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6 Play the Richardson Auditoriaum Steinway piano, page 4; Explore the area’s basement concert scene, page 7.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

On RamP Managing Editor Sara Hastings

On Ramp is a guide to opportunities readers can act on now, from workshops, auditions and artist calls to volunteer roles, business programs and community resources. Listings are subject to change, so readers should confirm details with the sponsoring organization before making plans.

Editorial Director Bill Sanservino Graphic Designer & Operations Manager Stephanie Jeronis Senior Account Executive Jennifer Steffen

Business & Career

Account Executives Christine Storie Matt Donnelly Associate Publisher Thomas Fritts

For editorial inquiries: 609-452-7000 Display Advertising: tfritts@donnelly.media 609-396-1511 x110 Classified Advertising: class@princetoninfo.com 609-396-1511 x105 Mail: 24 South Main Street, Allentown 08501.

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ACG September Breakfast. ACG New Jersey will hold its September Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at EisnerAmper in Iselin. The meeting is built around curated smallgroup roundtable discussions on accounting, private equity, investment banking, legal issues and other deal-community topics. Suggested for business owners, executives, investors, lenders, attorneys, accountants and other professionals who want a focused networking setting rather than a standard reception. acg.org/newjersey *** ACG Networking Power Hour. ACG New Jersey will hold a virtual Networking Power Hour on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. The event is designed as a networking-only program, with participants rotating through smallgroup breakout rooms to make introductions and exchange ideas. Suggested for business readers who want a low-commitment way to make contacts before the busier fall breakfast and conference season. acg.org/newjersey *** Women’s Leadership Summit. The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce is taking registration for its 25th annual Women’s Leadership Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 8:30 a.m.

The summit is intended for business owners, executives, managers, nonprofit leaders and professionals interested in leadership development and networking. The

date is farther out, but the program works as a forward-looking Business & Career item because readers can register now and plan around a major regional business event. mcrcc.org *** World Cup Security Lessons. ACG New Jersey will hold an October Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, focused on lessons for business leaders from the 2026 FIFA World Cup security effort. The program offers a specific leadership and operations angle, looking at what high-pressure planning can teach executives, security professionals, event planners, operations managers and business owners. Use this as a farther-out business education and networking item. acg.org/newjersey *** NAMI NJ Job Opening. NAMI New Jersey is hiring a part-time Recovery Program Coordinator at $20 per hour. The position involves organizing, implementing and evaluating recovery-focused and peer-related programming for the mental health organization. This is a practical On Ramp item because it gives readers a specific job opportunity connected to nonprofit and community health work. Suggested for people with experience or interest in mental health advocacy, peer support, program coordination or nonprofit service. naminj. org *** NJSBDC Business Assistance. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey continues to offer counseling, training and business resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Recent updates have emphasized planning for fourth-quarter momentum, business growth, e-commerce assistance and upcoming workshops. This works as an ongoing Business & Career item for readers who need help with a startup, business plan, financing,

marketing, government contracting or scaling an existing company. sbdcnj.com *** Institute Membership Applications.

The Institute for Advanced Study is inviting membership applications for the 2027-28 academic year. IAS membership is a competitive academic opportunity for scholars whose work would benefit from time at one of the world’s leading centers for independent research. This is not a general class or public program, but it is a strong U.S. 1 item for readers in higher education, research, mathematics, natural sciences, social science, history, philosophy and related fields. ias.edu *** MCCC Fall Registration. Mercer County Community College has registration open for Fall Semester 2026 credit classes. The listing is broader than most On Ramp items, but it can work as a practical education and career item for readers considering a degree program, transfer credits, professional training, a career change or personal enrichment. Suggested for readers who want a local, public-college option with credit programs, workforce training and continuing education opportunities. mccc.edu

Arts & Creativity

Copper Penny Classes. The Copper Penny Players will begin a fall series of eight classes on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Sergeantsville. The series concludes with a revue, giving participants a chance to develop material and then share work in a performance-style setting. This is a strong arts participation item because readers are not just buying a ticket; they are signing up for a multiweek creative program that leads to a public or semi-public presentation. fredmillermusic.com *** Kelsey Theatre Auditions. Kelsey The-

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

U.S. 1

PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ROSSEN MILANOV , MUSIC DIRECTOR

Embrace the Joy!

2026-2027

SEASON OPENER

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody October 17 & 18 featuring Dmitry Shishkin, piano

Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 November 14 & 15 featuring Simone Porter, violin

Holiday Pops!

December 19 & 20 featuring vocalist Scarlett Strallen John Devlin, conductor First-time, Full-Season subscribers Get Holiday Pops! FREE!* *Applies only to new subscribers who purchase now through October 15: free holiday tickets limited to the number and level of subscribed seats.

GET TICKETS princetonsymphony.org (609) 497-0020 Dates, times, artists, and programs subject to change.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

On Ramp Continued from preceding page

atre at Mercer County Community College has open auditions coming up this fall for The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Auditions are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. Video auditions also will be accepted until Monday, Oct. 19, at 9 p.m. All auditions are held on the West Windsor campus unless otherwise noted. This is a strong community theater opportunity with enough lead time for readers to prepare. kelsey.mccc.edu *** Kelsey Theatre Volunteers. Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College also offers volunteer opportunities connected to its community theater companies and productions. Needs vary by company and show, but theater volunteers can often help behind the scenes, with front-of-house work or in other production-support roles. This is a useful ongoing item for readers who want to take part in local theater without auditioning, singing or acting on stage. kelsey.mccc.edu *** Bucks Playhouse Classes. Bucks County Playhouse is offering fall education classes for young performers. The programs are designed to help students build theater skills through acting, musical theater, performance and creative training connected to a professional theater environment. This is a good farther-out Youth & Family arts listing because parents can register children for structured fall instruction rather than a one-day event. bcptheater.org *** McCarter Fall Classes. McCarter Theatre Center has fall classes on sale for students of different ages and experience levels. One new class, Broadway Remix, runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 18 and

is designed for ages 8 to 12. Students explore songs, characters and moments inspired by contemporary musical theater through acting, choreography and ensemble work. This is a strong arts-education listing because readers can register for a multiweek program rather than simply attend a show. mccarter.org *** Contemporar y Art Classes. The Center for Contemporary Art has opened registration for its fall 2026 education lineup, with classes and workshops for children and adults. Offerings include ceramics, painting, drawing, multimedia and hands-on workshops for different experience levels. The center emphasizes both full-length classes and shorter workshops, making the program suitable for beginners who want to try something new as well as experienced artists looking to develop specific skills. ccabedminster.org *** Mill Ballet Classes. Mill Ballet School’s academic-year classes begin Monday, Sept. 14, and registration is open for the 2026-27 season. The school offers programs for children, teens and adults, including ballet, contemporary dance, pre-professional training and other movement classes. Recent emails also promoted a contemporary class and a free first class for new students. This is a good arts-registration item for families and adult dancers looking for a fall class. millballetschool.com *** Princeton Youth Ballet Auditions.

Princeton Youth Ballet will hold season auditions on Saturday, Sept. 27. The auditions are open to dancers ages 7 to 22, or dancers in Primary B and up, who are interested in professional-level performance experience. The season includes The Nutcracker, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7.

This is a strong Youth & Family arts item because it gives young dancers and families time to plan and prepare. princeton-

Actor Alec Baldwin In Conversation on Music with Moderator Terrance McKnight featuring Pianist Tony Siqi Yun

An intimate look at a lifelong connection to classical music — a source of refuge, renewal, and reflection amid the demands of living in the public eye.

