials

Jersey Art Meetup Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Princeton

Comic Makers presents: JERSEY ART MEETUPS (JAM), a weekly 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 own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review and feedback from other members if desired. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Must

There is no one national price set for any particular metal. Prices differ according to several factors, including the type and quality of the metal, the time of year, and the geographical area where it will be used. In early May, when this article was being written, #1 copper was selling

geographical area where the scrap is being used and needed. This almost daily fluctuation makes it challenging to determine profits as the recycler must also account for both selling and shipping the scrap pieces to a processor.

Perhaps because it is so rooted in the community, the Scarpati family business goes out of its way to ease the process of buying miscellaneous scrap items from local construction firms and private home owners. Their web site has a very helpful page detailing what happens when you arrive.

The Scarpati family feels that

be 16+ to attend. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

For Seniors

Music on the Patio: Featuring Bob Mecklenburger, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton, 609-751-9699. www.cmaprinceton. org. Mecklenburger has been singing his folk music and performing with his acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars for more than 55 years. Light refreshments served. Register. $10. 6 p.m.

Sports

Trenton Thunder, Arm & Hammer Park, Route 29, Trenton, 609-394-3300. www. trentonthunder.com. Mahoning Valley Scrappers. $12. 7 p.m.

for $3.63 a pound at a scrap yard in Philadelphia and $3.50 a pound at a yard in Dallas.

The website at www.scrapmonster.com provides daily updates on prices throughout the country. In general, this is the time of year for the highest prices because of increased construction work in warm weather. That observation does not necessarily hold true for this year.

through their business they are contributing to making the environment in the greater Trenton area healthier and cleaner. Perhaps you will too when you recycle your scrap metal at any firm. It is really a good feeling, one which also pays you for acquiring it.

Scarpati Recycling and Auto Salvage. 1300-1340 New York Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638. 609-3960880. www.scarpatirecycling.com

Sims Metal. 1549 Calhoun Street, Ewing, NJ 08538. 609-3960880. www.simsmm.com/locations/ewing-new-jersey

PRE VIEW

Carversville Inn: Miles from Paris, Minutes from Princeton

‘Welcome to the Carversville Inn, a Romantic Escape in Bucks County just 75 miles from New York City, 40 miles from Philadelphia, 150 miles from Washington, D.C. and 2,150 miles from Paris…”

So begins the welcoming message on the website of the Carversville Inn from new owners Milan Lint and Mitchell Berlin. It’s a message that has been a long time coming, and judging by a recent visit, it’s been well worth the wait.

Just inland from Route 32, the road along the Delaware River traveled by many visitors to picturesque Bucks County, it’s likely you’ve never passed through Carversville. Currently home to about 100 residents, the center of community life revolves around a town square that was home to the Carversville General Store (now closed), a dental office, and the circa 1813 Carversville Inn.

According to the local historical society, throughout its existence the inn has served as a hotel, general store, ice cream parlor, and gas station. In its penultimate incarnation, it was run as a restaurant and bar owned by Will and Denie Mathias, a venue that I had often frequented with friends. Upon the Mathias’ retirement, it was purchased in 2020 by Lint and Berlin.

Lint and Berlin had grand plans for the restoration / renovation of the site, plans that led to years-long negotiations with various governing bodies over zoning and historic district issues that I followed with interest in the Bucks County press. Long story short; the issues were finally resolved, construction commenced, and early in May the inn opened its doors to the general public.

Three dining companions and I recently dined at the inn. Expecting a light turnout on a Sunday evening, we were surprised to find that the joint was jumpin’ and that finding a parking spot proved to be a bit of a challenge. Clearing that hurdle, we paused outside to appreciate the restoration of the stone work and the wraparound porches at ground level and on the upper floors that will soon house six guest suites, described on the inn’s website as “intimate accommodations” that “...combine old-world charm with modern sophistication, featuring plush furnishings, fine linens, and spa-like amenities to ensure the utmost comfort. Each room offers a tranquil escape, ideal for unwinding and reconnecting.”

