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Tess James takes leadership role at Princeton, 5; Bristol Riverside Review: Real Women Have Curves, 8.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

Wednesday, June 3

NJ AI Hub Workshop Targets Small Firms

Small and midsized business leaders will have a chance to learn practical uses of artificial intelligence during a no-cost workshop June 3 in Hamilton Township. Anthropic, Tenex and the New Jersey AI Hub, in partnership with the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, will host the Claude SMB Workshop: New Jersey on Wednesday, June 3, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Township. Attendance is by advance application.Location will given after registering,

The half-day workshop is designed for small and midsized business owners, operator s, executives and senior decision-makers who want a practical understanding of how artificial intelligence tools can be used in everyday business settings.

According to event materials, the program is intended for companies with one to 500 employees and does not require a technical background or prior AI experience. The workshop is described as an education and research initiative rather than a sales presentation.

The session will focus on AI fluency for business leaders, helping participants understand how modern AI systems can be used to solve real-world business problems and improve day-to-day operations.

Participants will be asked to bring a laptop and a real task they want to tackle. The workshop will include hands-on exercises using Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant, with a focus on practical skills that business leaders can put to work quickly.

Participants will work on tasks such as turning messy data into cleaner reports and dashboards, automating repetitive customer follow-ups, improving order management, forecasting, scheduling and preparing status updates.

The workshop also will examine how AI tools can connect with systems many businesses already use, including Gmail, Google Drive, Microsoft 365, PayPal, HubSpot and Canva.

The program will also address the limits of AI, including what to trust, what to double-check and how businesses can better protect their data.

The schedule includes registration and setup from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., AI concepts and fluency training from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., a break, and a hands-on session from 3 to 5 p.m. The program will end with a happy hour, networking and informal question-and-answer time with Anthropic staff and other attendees.

Participants will receive one month of Claude Max at no cost, along with refreshments, happy hour and takeaway materials.

The workshop is part of the Claude SMB Tour, a national series of workshops Anthropic is running with local business communities.

The Hamilton session comes as artificial intelligence moves from a specialized technology issue into a broader business concern for employers across industries.

For many small and midsized companies, the challenge is less about whether AI will affect their operations and more about how quickly leaders can learn where the tools are useful, where they carry risk and how employees should use them.

The New Jersey AI Hub has become a central part of the state’s effort to support that transition.

The hub, located at 619 Alexander Road in West Windsor in space provided by Princeton University, was created through a partnership involving Princeton University, Microsoft, CoreWeave, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the state of New Jersey.

The hub is intended to support artificial intelligence research, startup development, commercialization, education and workforce training. Its programming focuses on research and development, commercializing and accelerating innovation, and strengthening AI education and workforce development.

The June 3 workshop fits into that mission by focusing on practical AI adoption among business leaders who may not have technical backgrounds but are being asked to make decisions about how AI can improve productivity, customer service, internal workflows and decision-making.

The workshop also comes as Princeton University researchers connected to the NJ AI Hub are studying how New Jersey organizations are adopting artificial intelligence.

A survey announced by the AI hub in March asks employers how they are using AI in operations and what skills and competencies they expect workers to need as the technology becomes more common. The survey, led by Edward Freeland of Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, is intended to improve understanding of AI’s impact on New Jersey businesses.

The NJ AI Hub also has been expanding other business-facing efforts, including the Plug and Play AI Accelerator at the hub, which is designed to connect New Jersey AI startups and higher-education-affiliated entrepreneurs with mentors, investors and industry partners.

The accelerator is part of a larger effort to grow the state’s AI startup ecosystem and help early-stage companies move from technical development toward commercialization, investment and customer growth.

The hub’s workforce work also includes

collaboration with New Jersey’s community colleges and statewide conversations around teaching and learning in the age of artificial intelligence, including how educators can prepare students and workers for changing workplace expectations.

For small businesses, those questions are increasingly immediate. AI tools can be used to draft communications, analyze data, organize customer information, prepare reports, support marketing and reduce time spent on repetitive administrative work.