Sat. Sep. 19, 2026 3PM Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall puc.princeton.edu 609.258.9220 $27 General; $12 Students

Part of the Music & Healing series: exploring the intersection of music and human experience through conversation and live performance.

youthballet.org

*** Community Piano Jam. Princeton University Concerts will host an all-day Community Piano Jam on Sunday, Sept.

27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, on the Princeton University campus. Pianists of all ages and levels are invited to sign up for the informal event. It is described as a chance to play in a beautiful setting and share music in a welcoming atmosphere, rather than a formal performance. If more pianists sign up than there are available slots, player participation will be confirmed by lottery. Audience members may drop in throughout the day. puc.princeton.edu *** Works in Wood Entries. New Hope Arts is accepting entries for Works in Wood 2026. The call is for original artwork that incorporates wood as a central material, with a listed submission deadline of Sunday, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m.

This is a strong farther-out call for artists and makers because it gives woodworkers, sculptors, furniture makers and mixed-media artists time to review requirements, prepare images and submit work. newhopearts.org *** Arts Council Artist Opportunities. The Arts Council of Princeton has an artist opportunities page for local and regional artists looking for calls for art, mural opportunities, exhibition proposals and related ways to participate.

Current opportunities include information on public art, artist programs and future exhibition proposals. This can work as an umbrella On Ramp item for artists, especially if you want one listing that points readers to several active and future calls rather than a single event. artscouncilofprinceton.org *** Princeton Porchfest Waitlist. Princeton Porchfest is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon to 6 p.m. The Arts Council of Princeton says interested musicians can join a performer waitlist for consideration if additional slots open.

Because the event was rescheduled from April, priority may go to previously scheduled performers, so this should be framed carefully as a waitlist opportunity rather than a fully open call. It is still useful for musicians who want to be considered for the downtown porch-based music event. artscouncilofprinceton.org *** Allentown Porch Fest Participants.

The Allentown Village Initiative will host its first Porch Fest on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. along Main Street in Allentown. Local musicians and artists are still being sought to participate. The free event will feature performances and art on downtown porches, information about the history of participating homes, maps and schedules at a welcome table, and self-guided walking tours highlighting architecture, historic cemeteries and Allentown’s role in the Underground Railroad. Interested artists and performers can contact Martha Ploshay at 609529-4524 or ploshay@juno.com. allentownvinj.org *** Chili Cook-Of f Entries. The Arts Council of Princeton will hold the Princeton Community Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. The event is a good On Ramp item if cooks can still enter because it invites participation from home cooks and professional chefs rather than simply asking readers to attend. The farther-out date gives teams time to plan recipes, gather ingredients and register. Use under Arts & Creativity or Learning & Lifestyle, depending on the balance of the section. artscouncilofprinceton.org *** Tomato Patch Jr.. Tomato Patch at Mercer County Community College is taking registration for Fall 2026 Tomato Patch Jr. The youth performing arts program gives young performers a structured way to build confidence, explore theater and develop creative skills during the school year. This is a good Youth &

Family arts-registration item, especially for parents looking for an after-school or weekend arts program connected to the MCCC/Kelsey Theatre environment. tomatopatch.mccc.edu

Community Connections

Literacy Tutor Training. Literacy NJ’s Mercer programs are holding volunteer tutor training sessions in August and September. The organization is looking for volunteers who can help adults improve literacy and language skills.

This is a strong Community Connections item because it gives readers a way to train for an ongoing service role rather than attend a one-time program. Suggested for adults who want a structured volunteer opportunity with direct community impact. literacynj.org *** PLC Volunteers. Princeton Learning Cooperative is looking for adults willing to share their time and talents with teens.

Volunteers may tutor, lead a small class, offer a workshop or share expertise in a subject they care about. PLC describes itself as an alternative to school for teens and emphasizes interest-driven learning, mentoring and real-world connections. This is a good ongoing volunteer item for readers with professional, artistic, academic, technical or life skills they want to share. princetonlearningcooperative.org *** VITA Tax Volunteers. United Way of Greater Mercer County is seeking volunteers for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA volunteers help provide free tax preparation for individuals and families who meet income guidelines, and opportunities include greeters, tax preparers and translators.

The United Way opportunity board lists ongoing roles at sites including the Salvation Army Trenton Citadel and Hamilton Free Public Library. This is a practical volunteer item with a clear community benefit. uwgmc.org *** CMAP Volunteer Fair. Center for Modern Aging Princeton will hold a Third Act Volunteer Engagement Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The program is tied to the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance and is designed to help adults find volunteer opportunities that match their interests, skills and passions. This is a strong On Ramp item because it connects readers with multiple ways to get involved rather than promoting a single event. cmaprinceton.org *** NAMI Mercer Registration. NAMI Mercer has opened registration for its 18th annual Harvest of Hope. The nonprofit mental health organization lists Landon Donovan, former United States Men’s National Soccer Team and Major League Soccer player and mental health advocate, as this year’s special guest.

This is more fundraiser than class, but it fits On Ramp when framed as a way for readers to register and support local mental health education, advocacy and family programs. namimercer.org *** NAMI Support Groups. NAMI New Jersey continues to offer online support groups through Zoom, including family support groups and other peer-support options. Registration is required for many groups, and the programs are intended to connect people living with mental health conditions, relatives and caregivers with education, support and community. This can work as an ongoing Community Connections listing if the section needs a service-oriented mental health resource rather than another onetime event. naminj.org *** Food Pantr y Support. The Plainsboro Recreation Department is continuing to encourage support for the Plainsboro Food Pantry through its fall newsletter. The pantry-support effort gives residents a way to help neighbors facing food insecurity through donations

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

ART

FILM

LITERATURE

DANCE

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MUSIC

PREV I E W

DAY-BY-DAY EVENTS, SEPTEMBER 9 TO SEPTEMBER17 Family Fun Time, Mercer County Library System, Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor.

Family activity session for children and caregivers. 6:mcl.org. 7 p.m.

Event Listings: E-mail events@princetoninfo.com The following listings are a selection of events taking place in our area. Details below were believed to be accurate at time of publication. We always recommend that you confirm all necessary details when planning to attend an event. To include your event in this section email events@princetoninfo.com.

Business Independent Business Alliance Open Space Breakfast, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 1600 American Boulevard, Pennington. Interactive networking program in which participants help set the agenda, bring business challenges or discussion topics, move among conversations and exchange advice, referrals and expertise. princetonmercerchamber.org.

10:30 a.m.

Wednesday September 9

The College Connection, Kiwanis Club of Trenton, Leonardo’s II, 2021 U.S. Highway 1, Lawrence. Harold B. Vereen, president of the Omega Delta Upsilon Foundation, discusses how Trenton students find college opportunities through the HBCU College Fair. RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 8, to mccormicknj@aol.com. $20 menu lunch, payable at the door. 609208-9991. Noon.

On Stage McCarter Live at the Library, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. McCarter artistic director Sarah Rasmussen and director of presented programming Paula Abreu give audiences a behind-the-scenes preview of the theater’s coming season. princetonlibrary.org. 6 p.m.

Health Evening Yoga in the Garden, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Final session of Morven’s summer garden yoga series. morven.org. 7 p.m.

Music Marel Hidalgo and Jamaican Jazz, South Brunswick Public Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction. Guitar prodigy Marel Hidalgo, who began performing at age 6 and is now 17, performs Jamaican jazz with Grammy-winning bandmates in the Friends Theatre.

Advance registration is recommended to guarantee seating. sbpl.info. 7 p.m.