Despite the over-the-top descriptives, if the photos online sync with reality, guests should be more than pleased, although no launch date or pricing information for the suites was posted the last time I visited the inn’s website.

We then entered the restaurant, which is described as “our Frenchinspired brasserie, where culinary artistry meets the finest local ingredients. Indulge in exquisite dishes crafted with passion, complemented by a carefully curated wine list that celebrates both French tradi-

by George Point

tion and regional vintages. Every meal becomes a memorable occasion.”

That description raised our expectations to stratospheric heights, but in all honesty, the four of us were blown away by the transformation that has taken place. If we had been teleported to Carversville and led inside blindfolded, we would not have recognized that we were inside the “old” Carversville Inn.

Black walls and ceilings, crystal chandeliers, colorful artworks, and Regency inspired gilt monkey sconces — the monkeys resplendent in tricorn hats — did indeed evoke a French-inspired brasserie. The intimate bar (seating eight or so) was abuzz, as was the rest of the inn, seating about 65 diners clearly intent on both enjoying their dinner selections and engaging in animated conversation.

Arriving early for our dinner reservation, we were warmly greeted at reception and continued to take in the décor as well as seek out a space to enjoy – in keeping with the tone of the inn’s marketing copy – a “pre-priandial libation.” Or perhaps just a drink before dinner…

Easier said than done. Finding no room at the bar, we headed outside to the wraparound porch and found a cozy corner, where we enjoyed nicely crafted Bulleit rye Manhattans ($18), a glass of Savignon Blanc ($18) and a glass of Elouan Pinot Noir ($20).

At the appointed time a staff member informed us that our table was ready, and we repaired to a cozy spot in the dining room adjoining the bar. Warmly greeted by Hailey, our server, we were invited to peruse the menu and the wine list while water and a selection of fresh, crusty breads were brought to us.

Choosing a wine to accompany our meal surfaced the only quibble about our dining experience. I was informed that my first selection, and then my alternate selection, both priced at $45, were not available that evening. The Chateau Bechereau Lalande de Pomerol, blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) was available and quite pleasant, but in a world awash in highly enjoyable, reasonably priced wines, it was disappointing to find so few choices in the $40 - $80 range. Prices for most bottles rapidly escalate from there, topping out at $480 for the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.

On to our meal. I chose to start with a half dozen grilled oysters (Malpeques? My bad for not verifying with Hailey) enrobed in a Pernod beurre blanc ($22). Delicious. Equally enjoyable were the roasted beets dressed with whipped horseradish crème fraîche and walnuts shared by my dining companions ($18).

I chose the pan fried pork chop served with braised artichokes, flageolets, and Swiss chard for my entree ($38). There’s an art to pre-

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paring pork chops that are tender, moist and flavorful, and this one ticked all the boxes. Moving right along, the trout almondine with brown butter, haricots verts, and French lentils ($38) was deemed fresh, flaky, and perfectly seasoned.

The short rib bourguignon with carrots, pearl onions, mushrooms, and potato puree ($42) was fork tender and very, well, beefy. Last but not least, the wild mushroom and kale pithivier (A round, enclosed pie fashioned of two disks of puff pastry) with a filling of mushrooms and sauteed kale and served on a bed of mushroom bisque ($34) was declared a winning preparation as well.

A shared vanilla ice cream sundae with caramel, chocolate drizzled peanut brittle, and whipped cream ($10), and a shared strawberry rhubarb crisp with fennel sugar and crème fraîche ($13) along with regular and decaf coffees ($4) fortified us for the drive home. I must mention that there are many more intriguing choices on the inn’s thoughtfully crafted menu, including bistro favorites like rotisserie half chicken, steak frites, and moules frites. Visit the Carversville Inn website for de-

tails. Personally, I’m returning for the double cheeseburger with gruyère, aioli, caramelized onions, and duck fat pommes frites. On second thought, make that a double order of duck fat pommes frites. Oh, yes! Carversville Inn, 6205 Fleecydale Road, Carversville, Pennsylvania. Open Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 5 to