But business leaders also must think about accuracy, privacy, security, staff training and how to evaluate AI-generated work before using it with customers, vendors or employees.

The June 3 workshop is designed to give business leaders a working foundation before they make larger decisions about AI adoption.

In a note to Chamber members, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Hal English said the NJ AI Hub has become a “powerful catalyst for growth” in the state’s AI ecosystem since its establishment in 2025. He encouraged small and midsized business members to consider the workshop as an opportunity to build practical understanding of AI tools.

The NJ AI Hub also holds frequent programs and events related to artificial intelligence, business adoption, startups, research and workforce development.

More information on the June 3 workshop is available at anthropic.swoogo.com/ smb-workshop-new-jersey-2026/rta. More information on NJ AI Hub events is available at njaihub.org/events.

Wednesday, June 3

Women Leaders To Be Honored at Chamber Event

Three women leaders in banking, health care and business strategy will be honored Wednesday, June 4 during the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Achievement event.

The event will be held from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at TPC Jasna Polana, 4519 Province Line Road, Princeton.

Hosted by the Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance, the annual program recognizes women who have made substantial contributions to the region’s business and civic community.

Since the award was created in 2013, 51 women have been recognized for work that has contributed to the growth, health and vibrancy of the region.

The 2026 honorees are Mary Betz, vice president and senior relationship strategist at PNC Private Bank; Suzanne Borgos, chief strategy officer at Capital Health; and Brenda Ross-Dulan, founder and managing principal of The Ross-Dulan Group and managing partner of RD Capital Partners.

The Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance provides professional development, networking, collaboration and advocacy opportunities for women in the regional business community.

Betz works with clients and families at PNC Private Bank in Princeton, where she coordinates financial planning and wealth management services as part of a client advisory team. Before joining PNC Private Bank, she held several financial services roles with PNC and predecessor institutions, including Chemical Bank NJ and Princeton Bank.

She graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in education and communications. Her regional business leadership includes cofounding the Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance and serving as a PNC-certified Women’s Business Advocate.

Betz has been involved with March of Dimes, PNC Grow Up Great, Dress for Success Central New Jersey and University of Michigan alumni organizations. She also has longstanding ties to Princeton University and the Princeton University Athletic Department and previously received the Service Award for her contributions to the Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance.

Borgos has served at Capital Health since 2013 and currently works as the health system’s chief strategy officer. In that role, she

Mary Betz, Suzanne Borgos and Brenda Ross-Dulan will be honored June 4 during the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Achievement event.

helps guide Capital Health’s strategic vision and evaluates partnerships and new business opportunities.

Her responsibilities include strategic communication, strategic partnerships, marketing, public relations, community education and the Capital Health Institute for Urban Care. Borgos also has been involved in the Trenton Neighborhood Initiative, a group of programs and leaders focused on addressing social factors that affect the health of Trenton residents.

Borgos earned master’s degrees in health care administration and business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Villanova University. She serves on the boards of trustees at Rider University and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County and has served on the board of Greater Trenton.

Ross-Dulan is founder and managing principal of The Ross-Dulan Group, where she advises CEOs and boards on strategy, leadership, organizational transformation and high-stakes business decisions.

She also serves as managing partner of RD Capital Partners, an investment firm focused on backing early-stage ventures that produce both financial return and social impact.

A former region president at Wells Fargo, Ross-Dulan led a $12 billion business unit and managed 1,700 employees during one of the largest mergers in U.S. financial services history. Her experience includes merger integration, growth strategy, organizational transformation, capital access and impact investing.

Ross-Dulan serves on the board of NJM Insurance Group and the National Community Investment Fund. She also has served on nonprofit boards including Young Audiences Arts for Learning and College Achieve Charter Schools and is an adviser to the New Jersey Black Women’s Collective.

Ross-Dulan was the first African American woman to chair a majority chamber of commerce in New Jersey, leading the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce during the pandemic. Her honors include recognition by Black Enterprise, Savoy Magazine and the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Howard University and an MBA in finance from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Sponsorship and ad journal opportunities are available for the June 4 event.

More information is available at princetonmercerchamber.org.