Open Band Jam, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Cooper’s house band and guest local musicians lead an open waterfront jam with a full backline. Musician sign-up begins at 7 p.m., with music starting at 7:30 p.m. coopersnj.com. 7 to 10 p.m.

Art Open Studio, Princeton University Art Museum, 136 Creativity Lab, Princeton. Drop-in art-making activities rooted in discovery and inspired by works in the museum’s collections and special exhibitions. Materials provided. artmuseum. princeton.edu. 1 p.m.

Jersey Art Meetup, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Weekly gathering for illustrators, animators, writers and other creatives to work, exchange feedback and connect with collaborators. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 9 p.m.

Echoes in Our Bones: The Empowering Legacy of Black Women Artists in American Art and Culture, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Opening reception for the exhibition curated by Judith K. Brodsky and Rhinold L. Ponder, which explores identity, history, cultural resilience and the influence of Black women artists across generations. Free. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 5 to 7 p.m.

Artistic legacy

How to Promote Healthy Digital Engagement, Mercer County Library System, Ewing Branch, 61 Scotch Road, Ewing. Danielle Young, director of clinical services at Child Mind Institute, discusses how social media and technology affect children’s development and well-being and offers strategies for healthy boundaries, balance and communication. Registration is required. mcl.org. 2 p.m.

Bisa Butler’s ‘Papillon’ is among the works featured in ‘Echoes in Our Bones: The Empowering Legacy of Black Women Artists in American Art and Culture,’ opening Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Arts Council of Princeton. On View through Saturday, October 3.

Gentle “Wild” Yoga, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Road, New Hope, Pa. Volunteer naturalist and certified yoga teacher Priscilla Hayes leads a gentle class combining breath work, yoga poses and meditation in the preserve. Bring a mat and any preferred props. bhwp.org. 8 a.m.

my Street, Trenton. Screening of Steven Spielberg’s 2021 adaptation of the classic musical about rival New York street gangs and a forbidden romance. PG-13; 156 minutes. trentonlib.org. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Yoga in the Galleries, Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick. Guided yoga session takes place amid the museum’s galleries, combining movement and mindfulness in an art-filled setting. zimmerli.rutgers.edu.

10 to 11 a.m.

Museums The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution, Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa. Exhibition explores the Bucks County Loyalist gang, its criminal exploits during the American Revolution and the divisions the war created among neighbors, friends and families. mercermuseum.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Film Queen Kelly, Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton. Erich von Stroheim’s famously unfinished silent drama starring Gloria Swanson screens as part of the Garden’s Hollywood Summer Nights series. princetongardentheatre.org. 7 p.m.

Movie Mornings: West Side Story, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Acade-

Books Book Discussion: The Compound, South Brunswick Public Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction.

The library’s genre-spanning discussion group takes up Aisling Rawle’s The Compound. Copies are available at the Information Services Desk. sbpl.info. 1:30 p.m.

Vicky Osterweil in Conversation with Bill Gleason, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. Osterweil discusses The Extended Universe: How Disney Killed the Movies and Took Over the World with Princeton professor Bill

Gleason. The book examines Disney’s rise to cultural dominance through its films, theme parks, merchandising, intellectual-property strategy and corporate power. labyrinthbooks.com. 6 p.m.

Kids & Teens Reading Rebels, Mercer County Library System, Hopewell Branch. Reading program for children. mcl.org. 4:30 p.m.

Discovery Time, Mercer County Library System, Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor.

Early-literacy and discovery activities.

10:mcl.org. 11 a.m.

Free Play with mTiny Robots, Mercer County Library System, Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. Children explore screenfree coding and robotics with mTiny robots. 4:mcl.org. 5:15 p.m.

Food & Drink An Evening of Legendary Champagne & Burgundy, The Perch at Peacock Inn, 20 Bayard Lane, Princeton.

Special wine tasting and dinner event focused on Champagne and Burgundy. peacockinn.com. 6 p.m.

Princeton University Farmers Market, Firestone Library Plaza, Princeton University, Princeton. Local farm and food vendors, prepared foods and artisan producers. Free and open to the public.

Continued on following page

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

September 9 princeton.edu. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

wick. Venezuelan comedian Angelo Colina performs a Spanish-language stand-up show. The club requires guests to be 16 or older and has a two-item minimum. newbrunswick.stressfactory.com.

7:30 p.m.

Outdoors

Music

Continued from preceding page

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. Easy guided walk on the trails of Roebling Park. mercercountyparks.org. 10 a.m.

Julio Torres: Works in Progress, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton. Emmy-nominated, Peabody- and WGA-winning writer, director and comedian Julio Torres brings a work-in-progress performance blending surreal comedy, visual design, dream logic and theatrical staging. Torres is known for Los Espookys, Problemista and the HBO special Color Theories. mccarter. org. 8 p.m.

Angelo Colina, Stress Factory Comedy Club, 90 Church Street, New Bruns-

Crochet & Knit Corner, Mercer County Library System, Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. Bring a current crochet or knitting project and work alongside other crafters. 2:mcl.org. 3:30 p.m.

Dueling Pianos on the Green, Palmer Square, 40 Nassau Street, Princeton.

The Flying Ivories perform a high-energy, all-request dueling-piano show with audience song requests, singalongs and comedy on the Green. Bring chairs or blankets for the outdoor performance. palmersquare.com. 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday Lovelight Grateful Dead Tribute, September 10 Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, On Stage

ning with cocktails followed by a plated dinner and program under the tent. $275.

5:cmaprinceton.org. 10 p.m.

Health Sept. 11 25th Anniversary Remembrance Blood Drive, Mercer County Library System, Hopewell Branch. New York Blood Center blood drive marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. mcl.org. Noon to 6 p.m.

Trenton. Lovelight returns to the waterfront venue with an evening of Grateful Dead songs, extended grooves and jams. coopersnj.com. 7 to 10 p.m.

Venezuelan comedian Angelo Colina brings his Spanish-language stand-up show to Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick, on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Art

villearts.com. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vibrant Views, Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville. Opening day for the landscape exhibition by TingTing Hsu and Michael Schweigart. Hsu draws on places ranging from the D&R Canal to landscapes encountered while traveling, while Schweigart combines memory, plein-air studies and photographs to create atmospheric landscapes. The exhibition continues through Oct. 4. lambert-

Museums Princeton and the American Revolution, Historical Society of Princeton.

Program in a four-part history series examining Princeton’s role in the American Revolution. 6:princetonhistory.org.

8 p.m.

Takeda Hideo’s Genpei: Defying Authority Tour, Princeton University

Art Museum, Princeton. Guided tour of the special exhibition devoted to Takeda Hideo’s satirical reinterpretation of the medieval Genpei War. artmuseum.princeton.edu. 7 p.m.

Books Shatema Threadcraft in Conversation with Reena Goldthree, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Threadcraft presents The Labors of Resurrection: Black Women, Necromancy, and Morrisonian Democracy in conversation with historian Reena Goldthree. princetonlibrary.org. 6 p.m.

Kids & Teens Baby Time, Mercer County Library System, Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. Stories, songs and early-literacy activities for babies and caregivers. 10:mcl.org. 11 a.m.

Storytime, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Interactive stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and movement for children ages 2 and older with caregivers. princetonlibrary. org. 10:30 a.m.

Baby Storytime, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton.

Books, songs and rhymes for babies and toddlers from birth through 24 months with caregivers. princetonlibrary.org.

11:30 a.m.

Business September Business Before Business Virtual Speed Networking, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, online. Structured one-hour virtual networking session for chamber members and prospective members.