8 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 267-406-9162. info@carversvilleinn.com. carversvilleinn. com

Callaway Henderson

LiFe in tHe Fast Lane

City of Trenton Awarded $7 Million from NJEDA’s Urban Investment Fund Grant Program

The City of Trenton has been awarded a grant from the Urban Investment Fund (UIF) Grant Program. Trenton, N.J. — June 6, 2025 — Mayor W. Reed Gusciora, joined by New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan and city officials, announced today at the Roebling Machine Shop that

The $7 million award will support the rehabilitation of two iconic and historically significant buildings along South Broad Street in the city’s North Ward: the Roebling Machine Shop and the Eagle Tavern.

“This transformative $7 million grant through the NJEDA’s Urban Investment Fund marks an important moment in Trenton’s ongoing revitalization efforts,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “Reviving the Roebling Machine Shop and the Eagle Tavern is more than just improving buildings; it’s about creating opportunities, restoring pride, and building a stronger future for residents and businesses. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Murphy’s Administration for this investment. Together, we’re making real progress towards an even greater Capital City.”

“The Coronavirus Pandemic created economic challenges across New Jersey, particularly for small businesses and local entrepreneurs, resulting in decreased revenue along key commercial corridors,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Through programs like the NJEDA’s Urban Investment Fund, our Administration continues to make historic investments into cities like Trenton, ensuring communities have the funding necessary to promote a strong and equitable economic recovery.”

Half of the grant funding, $3.5 million, will be dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Roebling Machine Shop. Built in 1890 as part of the world-renowned Roebling Steel Company, this architectural

landmark is listed on both the State and National Historic Registers.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the NJEDA continues to catalyze economic growth in communities most impacted by the pandemic through strategic investments that create jobs, support small businesses, and uplift our downtowns and main streets,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer

Tim Sullivan. “The funding awarded to Trenton through the Urban Investment Fund will support efforts to revitalize the city’s South Broad Street corridor, increasing foot traffic and fostering long-term economic growth.”

Once restored, the Roebling Machine Shop will serve as a large event space to help boost the Clinton Avenue commercial corridor, becoming a centerpiece of Trenton’s cultural and economic revival.

“Today was yet another great day in the Capital City and another example of what collaboration looks like when it comes to enhancing quality of life for our residents,” said Councilwoman At-Large Crystal Feliciano. “Thank you to NJEDA for the $7 million grant allowing us to renovate the Wireworks Building and Eagle Tavern. Thank you also to Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and MCIA Executive Director Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli for your continued partnership in helping revital-

ize Trenton. Kudos to my Council colleagues on voting to allow this to happen when presented by Mayor Gusciora and his administration. When we work together, we all win!”

The remaining half of the grant will go toward the restoration of the Eagle Tavern, located at 433 South Broad Street. Originally constructed in 1765 by Robert Waln, the building has served the community in various capacities, including as one of Trenton’s most prominent taverns and hotels. Vacant since the 1980s, the Eagle Tavern is also listed on the State and National Historic Registers.

“The Eagle Tavern has long been a priority project, and we are thrilled to partner with the NJEDA and the City of Trenton to bring this historic site back as a functioning bar and eatery,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

The City of Trenton is partnering with the Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA) to bring this landmark back to life as a food establishment, once again activating a historic site with a modern purpose.

“Since its inception, the MCIA has had a storied history of being a successful redevelopment partner throughout Mercer County,” said MCIA Executive Director/Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli (LD15). “From the Mercer County Courthouse, The Cure Arena, to

Edited by Sara Hastings

most recently the Hamilton Municipal Complex, the projects we’ve supported are known to be both transformative and vital to both the communities they’re located in and Mercer County as a whole. I’m proud to see the project follow that legacy, and I look forward to its completion.”

“This $7 million investment is not just about bricks and mortar, it is a declaration that Trenton’s future matters. The city has faced decades of economic hardship, compounded by the effects of the pandemic, yet its communities have remained resilient,” said State Senator Shirley K. Turner (LD15). “These rehabilitation projects represent a bold step forward in restoring pride, purpose, and prosperity to South Broad Street. They honor Trenton’s history while laying the foundation for inclusive growth and lasting opportunity. Trenton deserves nothing less than full revitalization, and this investment is a powerful step toward that promise.”