Mercer Street Friends Honors Leaders

Mercer Street Friends will recognize leaders in philanthropy, public service and nonprofit leadership during its Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration on Tuesday, June 9.

The event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, 3 Graphics Drive, Ewing.

The annual celebration honors individuals and organizations whose work supports Mercer Street Friends’ mission of nourishing minds and bodies and empowering families and communities. The nonprofit provides food, family and education programs throughout Mercer County, with a focus on Trenton and the surrounding area.

This year’s honorees are Bloomberg Philanthropies, recipient of the Corporate Leadership & Public Service Award; state Sen. Shirley K. Turner, recipient of the 2026 Humanitarian Award; and Ken Blackwell, board chair of Mercer Street Friends, recipient of the Robert M. Appelbaum Service Award.

Founded in 1958 by members of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, Mercer Street Friends began during a period of economic strain in Trenton after suburban migration and flooding affected the city and its residents. Founding volunteers renovated a former Quaker meeting house on Mercer Street in the Mill Hill section of Trenton and turned it into a community center for neighbors in need.

Today, the Quaker-affiliated, nonsectarian nonprofit works to address poverty and its effects through integrated services that build community, support families and provide resources for children and adults. Its work includes food distribution through the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, social and emotional support for parents and families, preschool programming, community school initiatives and adult education.

Turner represents New Jersey’s 15th Legislative District and serves as president pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate. She has served in the Senate since 1998 after previously serving in the General Assembly from 1994 to 1998.

She is also a former Mercer County freeholder and freeholder vice president and has served on the Lawrence Township Zoning Board, Mercer County Improvement Authority and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

A career educator, Turner worked as a Trenton public school teacher, an Educational Opportunity Fund counselor for disadvantaged youth who were first-generation college students, a counselor for the New Jersey Youth Corps and associate director of career services at Rider University. She retired from Rider after 44 years of service.

Turner earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey, and a master’s degree

PRE VIEW

DAY-BY-DAY EVENTS, JUNE 3 TO JUNE 10

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 3

On Stage

Real Women Have Curves, Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. www.brtstage.org. The hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes chaotic lives of five curvy Latina seamstresses striving to make ends meet — while fighting for their future. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

A Healthy Marriage, CoLAB Arts, 9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick. www.colab-arts.org. “A Healthy Marriage,” a new musical comedy by Dave Seamon inspired by the infamous Hall-Mills murder case, invites audiences into the heart of the mystery through the point of view of the remaining choir members, struggling to stay together. They share the story as they saw it including love, betrayal, and the secrets that never made it to the public. 7 p.m.

Lectures

Art of Living Lightly with Patricia Diesel, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Reconnect with a calmer, more intentional way of living. In this workshop, Patricia Diesel invites participants to explore what it means to live with greater clarity and ease through guided insights and practical tools. 5:30 p.m.

Politics

Kiwanis Club of Trenton Presents Our Capital County Leonardo’s II, 2021 U.S. 1, Lawrence. A vision for revitalizing Trenton. Lunch with county executive Dan Benson. $20. noon

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 in Central Jersey. Open workshop space to draw, write, and develop artwork and receive peer feedback. All artists ages 16 and up are welcome. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

Jazz at McCarter

Bassist Christian McBride and Ursa Major, a collection of rising stars in the world of jazz, take the stage at McCarter Theater on Sunday, June 7. Brazilian Hamilton de Holanda with his trio follow on Tuesday,

Thursday June 4

Live Music

Square After Sunset, Palmer Square, Princeton. www.palmersquare.com. Live music, extended shopping hours, lawn games. Artists via Arts Council of Princeton also on hand for live and hands-on creative activities. 6 to 8 p.m.

On Stage

Farm Markets

Princeton Farmers Market, Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonfarmersmarket.com. Baked goods, dairy, fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, fresh meats, jellies and jams, pickles, soaps and textiles, dog treats, jewelry, blown glass and more. 10 a.m.