Free for members; $15 for future members.

8:princetonmercerchamber.org.

9:30 a.m.

Friday, October 16 • 10 am - 2 pm

Center Court | 3320 US-1 | Lawrenceville | NJ 08648

Scan for more information and to pre-register for this FREE event or go directly to 2026senior.eventbrite.com If you are interested in joining us as a sponsor or vendor at the event, scan here or email us at events@donnelly.media

Young Professionals Give Back: America’s Grow-A-Row, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and partner chambers. Young professionals from several chambers spend the first two hours harvesting crops for America’s Grow-A-Row, followed by an hour of networking over hors d’oeuvres.

Free registration is required. princetonmercerchamber.org. 8 p.m.

Community South Brunswick and Sept. 11: 25 Years Later, South Brunswick Public Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction. Panel discussion and short film examine how South Brunswick municipal leaders responded to the Sept. 11 attacks and recount the experiences of six South Brunswick police officers who went to New York to assist in rescue efforts. Advance registration is recommended. sbpl. info. 7 p.m.

2026 CMAP Fall Gala, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton. Annual gala celebrating the organization’s legacy, innovation and community impact, begin-

Food & Drink Trivia in the Winery, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. D.J. Iron Mike hosts a fall trivia night at the winery. terhuneorchards.com. 8 p.m.

Trivia Night: Pop Culture Through the Decades, Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pa. Teams test their knowledge of music, movies, television and pop culture from multiple decades. crossingvineyards.com. 7 p.m.

Princeton Farmers Market, Hinds Plaza, Princeton. Weekly market features local produce, prepared foods and goods from regional farmers and small businesses. princetonfarmersmarket. com. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

First Thursday Dinner Series, Princeton Theological Seminary Farminary. Intimate dinner on the seminary’s 21-acre sustainable farm pairing a guest chef with a scholar, artist or activist for a meal and conversation. This edition focuses on community stories and climate realities. ptsem.edu. 8 p.m.

Buffalo’s & Bourbon, Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn, Lambertville.

Food and drink event centered on bourbon and hearty pairings. lambertvillestation.com. 9 p.m.

Outdoors Talk of the Sourlands: Life of a Bear, The Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Program on black bear biology, behavior and life in the Sourlands region. thewatershed.org.

8:30 p.m.

Sports Women’s Soccer: Princeton vs. Colgate, Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium, Princeton University, Princeton. Home match against Colgate. goprincetontigers.com. 7 p.m.

Friday September 11 Music North of Six, Bucks County Brewery, 31 Appletree Lane, Pipersville, Pa. Live music at the brewery. buckscountybrewery.com. 9 p.m.

The Fabulous Greaseband, Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pa. Finale of the winery’s 2026 Summer Wine & Music Series. The band performs rock ‘n’ roll spanning the 1950s through the 1990s. Guests bring lawn chairs; wine, beer, Crossing Crushies and light bites are sold on site. $20 in advance, $25 during concert week. crossingvineyards.com. 9 p.m.

Castle Lane, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton.

Finale of the shopping center’s outdoor summer concert series, with music and a Triumph Brewing pop-up beer garden. princetonshoppingcenter.com. 8 p.m.

KOUSFEST, coLAB Arts, 9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick. Kouskous Heaven headlines a night of New Jersey music

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

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7

Bassist Sue Williams stays in the groove

By Richard J. Skelly

For bassist and pianist Sue Williams, performing is less about reaching a destination than continuing to grow.

That philosophy has carried Williams through decades of jazz, blues and R&B performances, recording sessions and teaching. It also keeps her active on stages around New Jersey, including frequent appearances with Highland Park-based pianist and composer John Bianculli at Americana Kitchen & Bar on Route 130 in East Windsor.

Williams most recently performed there with Bianculli on Sunday, Sept. 6, part of an ongoing series of local appearances that gives area audiences a chance to hear a musician whose career has taken her from jazz clubs to Broadway recording sessions and even the White House.

Like a farmer or a good amateur golfer, Williams long ago understood that playing jazz bass for a living is a Zen-like pursuit.

Like a farmer, she’s open to new technologies and new ways of teaching bass, piano or music theory, and she’s done all three.

Like a talented amateur or professional golfer, there’s always the mental side of the game and the ability to focus, whether it’s a four-hour tournament round or a raucous three-set night of modern blues playing electric bass with master blues pianist and singer Dave Keyes.

“I am fortunate that I have many great opportunities to play music with people at a higher level so that is always a challenge to be out the acoustic bass is a world unto itself,” she said from her home in Franklin Lakes.

Williams attended William Paterson as a jazz studies major and focused on bass there, having taken piano lessons through high school. Bassist Rufus Reid was in charge of the jazz program at the school in Wayne when she was there, and she credits Reid and others with helping her develop her ear and ensemble-playing skills, whether on electric or acoustic bass.

Why jazz?

“I just fell in love with jazz when I was young,” she recalled.

Her parents would send her to summer music camp. Her mother was a nurse, and her father worked as a printer in New York City and Bergen County.

Interestingly, “my parents

didn’t insist on piano lessons, I wanted them for myself. Before piano lessons I was always in school bands and loved being in the orchestra and chorus.”

She wanted to play in the jazz band in high school, so she began studying bass in earnest in junior high.

“My first instrument was the trumpet in school band, but that was when I was in 4th grade,” she said.

Of her four years at William Paterson College, she said, “there were a lot of great educators there, a lot of great musicians there from New York, many good visiting professors, and I liked the fact that it was not a conservatory. I enjoyed all of my classes, not just music classes.”

Williams said there was not one revelatory moment when she decided to pursue music full time. Instead, performing had been part of her life from an early age.

“I just always wanted to play music with people and from an early age I love school band and Orchestra and then I went on to playing in jazz bands in high school and in college and then I also played in original rock bands as well after college classic R&B bands and wedding bands everything to get as much experience as I could. “when I first moved into New York City I had a paper route but I used to do so I would do a big band gig and then I would be delivering papers at 4:00 a.m. in my car around Manhattan so I did things like that I’ve always been involved in education and I’ve always been an educator so I have a long history of teaching music at Bergen County Community College and I’ve also taught at Ramapo College and at even Montclair State University for a semester or two.”

By the time she was attending William Paterson, the program had some big names associated with it, including Thad Jones of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Reid and Latin jazz bandleader Chico Mendoza.

That background eventually led to a career that has moved easily between jazz, blues and R&B. Williams has played with musicians including Keyes, harmonica player and vocalist Rob Paparozzi, saxophonist Jerry Vivino and drummer Bernard Purdie. Purdie, one of the most recorded drummers in the business, has played on thousands of

with Lying Season, Lone Till Payday and Solitude.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. colab-arts.org. 6 to 10:30 p.m.

Pure Petty, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Tom Petty tribute band Pure Petty performs on the waterfront with special guest DJ Frank Oliveti. coopersnj.com. 7 to 10 p.m.

Art Mercer County Photography 2026, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, 299 Parkside Avenue, Trenton. Opening day of the biennial juried exhibition showcasing work by photographers who live, work or attend school in Mercer County. Photographer Aubrey J. Kauffman serves as juror. The exhibition continues through Oct. 11. ellarslie.org or call 609-989-1191. Noon to 4 p.m.

ACP BYOB: Printed Ceramic Coasters, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Artist-instructor Dave DiMarchi of 9INHAND-

Bassist Sue Williams performs on electric bass.

Williams has built a career spanning jazz, blues and R&B while also working as a pianist and music educator. recording sessions.