“By embarking on these revitalization projects, the state is showing its commitment to ensuring that Trenton’s North Ward continues to grow and thrive,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (LD-15). “Our cities prosper with new investments, and I’m looking forward to seeing the South Broad Street business community expand.”

New Chief Philanthropy Officer to Join the Princeton Area Community Foundation

Princeton, June 5, 2025 -- A Pennington resident, who has more than two decades of regional and national fundraising experience, has been hired as the next Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Princeton Area Community Foundation.

Steven B. Spinner is an expert in corporate and foundation relations and major gift fundraising. During his career, he has played a key role in philanthropic work that raised more than $200 million to advance

research, strengthen communities, and sustain mission-driven organizations.

“The Community Foundation is proud to welcome Steve as our incoming Chief Philanthropy Officer,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation President & CEO. “Steve has had a remarkable professional career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. He brings deep expertise in all aspects of fundraising and mission-based philanthropy. His work is anchored in building profound and deeply impactful relationships that drive engagement. He is returning to a community that he knows well, to a county where he was raised, and a community where he had deep professional and personal roots. I am very excited to be working with Steve to drive our mission forward!”

He will fill the role currently held by Marcia Shackelford, who joined the Community Foundation in 2019 and announced her retirement last year. Shackelford will remain connected to the Community Foundation, as she and her husband are fundholders, and she is also a member of the Fund for Women and Girls.

“We want to thank Marcia for her incredible dedication to our organization,” said Nelessen. “During her six years at the Community Foundation, Marcia has made an impact at the Community Foundation, and she has done a superb job leading the asset building team. She also graciously postponed, until June 30, her planned retirement so she and Steve could work together for several weeks, assisting with his transition into the role.”

Spinner was most recently the Director of Development at the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). He established the organization’s first fundraising program, helping the nonprofit expand its funding beyond a single founda-

PPPL Project to Study the Forces Behind Solar Flares

Scientists at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have flipped the switch on a first-of-itskind device designed to unlock the secrets of one of the universe’s most explosive phenomena: magnetic reconnection.

The device, known as the Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments — FLARE for short — is a massive, gleaming barrellike machine roughly the size of an SUV.

It lies on its side in a spacious research hall on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, ready to reproduce a process that fuels solar flares, disrupts power grids, and interferes with fusion reactors.

On June 12, the lab hosted a private ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of FLARE’s operations. More than 50 guests attended, including scientists and leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy, Princeton University, and the laboratory itself.

The event marked the culmination of years of design and construction and the start of a new chapter in plasma physics research.

“This is the day when we deliver FLARE to the world,” said Steve Cowley, director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

“We have fulfilled our promise to design and build this one-of-akind device and offer it to the scientific community,” Crowley said. “I expect FLARE to produce important insights for plasma science in the coming years, and I just can’t wait.”

FLARE is specifically engineered to study magnetic reconnection, a process in which magnetic field lines suddenly snap apart and reattach, releasing tremendous bursts of energy.

In space, reconnection drives solar storms and massive plasma eruptions on the surface of the sun. These events can send electrically charged particles rushing toward Earth, damaging satellites, disrupting GPS systems, and even knocking out power grids.

In fusion reactors, reconnection can destabilize the plasma at the heart of the reaction, hindering the production of clean energy. Understanding how reconnection happens, and how to manage its effects, is crucial for scientists studying both the sun and fusion energy.

Until now, research into reconnection has been limited by the tools available—computer models that use simplified assumptions, or space-based observations that can only sample tiny parts of a vast process. FLARE is designed to fill that gap.

“FLARE is a new research platform with capabilities that scientists have not had access to before,” said Hantao Ji, a professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University and principal investigator for the FLARE project.

“It will provide information about magnetic reconnection that spacecraft, computer simulations and other laboratory experiments cannot provide,” Ji said. “It’s a new way of doing research that goes beyond what is currently available.”