Socials

Spring Winery Trivia Series, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. www.terhuneorchards. com. Test your knowledge and win prizes with D.J. Iron Mike in the winery. General knowledge, entertainment, history and geography, sports, and name that tune. No cover charge; trivia kicks off at 6 p.m. 5 to 8 p.m.

Meeting of the 55 Plus Club of Princeton, Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton. www. princeton55plus.org. Dr. William R. Fernekes, American history teacher and author, will speak on “When Bipartisanship Mattered: Clifford Case and the U.S. Senate, 1955-79.” 10 a.m.

Friday June 5

Live Music

Princeton Festival: Sierra Boggess, Morven Museum and Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org/ festival. Boggess, who has starred in the musicals “The Little Mermaid,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “School of Rock,” performs renditions of Broadway classics and her favorite melodies, accompanied by piano. 7 p.m.

Guns ‘n’ Hoses, Hopewell Valley Stage, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell. www.hvartscouncil.org. Guns ‘n’ Roses tribute band. The Guns ‘n’ Hoses gals are Erin Marsz (vocals), Mia Von Criss (bass), Ann Klein (lead guitar), Emmy Wildwood (rhythm guitar), and Gina Ilasi (drums). 8 p.m.

Art

Gallery Opening: Paul Mordetsky is Moving to Miami, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. artscouncilofprinceton.org. Opening reception. Exhibition on view June 5-13. Explore and collect original works by Hightstown artist Paul Mordetsky before his move from New Jersey to Florida. Mordetsky has worked in both portraiture and landscape, with landscape becoming his primary focus in recent years. 5 to 7 p.m.

Gallery Opening: Commit to Memory, the Precipice of extinction, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Opening reception. Artist Cheryl Gross’ multi-platform exhibition uses animal metaphors to make a social commentary on “the shifting and potential disappearance of our culture.” 5 to 7 p.m.

Art Installation Reveal, Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. www.michenerartmuseum. org. The museum marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a newly commissioned work by Philadelphia artist Roberto Lugo. “Permanence: We Were Here,” a monumental ceramic vessel that encapsulates the Michener’s site history as a county jail, is unveiled. 5:30 p.m.

On Stage

They share the story as they saw it including love, betrayal, and the secrets that never made it to the public. 7 p.m.

Disaster, Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www.musicmountainTheater.org. It’s 1979, and New York’s hottest A-listers are at the opening of a floating casino and disco, but what begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to an earthquake, tidal wave, and inferno. $36 to $38. 7:30 p.m.

Family Theater

Seussical the Musical, Kelsey Theater, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelsey.mccc.edu. The Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant take you on a journey from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the World of the Whos. $26. 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.

Fairs & Festivals

Pride on the Plaza, Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary.org. Allages dance party. DJ Darius the First, Drag artist Gym Da Hollow Graham, Mr. Gay NJ 2026. Marketplace showcasing local makers, activities. 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Outdoor Action

Farm Fun Day, Cherry Grove Farm, 3200 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence. www.cherrygrovefarm. com. Hayrides, ice cream, food, drinks, storytelling, tarot readings, yoga, kirtan for the cows, watercoloring for kids. Make a bouquet, pick up plants for the garden and have a portrait sketched. Visit the calves and see the milking of the cows. 2 to 5 p.m.

Sports

Triples at nassau, nassau Tennis Club, 1800 U.S. 206, Skillman. www.nassautennis.net. Cardio tennis, friendly competition, and social play. No tennis experience necessary. $10. Register. 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday June 6

Classical Music Testament of Freedom, Capital Singers of Trenton, Saint David’s Episcopal Church, 90 South Main Street, Cranbury. www.capitalsingers.org. Featuring the music of Randall Thompson, R. Na-

thaniel Dett, James Syler, Adolphus Hailstork, and others in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. $25. 4 p.m.

La Fiocco Period Instrument ensemble, Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. www. lafiocco.org. “Heroes and Lovers: A musical celebration of history and myth with works by Handel and Telemann.” $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 students. 7:30 p.m.

Live Music

Princeton Festival: Bel Canto Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, Morven Museum and Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org/festival. Radvanovsky with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for a concert of popular arias and duets by Verdi and Puccini. 8 p.m.