Asked about memorable shows, Williams cited touring China with Keyes in 2018 and playing at the White House for President Bill Clinton with LaBamba and the Hubcaps, a band led by Rich Rosenberg.

After earning her B.M. in jazz studies and performance at William Paterson, Williams pursued additional study at Indiana University. She earned a master’s degree in music technology there and became well-versed in digital recording techniques.

Given that she’s equally at home on bass or piano and keyboards, has Williams ever tried her hand as a vocalist?

“I don’t fancy myself a singer, but I have done some singing with different groups,” she said, again stressing, “I’ve been very fortunate to work with a lot of

PRESS combines relief printing and slab-built ceramics in a hands-on workshop. Participants carve, stamp and glaze a pair of coasters, which are fired and available for later pickup. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 6:30 p.m.

Museums Docent Tour of Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. A docent leads an in-depth tour of Morven’s America 250 exhibition examining the lives, ideals, personal connections and contradictions of New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence. Registration includes museum admission and is required in advance. morven.org. 1 p.m.

Community on Tap, Historical Society of Princeton, Dohm Alley, Princeton. Free 15-minute guided tours of Princeton’s Taverns: On the Road to Revolution examine taverns as centers of commerce, communication, politics and community life and

great musicians. I play a lot with John Bianculli these days I play with a great piano player Dean Tomanelli and we just played the Deerhead Inn with Jerry Vivino’s group.”

Her work with Bianculli has become one of her more visible recurring collaborations in the area, including the performances at Americana in East Windsor.

How common is it at a show for Williams to jump off bass and play piano instead?

“I have done that with certain projects but as a rule, I don’t do that, I stick to the bass, though I have performed separately as a pianist. For the most part I don’t mix the two up.”

Interestingly, given her years in the jazz world going back to the 1980s, Williams doesn’t have an album under her own name.

Yet. It’s in the works, she said.

“I recorded a couple of songs last year that are my own compositions, and I’m slowly putting those together,” she said, “but in general, I’m always the side person.”

She added that she has played on many recording sessions with musicians ranging from Keyes and Vivino to guitarist Mark Sganga, as well as on Broadway soundtracks. She joined the American Federation of Musicians in the 1980s and met Keyes when he was musical director for the Broadway show “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”

Williams has also taught classes at Bergen Community College and, given her studies in music technology, has offered bass, piano and music theory instruction online.

“I think now in this day and age with technology you can do so much to reach people and get your music out there and contribute to the community with different educational ideas,” she said. “it’s pretty exciting how much computers and the internet have opened up so much for those of us in music performance and education.”

Williams also maintains a website and Facebook presence.

Her performance schedule continues into the end of the year. She is scheduled to appear with the Jeremy Baum Trio at The Falcon in Marlboro, New York, on Sunday, Dec. 13, and Thursday, Dec. 17.

The performances, billed as “Charlie ‘Baum’ Christmas,” feature Jeremy Baum on piano, Williams on upright bass and Peter O’Brien on drums in a tribute to Vince Guaraldi’s 1965 album “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Asked about future plans, Williams said, “in the near future I’d like to get my own album out, maybe in the next three or so years, and I’m always working to improve my skills and talents.”

Like a farmer or amateur or even LPGA Tour player, Williams agrees with the notion that playing jazz, rock and blues bass is a Zen-like path.

“Every instrument has different physical demands. I just find that the longer I play -- whether it’s piano the electric bass or acoustic bass -- the more you have the opportunity to grow.

That’s really the key: to keep your craft and yourself constantly evolving and happening, both musically and as a human being.”

show how historians reconstruct tavern culture using maps, newspapers, licenses, archaeology and personal accounts. Tours at princetonhistory.org. noon and 1 p.m.

that spanned Mercer’s lifetime. $30 adults; $15 ages 14 to 17. mercermuseum.org. 6:30 p.m.

Collections Highlights Tour, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton. Guided introduction to selected works and themes across the museum’s collections. artmuseum.princeton.edu. 7 p.m.

25th Anniversary Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony, South Brunswick Municipal Building, South Brunswick. Municipal remembrance marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. southbrunswicknj. gov. 11 a.m.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Gothic Literature, Fonthill Castle, and Henry Mercer, Fonthill Castle, 525 East Court Street, Doylestown, Pa. Ninety-minute autumn tour connects Henry Mercer’s interest in Gothic literature with the castle’s architecture and his book collection. $30 adults; $15 ages 14 to 17. mercermuseum.org. Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Good Grief: Mourning Rituals and the Rise of Spiritualism During Henry Mercer’s Lifetime, Fonthill Castle, 525 East Court Street, Doylestown, Pa. Special 90-minute tour examines mourning etiquette and the rise of Spiritualism across the eras

Community

Food & Drink Blue Moon Acres Farm Market, 11 Willow Creek Drive, Pennington. Farm market features certified organic produce, microgreens, rice and a selection of locally produced foods. bluemoonacres.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sports Continued on following page

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

September 12

regional traditions; tastings and other Peruvian bites are included. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 6 p.m.

Art

Continued from page 6

Princeton Invitational Men’s Water Polo: Princeton vs. St. Mary’s, DeNunzio Pool, Princeton University, Princeton.

Opening day of Princeton’s home invitational. Princeton enters the season as the five-time defending Northeast Water Polo Conference champion. goprincetontigers.com. 3:30 p.m.

Field Hockey: Princeton vs. Rutgers, Bedford Field, Princeton University, Princeton. Home match against in-state rival Rutgers. goprincetontigers. com. 5 p.m.

Saturday September 12

Vibrant Views Opening Reception, Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville. Artists TingTing Hsu and Michael Schweigart welcome visitors to the opening reception for their landscape exhibition, which brings together works shaped by travel, memory, plein-air studies and the changing effects of light and color. lambertvillearts.com. 5 to 7 p.m.

Monday September 14 Music

Museums

Voices Chorale NJ Auditions, Princeton area. Community chorus holds auditions for its fall season. voiceschoralenj. org. 7:30 p.m.

Rutgers Meets Japan: A Celebration of Friendship, Kirkpatrick Chapel, 81 Somerset Street, New Brunswick.

Rutgers and the Zimmerli Art Museum celebrate the university’s long-standing relationship with Japan with a free program connected to the exhibition Japan In/Out of View. Light refreshments are provided. zimmerli.rutgers.edu. 3 to 5 p.m.

Books Library Reads, Princeton Public Library, online. Library staff share notable new titles to add to reading lists. Registration required for Zoom link. princetonlibrary.org. 1 p.m.

Kids & Teens

Film

On Stage The Cher Show, Music Mountain Theatre, 1483 Route 179, Lambertville.

Musical biography of Cher follows her rise from teenage phenom to television star, Oscar-winning actress and pop icon through her chart-topping songs. 3 and musicmountaintheatre.org. 7:30 p.m.

Rent, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pa. Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning rock musical follows young artists in New York’s East Village navigating friendship, love, loss and creativity. 1:30 and bcptheater.org. 7:30 p.m.

Music Live Music at Terhune Orchards, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. Live music is part of the farm’s Fall Family Fun Weekend. terhuneorchards.com. Noon to 4 p.m.

Fall Music Series, Palmer Square, 40 Nassau Street, Princeton. Outdoor afternoon concert on the Green features live music as part of Palmer Square’s fall series, with nearby dining and shopping available throughout the district. palmersquare.com. 1 to 3 p.m.

Dance 1920s Jazz Age Barn Dance, Tinicum Park, River Road, Erwinna, Pa. Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra provide live Jazz Age music in the Stover Barn. The event includes instruction in the Charleston and Lindy Hop, light food and an invitation to dress in 1920s style.