One of FLARE’s key research goals is to determine whether reconnection can occur not just at one location, but at multiple points simultaneously. These locations, known as X points, are where magnetic field lines meet, break, and rejoin.

Although past research has observed reconnection at individual X points, scientists believe that in space, reconnection often takes place at several points at once. But so far, no experiment has been able

to prove it.

“That’s FLARE’s mission goal,” said Jongsoo Yoo, deputy head of discovery plasma science at the lab and a member of the FLARE team.

“We believe that in large astrophysical systems, reconnection occurs at a large number of locations at once,” Yoo said. “But because of limitations in research space and available energy, we haven’t been able to conduct experiments to observe what happens. So far, there hasn’t been any hard evidence either way. We’re going to change that.”

To do so, FLARE will need to pack a powerful punch. During experiments, it can unleash more than six million joules of energy— enough to power 1,000 homes for five seconds.

That pulse helps recreate the same explosive conditions found in solar storms, but scaled down to fit inside a laboratory. FLARE’s powerful magnets help shrink the circular motion of charged particles, allowing the experiment to simulate a vast cosmic process within a controlled space.

The scaling technique is similar to what engineers use when testing model airplanes in wind tunnels instead of flying full-sized jets through thunderstorms. By maintaining the right proportions, scientists can observe the same physics on a much smaller, safer scale.

The advantages of doing this work in a laboratory setting are substantial. Unlike spacecraft, which are limited to observing small slices of space and cannot take repeated, precise measurements in a specific area, FLARE allows scientists to insert physical probes directly into the plasma.

These probes provide real-time data on temperature, density, current, and other key properties of the reconnection process. According to Ji, That level of detail simply isn’t possible with simulations.

“Simulations aren’t real,” Ji said. “Instead, they are trying to be real. They incorporate a lot of approximations, but because there are so many, lots of important physics is lost. And we don’t know whether the lost physics is important.”

DOE officials praised the project as an example of what national laboratories are uniquely equipped to do: take long-term risks to answer long-term questions. Christian Newton, chief of staff at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, said FLARE demonstrates the value of investing in foundational research.

“By investing in long-term sci-

entific research, the national laboratories produce results that can bolster the rest of America’s science and technology sectors,” Newton said.

Jean Paul Allain, associate director for Fusion Energy Sciences at DOE, added, “Labs like PPPL can take big risks to build infrastructure that answers big questions. FLARE is a perfect example.”

FLARE’s status as a collaborative research facility means its impact will extend far beyond PPPL. Researchers from institutions around the world will be able to submit proposals and partner with PPPL scientists to design and carry out experiments.

Unlike traditional user facilities that simply provide access to a machine, FLARE emphasizes active collaboration and shared innovation.

“That’s our hope. We want to work with experts around the world,” Yoo said.

It’s unlike with user facilities, when you submit a proposal, receive a limited amount of research time, and staff scientists perform the experiment for you and then give you the data afterward, “FLARE focuses more on collaboration than run time. As a result, researchers can be much more hands-on with our facility,” Yoo said.

The machine itself represents a major engineering achievement.

Initial funding for FLARE came from a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant, as well as support from Princeton University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the University of Maryland. Final construction and commissioning were funded by the Department of Energy.

For PPPL, the launch of FLARE affirms the lab’s leadership in both astrophysical and fusion plasma science. It also demonstrates the growing importance of plasma physics in addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, from reliable space weather forecasting to the long-term goal of developing fusion as a clean energy source.

“There is no way we can reproduce the full range of astrophysical conditions under which magnetic reconnection occurs without creating another universe,” Ji said. “But the beauty of physics is that you don’t have to.”

As the first experiments begin, researchers say they are optimistic that FLARE will yield answers to

long-standing questions about how the universe works—and how we might better control it here on Earth.

“FLARE matters to PPPL and the world because it’s important for both astrophysical and fusion plasma studies,” Ji said. “This nextgeneration machine confirms that we are both a national and international leader in this research.”

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