Art

ellarslie Open 43, Trenton City Museum at ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.ellarslie.org. Opening weekend. Artist’s and member’s reception. 125 pieces by 125 artists “From Sea to Shining Sea.” Showcasing contemporary work by artists from New Jersey and beyond. Adam Welch, juror. On view through September 6. noon to 4 p.m.

Monet Mingle: An elegant Outdoor Cocktail Party AOY Art Center, 949 Mirror Lake Road, Yardley, Pennsylvania. www.aoyarts.org/events. Monet Mingle celebrates the spirit of Claude Monet and the tradition of painting outdoors with an elegant summer evening of art, cocktails, and community. Stroll the AOY grounds at Patterson Farm while watching acclaimed artists Joe Gyurscak, Christopher Monteiro and Jessica Barnum create original plein air paintings live during the event. These works will culminate in a dramatic live auction finale, raising funds for AOY Art Center and the future vision for The Farmstead Arts Campus. 5 to 8 p.m.

On Stage

Real Women Have Curves Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. www.brtstage.org. The hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes chaotic lives of five curvy Latina seamstresses striving to make ends meet — while fighting for their future. 2 and 8 p.m.

Family Theater

Moana Jr., Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www.musicmountainTheater.org. Set sail on an epic journey through the Pacific with Moana, a brave heroine who defies expectations to save her people. $13. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seussical the Musical Kelsey Theater, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelsey.mccc.edu. The Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant take you on a journey from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the World of the Whos. $26. 2 p.m.

Literati

Poet Roberta Batorsky, Classics Used and Rare Books, 4 West Lafayette Street, Trenton. Reading from her book, “Perihelion,”

and new poetry. noon

Book Sale, Hamilton Township

Public Library, 1 Samuel A. Alito Way, Hamilton. Used books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles for sale. Also Monday, June 8. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

History

“Trenton’s Story Begins Here” Community Celebration, Trent House Museum, 15 Market St, Trenton. www.williamtrenthouse. org. The Trent House opened as a museum on June 1, 1939, and in 2026 it is expanding its annual Ice Cream Social anniversary event in partnership with Trenton Puerto Rican Community & Friends. On June 6, 2026, ice cream will be served between noon and 3 p.m. accompanied by live cuatro and drumming performances. At 3, students from The College of New Jersey will be joined by a Trenton couple whose story of the Great Migration from South Carolina to Trenton will be presented: “A Love Story that Traveled Time and Space.” From 4 to 6 p.m. visitors can enjoy relaxing to the swing tunes of Ms. Jacque Johnson’s Sidewalk Swing jazz group while walking the grounds and viewing the new interpretive signs. noon to 6 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Wurst Bierfest, German American Society, 215 Uncle Pete’s Road, Hamilton. www.gasociety. org/event. German food and both American and German bands performing live: Dockside Band, Kids at Play and The Adlers Band accompanied by schuchplattlers (shoe slappers) dressed in traditional German garb, who will be dancing around to the music. With children’s activities. Admission $10. noon to 9 p.m.

nJ Renaissance Faire, Burlington Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Columbus. njrenfaire.com. This year’s storyline is “The Three Musketeers Return to New Crossford.” Familyfriendly festivities include sword fighting, fire breathing, comedy, live music, and a merchant village. $33.36 admission. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Capital City AnimeFest, Mercer County Community College, James Kerney Campus. www. ccanimefest.com. New one-day anime convention hosting industry guests, with fan-run panels and workshops, gaming, tournaments, interactive games and giveaways. 10 a.m.

Mercer County Cultural Festival and Food Truck Rally, Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Live cultural music and dance performances, along with a large lineup of food trucks and vendors representing a variety of international cuisines. Five Strings Bollywood Band at 12:45 p.m., The Broken Shillelaghs at 2:30 and David Cedeno & The Salsa Orchestra at 4:15 p.m. Dance performances by the Polish Janosik Dancers, Greek Hellenic Dance Troupe, Conjunto Folklorico Ritmo y Danzas de Panama, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble, Hea Sun Jung

Tess James Named Director of Princeton Program in Theater and Music Theater

Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts has named award-winning lighting designer Tess James as the new director of the University’s Program in Theater and Music Theater.