Tickets are $30. buckscounty.gov. 5 to 8 p.m.

Movies in the Courtyard: Moana 2, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. Free outdoor screening in the courtyard; bring blankets or lawn chairs. 7:princetonshoppingcenter.com. 10 p.m.

Kids & Teens Star Trek 60th Anniversary Celebration, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. The library marks 60 years since the original series debuted in September 1966 with a screening of an original-series episode, a Star Trek trivia contest and themed activities. The program is designed for longtime fans as well as families discovering the franchise. princetonlibrary.org.

2 p.m.

Festivals Doylestown Arts Festival, downtown Doylestown, Pa. The free 35th anniversary festival fills the borough’s streets with more than 170 juried artists, about 40 musical acts on multiple stages and activities for all ages. Artists exhibit painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art and other work throughout the downtown district. dtownartsfestival.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fall Family Fun Weekend, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton.

The farm’s fall festival features more than 30 activities, including pony rides, corn mazes, pedal tractors, pumpkin painting, barnyard animals, the pumpkin patch and flower fields. Wagon rides run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., live music is offered from noon to 4 p.m., and food is available from Pam’s Food Pavilion. terhuneorchards. com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

G E T A TA S T E O F T H E

Organic Garden State

Whole Earth carries a wide selection of locally grown produce from the Garden State’s best organic growers.

During the summer, we get fresh deliveries of local organic produce several times a week.

Stop in today and sample the bounty of New Jersey’s organic farms!

360 NASSAU ST. • PRINCETON WHOLEEARTHCENTER.COM

L O C A L LY O W N E D • I N D E P E N D E N T

Princeton University Assistant Professor of Music Tyondai Braxton presents ‘Splayed Werks and Gladstone Deluxe: Planes of Rhythmic Consciousness’ a free Princeton Sound Kitchen concert of electronic and percussion-based new music, on Sunday, Sept.

13, at the Lewis Arts Complex.

Outdoors Saturday Canal Walk, Turning Basin Park, Alexander Road, Princeton. Free three-mile walk along the D&R Canal towpath. canalwalks.org. 10 a.m.

Open Studio, Princeton University Art Museum, 136 Creativity Lab, Princeton. Drop-in art-making activities inspired by the museum’s collections and special exhibitions. Materials provided. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Noon.

Sports

Museums

18th Annual Helene Cody Cranbury 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk, Cranbury. Fall road race and one-mile run/walk benefit a local charitable cause. helenecody.com.

8 a.m.

Sunday September 13 On Stage The Cher Show, Music Mountain Theatre, 1483 Route 179, Lambertville.

Musical biography of Cher told through her life story and chart-topping songs. musicmountaintheatre.org. 3 p.m.

Rent, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pa. Jonathan Larson’s rock musical follows young artists living in New York’s East Village. bcptheater.org. 1:30 p.m.

Music Listen Local: The Successful Failures, Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton.

The Trenton-based band closes the 2026 Listen Local series with a mix of indie rock, Americana, power pop, garage rock, classic country and roots music. The group has released 11 full-length albums.

In the event of rain, the concert moves into the library’s Community Room. princetonlibrary.org. 4:15 p.m.

Tyondai Braxton: Splayed Werks and Gladstone Deluxe: Planes of Rhythmic Consciousness, Lee Performance and Rehearsal Room, Lewis Arts Complex, Princeton University, Princeton. Free Princeton Sound Kitchen concert of electronic and percussion-based new music. goprincetontigers.com. 8 p.m.

Art

White Hill Mansion: History and Haunted Happenings, Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown City. The Sunday Soiree examines the circa-1740 Fieldsboro mansion’s Revolutionary-era history, its connection to poet Annis Stockton, its later years as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and restaurant, and its reputation as a destination for paranormal investigations and public ghost hunts. Free. facebook.com/OldCityHallRestoration. 6 p.m.

Zimmerli Highlights Tour, Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick. English-language guided tour introduces highlights from the museum’s collections and current exhibitions. zimmerli.rutgers.edu. 2 to 3 p.m.

Festivals Doylestown Arts Festival, downtown Doylestown, Pa. The second day of the free 35th anniversary festival brings more than 170 juried artists and about 40 musical acts to downtown streets, with painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art and other work on display. Family activities and live music continue throughout the day. dtownartsfestival.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fall Family Fun Weekend, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton.

The weekend festival offers more than 30 fall activities, including pony rides, corn mazes, pedal tractors, pumpkin painting, barnyard animals, the pumpkin patch and flower fields. Wagon rides run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., live music is offered from noon to 4 p.m., and food is available from Pam’s Food Pavilion. terhuneorchards. com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Food & Drink Art of Ceviche: Flavors of Peru, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Carlos Sumba of Q’ero Restaurant gives a ceviche demonstration while sharing the dish’s history and

Crafternoon: Pierced Tin Craft for Hopewell Valley Heritage Week, Mercer County Library System Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington. Children ages 3 to 8 learn how pierced tin was used historically and make a pierced-tin-inspired craft based on pieces in The Hopewell Museum collection. The drop-in program is part of Hopewell Valley Heritage Week and is sponsored by the Friends of the Hopewell Library. mcl.org. 5 p.m.

Storytime with Jeff, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Jeff Trainor presents books and music for children and caregivers. princetonlibrary.org. 10:30 a.m.

Business Largest Networking Party, Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, 2 Albany Street, New Brunswick. Large regional networking event brings together business owners, professionals and exhibitors. mcrcc.org. 7:30 p.m.

Community Women’s College Club of Princeton, Morven Museum & Garden Stockton Education Center, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Helene van Rossum presents a digital look at the club’s 110-year history, including photographs, newspaper coverage and stories of founding members, some of whom were suffragists. morven. org. 3 p.m.

Continuing Conversations on Race, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Co-author Patricia Campos Medina discusses issues raised in Legalized Inequalities: Immigration and Race in the Low-wage Workplace, followed by small-group discussion. princetonlibrary.org. 6 p.m.

Health Project B.E.S.T. Free Vision Clinic, Monument Hall, Princeton. Free community vision clinic. princetonnj.gov. 7 p.m.

Tuesday September 15 Art Open Studio, Princeton University Art Museum, 136 Creativity Lab, Princeton.

Drop-in art-making activities inspired by works in the museum’s collections and special exhibitions. Materials provided. artmuseum.princeton.edu. 1 p.m.

Museums Lunchtime Learning: Discovering Trentoniana, New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton.

Trenton Free Public Library local history librarian Robert Schenker highlights rare maps, industrial records, photographs and other holdings in the Trentoniana

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Bordentown Old City Hall Sunday Soirees return

features Flemish-bond brick facades. It was expanded with a brick addition in the 19th century and later remodeled with Queen Anne and Shingle-style elements, including shingle-clad bays, dormers, iron cresting and Gothic details.

The history of the property predates the mansion. Archaeological work has uncovered evidence of prehistoric Native American occupation as well as deposits that could provide information about 18th- and early 19th-century life on the riverfront property.

White Hill underwent another transformation in the 20th century. Heinrich and

Katrina Glenk purchased the property in 1922 and opened an upscale German restaurant the following year. The restaurant became known as the Mansion House and attracted political and other prominent guests.

The property continued operating as a restaurant, bar and grill under various owners until 1982.

The Borough of Fieldsboro eventually acquired White Hill, and preservation efforts began in the early 2000s. The New Jersey Historic Trust has awarded grants for projects at the mansion, including preservation planning, foundation stabilization, exterior restoration and

archaeological work.