James, a lecturer in theater on the Princeton faculty since 2019, succeeds Jane Cox, who has led the program since 2016. James is currently associate director of the program and will be promoted to senior lecturer effective July 1.

“It will be a pleasure to work with Tess as the incoming director of the Program in Theater and Music Theater, and I am deeply grateful to Jane Cox for her dedicated, visionary, and transformative leadership of the program for 10 years,” said Judith Hamera, chair of the Lewis Center. “Tess’s record of artistic excellence, energetic and innovative teaching, and successful institution building, including the Princeton Production Workforce Training program, make her an outstanding candidate to succeed Jane in this important role.”

James is a theatrical designer and producer based in Hopewell. She has worked with a institutions including New York City Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Glimmerglass Opera, and the Sydney Opera House.

At Princeton, James has taught courses in lighting design, theatrical design, theatrical collaboration, and the interaction between dance and lighting. She has designed lighting for a number of Lewis

Traditional Arts Academy’s Korean fan and sword dance, Gruppo Folklorico San Jose de Newark’s Ecuadorian dance presentation and the Paradise Island Polynesian/Hawaiian Luau Show. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For Families

Stream Life Stroll Plainsboro Preserve, 80 Scotts Corner Road, Cranbury. plainsboronj. com/250/Plainsboro-Preserve. Hike through the preserve and explore Devil’s Brook as it flows out of McCormack Lake. Prepare to get wet and search for wildlife including insects, fish, and frogs. Learn about stream health from animals that live there. Bring a towel and a change of socks and shoes. No flip flops or open-toe sandals. One person per family must register; children must be with an adult. Ages 4 and up. $10 per family. 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Continued on following page

“Avalon,” a painting by Paul Mordetsky and part of the exhibition “Paul Mordetsky is Moving to Miami,” opening June 6 at the Arts Council of Princeton.

Center theater and dance productions at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theater Center and the Lewis Arts complex’s theaters and studios. She has also served as co-producer for productions in the Lewis Center’s Wallace Theater. Last year, James launched the Princeton Production Workforce Development program, an initiative that provides four weeks of hands-on instruction in theatrical lighting, sound, safety, and workforce readiness to recent high school graduates. Designed to remove barriers to entry, the program supports the Lewis Center’s commitment to providing opportunities for learning by preparing students from all backgrounds for in-demand careers in theater, dance, concert and film production.

Princeton’s Program in Theater and Music Theater was launched in 1974. Nearly 300 undergraduates enroll in more than 25 courses offered by the program each year taught by a distinguished faculty of working artists, critics, and scholars. The program’s season of productions is driven by the theater minors. Juniors propose projects for their senior year, such as writing a new play or musical, directing, performing, designing, serving as dramaturgy, or stage management. A full-time team of professional production staff support the student season.

Currently the full-time faculty, in addition to James and Cox, includes Elena Araoz, Brian Herrera, Aaron Landsman, Chesney Snow, Lloyd Suh, Solon Snider Sway, Rhaisa Williams, and Stacy Wolf, along with more than 25 part-time faculty, visiting faculty, and co-curricular instructors.

James is currently associate director of the program and will be

Hopewell Valley Stage reveals first full month of events

Following the successful reopening of the historic theater at S. Greenwood Ave, Hopewell Valley Stage has revealed its first full month of artistic programming in June.

“We’re excited to really make the most of this space and to expand our offerings,” said Maeli Goren-Wilson, theater manager. “It’s an ambitious lineup, but we know how eager Hopewell Valley is to experience more art together.”

From nationally recognized musicians and new theatrical works to interactive performances for children and families, the lineup — which features new events every weekend in June — looks to showcase Hopewell Valley Stage’s commitment to providing a home for a wide breadth of artistic experiences. Hopewell Valley Stage is a program of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, hvartscouncil.org.