White Hill has also developed a reputation for reported paranormal activity. The Friends of White Hill Mansion, the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the property, offers guided history tours as restoration work continues.

The Sunday Soiree series turns from history to art on Sunday, Sept. 20, when the Trenton Community A-Team brings its Art Cart mobile art studio to Bordentown.

The A-Team traces its beginnings to 2000, when five artists at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen formed an artists cooperative open to self-taught art-

ists who lacked the resources to pursue their creative work.

The group grew in both membership and recognition and became a tax-exempt nonprofit in 2014. Now known as the Trenton Community A-Team, or TCAT, the organization supports, develops and promotes the work of self-taught local artists.

TCAT operates Studio 51, an art studio and gallery at 51 N. Stockton St. in Trenton. The organization provides artists with gallery space, opportunities to exhibit work at museums, galleries and other venues, art supplies and access to cultural activities.

The Art Cart expands that outreach by taking a mobile art studio directly into the community. TCAT describes the project as a place for people to create, connect and experience art, with the cart making scheduled stops in Trenton neighborhoods and appearing at special events.

The project is supported through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Activation, Revitalization and Transformation, or A.R.T., Phase II grant program.

The Sept. 20 Sunday Soiree will also feature A-Team poets reading from their publication, “Fresh Type & Novel Visions.”

The Sunday Soiree series is organized by the City of Bordentown’s Old City Hall Restoration Committee, a volunteer group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the restoration of the historic Old City Hall building in downtown Bordentown City.

Both programs are free and run from 4 to 6 p.m. at Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks St., Bordentown City.

For more information, visit the Old City Hall Restoration Committee’s Facebook page.

ACG NJ Fall Roundtables: Insights Across the Deal Community, ACG New Jersey, EisnerAmper, 111 South Wood Avenue, Iselin. Breakfast networking is followed by rotating small-group discussions led by professionals in accounting, private equity, investment banking, law, banking and technology, marketing and communications, and leadership and human resources. The program is open to ACG members and nonmembers. acg. org/newjersey. 10:30 a.m.

Jersey Art Meetup, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Weekly gathering for illustrators, animators, writers and other creatives to work, exchange feedback and connect with collaborators. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 9 p.m.

hidden fortunes of Main Street business owners. labyrinthbooks.com. 6 p.m.

sions. Farm opens at 4 p.m. monroetwp. com. 6:30 p.m.

Kids & Teens

A Band Called Honalee, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa. Folk group inspired by Peter, Paul & Mary performs classic folk repertoire and original arrangements. brtstage.org.

2 p.m.

By Bill Sanservino

The Old City Hall Restoration Committee’s Sunday Soiree series returns to Bordentown City in September with programs exploring the history and reported hauntings of White Hill Mansion and the work of the Trenton Community A-Team.

The free programs will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20, at Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks St. The Sunday, Sept. 13, program will focus on the history, reported paranormal activity and upcoming tours at White Hill Mansion in Fieldsboro.

The mansion was occupied for three generations by the Field family, for whom Fieldsboro was named, and has significant connections to the Revolutionary War. Mary Peale Field was living at White Hill when her husband, Robert Field, drowned in the Delaware River in 1775.

During the Revolutionary War, her home was searched by British troops on Dec. 8, 1776, and four days later became temporary quarters for a Hessian officer. Col. Carl von Donop, whose Hessian troops occupied nearby Bordentown, also visited White Hill.

Mary Field married Commodore Thomas Read in 1779.

Read, who had served in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War, made White Hill his country estate and died there in 1788.

The property also has ties to the Stockton family. Annis Boudinot Stockton, a poet and wife of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton, lived at White Hill late in her life.

White Hill itself is considered architecturally significant. The original Georgian-style house Collection. trentonlib.org. Noon to 12:45 p.m.

Books Eddie S. Glaude Jr. in Conversation with Naomi Murakawa, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton.

Glaude presents America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries in conversation with Princeton professor Naomi Murakawa. labyrinthbooks.com.

6 p.m.

An Evening with John Searles, Princeton Public Library Friends & Foundation, Graduate by Hilton Princeton, 10 Chambers Street, Princeton. Bestselling author John Searles discusses Single Girls, his novel inspired by Helen Gurley Brown’s early Cosmopolitan years. Fundraiser benefits the library. princetonlibrary.org.

6 p.m.

Business Mercer County Connect & Grow, Mercer County Library System Robbinsville Branch, 42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville. Entrepreneurs and small business owners learn about starting and growing a business in New Jersey, funding opportunities, government and nonprofit business resources and building a Google Business Profile. Participants can also network with representatives from America’s SBDC at TCNJ, Mercer County, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Free. mcl. org. 6:30 p.m.

White Hill Mansion in Fieldsboro will be the focus of a Sunday Soiree on Sept. 13 exploring the historic property’s Revolutionary War connections and reported paranormal activity.

Wednesday September 16 Music A Band Called Honalee, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa. Folk group inspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul & Mary performs songs including Blowin’ in the Wind, Leaving on a Jet Plane and Puff the Magic Dragon. 2 and brtstage.org. 7:30 p.m.

Dance Princeton Country Dancers Contra Dance, Suzanne Patterson Building, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. Carter North calls with the Princeton Pickup Band. Instruction begins before the dance. princetoncountrydancers.org. 10 p.m.

Art

Museums Hearth, Home & Classroom: The First 100 Years of The Lawrenceville School, Mercer County Library System Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington. Sarah Mezzino, curator of decorative art and design at The Lawrenceville School, examines the school’s first century after its 1810 founding, including the people, buildings, land and educational practices that shaped the institution. The program is co-sponsored

by The Hopewell Museum. Registration required. mcl.org. 8 p.m.

Film Re-visioning America Film Series: Moonlight, Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton. Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning coming-of-age drama screens as part of a series exploring what it means to be American. Museum director James Steward introduces the film. princetongardentheatre.org. 9 p.m.

Books Owen Zidar in Conversation with Alan Blinder, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. Zidar and Blinder discuss The Everywhere Millionaire, Zidar’s book with Eric Zwick about the

Little Artists, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton.

Preschoolers ages 3 to 6 and caregivers create art in a session celebrating National Play-Doh Day. Registration required. princetonlibrary.org. 3:30 p.m.

Thursday September 17 Music Noontime Recital: Eunju Kim, Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton. Westminster Conservatory faculty pianist Eunju Kim opens the 25th season of Westminster Conservatory at Nassau with works by Korean composers. Free. nassauchurch.org.

12:15 p.m.

Iain Matthews, Randy Now’s Man Cave, 134 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown. Scottish singer-songwriter and former member of Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort performs. mancavenj.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Jakes Rockin’ Country Band, Dey Farm Historic Site, 401 Federal Road, Monroe Township. Free outdoor fall concert presented by the township cultural arts and historic preservation commis-

Art Flappers and Fine Art, New Hope Arts at Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, Pa. Speakeasy-themed annual fundraiser supports New Hope Arts. newhopearts.org. 10 p.m.

Story & Verse: Storytelling and Poetic Open Mic, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton.

Monthly open mic welcomes storytellers and poets to share original work. artscouncilofprinceton.org. 9 p.m.

Museums Docent Tour of Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey, Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Guided tour examines the lives, ideals and contradictions of New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence through more than 100 historic artifacts. Registration required. morven.org. 1 p.m.

Fall Exhibitions Conversation and Reception, Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick. Artist Hank Willis Thomas joins collector Jordan D. Schnitzer for a conversation followed by a reception celebrating the museum’s

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Fan Favorite Club helps young players grow on and off the court

By Thomas Kelly

La’Keisha Sutton is a hooper, a serious basketball player who shares her skills, training methods, mindset and approach. A Mercer County native, Sutton was Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Trenton Catholic Academy. She was the first recruit chosen by now-legendary coach Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina.

After playing basketball overseas for teams in Finland, Ecuador, Germany and Bulgaria, Sutton played in the U.S. for the Harlem Globetrotters. The eternal point guard now directs area youth in basketball and more at the Fan Favorite Club on Whitehead Road in Hamilton.

Using her college nickname, “Fan Favorite,” Sutton opened the training facility in 2019. Developing great people, not just great players, has always been her goal.

What is the Fan Favorite Club’s main focus?

Fan Favorite Club is a safe space for youth in Mercer County that is designed and committed to providing affordable access to an indoor basketball court for

development and a supportive place for young people to make new friends and learn leadership skills.

Playing basketball helps youth of all ages think creatively, set goals and work hard to achieve them. My biggest dream was to build confidence and communication skills in the youth who come to our club while improving their self-esteem and physical and emotional health.

Fan Favorite Club allows more young people to experience the benefits of playing basketball while learning life skills such as communication, time management, decision-making and teamwork. I love seeing kids from different backgrounds connect with and support one another through the Fan Favorite Club.

What programs are offered other than basketball training?

Most recently, we created our nonprofit organization, Operation Safe, to provide programs besides basketball. In partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Outreach Team, we were able to provide six free weeks of enrichment classes. The classes included hip-hop dancing, cre-

La’Keisha Sutton, center, works with members of China’s under-17 national team at the Nike Academy. ative arts and graphic design, fitness, public speaking, home economics and cooking.

Our mission through the nonprofit is to provide young people with opportunities to participate in programs involving sports, arts, financial literacy and educational initiatives to supplement their learning outside of school.

Who were your sports inspirations growing up, and what did you admire about them?

Growing up, I did not have a lot of sports inspirations. I played basketball because it was fun for me, and I loved to compete. My basketball coaches, Khaliq Lewis, Melvin Weldon and Thomas Brown, helped me love the game because we had the opportunity to play and practice every single day.

As a player, I’m a big fan of A’ja Wilson, Rajon Rondo and Kyrie Irving. I believe it’s important for young players to be exposed to college games and the WNBA and NBA so they can know and

La’Keisha Sutton joins fellow head coaches at the Mamba Invitational, held in memory of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

believe what’s possible.

How does coaching at George School allow you to prepare athletes for college and beyond?

Coaching at George School allows me to prepare athletes for college and beyond because I can work with them year-round. I run my high school program similarly to a college program, including practices five to six times a week, film study, individual workouts, yoga, performance training and competition on a national schedule.

What challenges do you face while coaching, mentoring and educating young people today?

One struggle I have with coaching and mentoring young people today is the pressure they feel from social media and parental expectations. We strive to meet kids where they are and prepare them for where they want to go.

Another issue is that many parents struggle with transportation to the Fan Favorite Club.

Who inspires you today outside sports?

I’m inspired by my nieces and nephews. I want to continue to put myself in a position where I can provide a better childhood for them and give them opportunities that will change their perspective on life and offer them a real chance to do what they love.

I’m also inspired by my coach, Khaliq Lewis, who died in 2022.

He was so happy when I opened the Fan Favorite Club because he knew kids and families in Mercer County needed an affordable and accessible place like it.

He challenged me to keep it open despite how hard it may be financially. He believed someone with a passion for youth and basketball would potentially invest and become a partner with me so we could continue saving lives by teaching young people life skills.

How did traveling to play basketball in Europe and with the Harlem Globetrotters affect your outlook and expectations locally?

Traveling the world as a profes-

sional athlete in Europe and with the Harlem Globetrotters confirmed what I already believed: There is a need for the Fan Favorite Club because we consistently provide learning, leadership and impact. We are just missing some key partnerships to help sustain our efforts and mission.

The most successful people in life have early access and opportunities to do things they love.

Fan Favorite was modeled after a youth space I visited in New Zealand. The difference is that the Palmerston North club is funded by the local government.

The club features live instruments, a stage, board games, a basketball court, a commercial kitchen where young people can learn how to cook, video games, STEM activities and a recording studio.

Essentially, it’s a youth activity hub for people ages 13 to 19, and it provides free health and social services for those ages 10 to 24. With the right support locally, I expect Fan Favorite Club can expand its services and help more families.

How does Nike involve you in its programs?

Because of my efforts at the Fan Favorite Club, Nike has involved me in many of its grassroots programs. Currently, I coach the 17U girls team for Philly Rise, an Elite Youth Basketball League program that features some of the most talented players from the tri-state area.

Most recently, I was invited to coach at the Nike Academy in Los Angeles alongside other elite coaches, player development coaches and NBA and WNBA scouts. The Nike Academy brings together the top male and female high school and college athletes for a week of competition and instruction about what it takes to become a professional.

I am also proud to say that I was selected as a Mamba Invitational head coach in memory of Kobe Bryant’s legacy. My hope is to bring my relationship with Nike and other brands to Mercer County and partner with local

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organizations to create a greater impact through youth-related events.

What do you think about the current state and popularity of the WNBA? I love the popularity of the WNBA, along with its increased visibility, viewership and media coverage. The increased pay is long overdue. I credit the players for using social media to tell their stories and engage with their fans year-round.

Because of the WNBA’s current popularity, my hope is that more people in leadership positions, including athletic directors and recreation directors, will invest in quality programming for girls who play basketball.

Girls need their own 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 leagues and basketball camps so they can build their confidence and develop their skills and basketball IQ year-round.

If Fan Favorite Club were larger, I would definitely host more girls-only basketball programming.

In basketball and life, what do you preach is more important: talent or work ethic?

I believe work ethic is more important than talent. Hard work

beats talent when talent does not work hard. Everyone is born with some type of talent, but they must nurture that talent and practice.

Individuals who are intrinsically motivated or raised in an environment of hard workers usually go further in life.

What do you want your students to take away besides basketball skills and knowledge of the game?

Besides basketball skills and an understanding of the game, I want students at the Fan Favorite Club to leave with more confidence and kindness. Kindness is free, and students deal with a lot of bullying and peer pressure at school and in other environments.

I hope the leadership and communication skills students learn here carry over into other parts of their lives. I also hope they adopt some of the Fan Favorite mindset, which focuses on faith, avoiding distractions, maintaining awareness, having a vision for their lives and taking some risks.

Is basketball still fun for you and your Fan Favorite Club team?

Playing basketball and teaching the game are still fun for my team at the Fan Favorite Club. We’ve

helped several student-athletes earn full scholarships to attend college. The impact is real, and our process delivers results time and time again.

As we approach the deadline to either close the club or renew our lease, we are desperately hoping to find a new partner in Mercer County who can help us keep our doors open for many more years.

Every time we mention possibly closing or relocating, parents rally and tell us that we can’t because the club means so much to their children. It is their happy place.

Small businesses need support, whether that means providing funding or simply allowing us to hang flyers in businesses, churches or schools.

What’s next for you?

I am looking forward to holding basketball tryouts for my AAU team, Fan Favorite, for girls in grades 5 through 8. My goal is to keep the team together yearround to develop the chemistry, connectedness and skills needed to place the players on a path to success in high school and beyond.

For more information, see fanfavoriteclub.com

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