June events include:

Guns N’ Hoses. Friday, June 5. Live rock. The Guns N’ Hoses gals are Erin Marsz (vocals), Mia Von Criss (bass), Ann Klein (lead guitar), Emmy Wildwood (rhythm guitar), and Gina Ilasi (drums).

Tickets start at $25. 8 p.m.

Back on Broad: A Family Friendly Revue. Sunday, June 7. For families. Broadway, pop and Disney tunes performed by a lineup of dynamite up-and-comers. A co-production with EllenRenee Productions. $10-$15. 3 p.m.

Gia Ware and The Warehouse Collective: Metamorphosis. Friday, June 12. Live jazz. The Warehouse Collective Band is an ensemble led by vocalist and actress Gia Ware, whose career has spanned Off-Broadway, regional, and international stages. Rooted in

promoted to senior lecturer effective July 1.

“The Program in Theater and Music Theater, throughout the years, has opened up opportunities for students to ask bold questions, celebrate community, and engage with storytelling that reflects the complexities of our time,” said James. “Our students are encouraged to take artistic risks and explore across disciplines, following their curiosity wherever it leads. I am so honored to have the opportunity, as the next director, to support the program as it shifts and evolves to meet the present moment and the needs of our students.”

Web: arts.princeton.edu.

gospel and shaped by the language of jazz, the ensemble expands into cinematic soundscapes, protest music and improvisation.Tickets start at $35. 8 p.m. Sp(inner)ace Album Release Party. Saturday, June 13. Contemporary classical. Pronounced “Inner-Space”, the debut album of Allison Spann and Scott Li tells the story of a spider who spins her web between the stars. Allison Spann is a Brooklyn-based performance creator. She is the producer and vocalist for Constellation Big Band and co-creator of “Sticks,” a new musical. Tickets start at $35. 8 p.m. The Crossing. Saturday, June 20. Musical theater. A new musical that reimagines George Washington`s Crossing of the Delaware, spotlighting the diverse, often overlooked voices of the Continental Army. Event features a “revolutionary” concessions and drink menu and a post-show dialogue with creators and historians. This is a co-production by Hopewell Valley Stage and tencrucialdays.org. Tickets start at $35. Shows at 3 and 8 p.m.

Small Bites: An Acoustic Tasting Menu. Friday, June 26. Live music. An eclectic mix of four 30-minute musical sets reflecting a variety of genres and styles. We offer you a taste of each - just enough to leave you wanting more! Tickets start at $35. 7 p.m.

Aesop Romp! The HVStage Kids’ Show. Saturday June 27. For families. A “splattering” of Aesop’s Fables reimagined for maximum silliness and whimsy. A weekly, interactive musical storytelling experience. $10/$15. 10 a.m.

I Get Wild plays Talking Heads. Saturday, June 27. Live music. I Get Wild has been interpreting Talking Heads music since they formed in Brooklyn in 2016. Tickets start at $25. 8 p.m.

All performances will take place at 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell.

Tess James. (Photo by Jon Sweeney.)

June 6

Outdoor Action

The Big Sit, Community Park South, 380 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Billed as “Princeton’s biggest ever picnic.” Sit with other groups on a 75-by-50-foot gingham blanket. Rain date Sunday, June 7. noon to 3 p.m. Old Time Baseball Game and Wash Day Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. www.howellfarm.org. Howell Farm’s two teams play by 19th-century Town Ball rules, and invite visitors of all ages to step up to the plate as “Striker” and face off against the “Thrower.” The Flemington Neshanocks face off against the Elizabeth Resolutes in a historical baseball club match. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Strawberry Festival, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. www.terhuneorchards. com. Wagon rides around the farm 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children’s games and activities, pony rides, scavenger hunt, animal shows, bubble parties. Live music noon to 4 p.m. Pam’s Strawberry Buffet features lunch, snack or dessert. Hand-scooped strawberry ice cream, strawberry slush and strawberry rhubarb pie. Advance tickets online. 10 a.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.

Sports for Causes

The annual 4-3-2-1 tournament, Montgomery Tennis Patrons Association. nassau.allclubaccess.com. The annual 4-3-2-1 tournament, hosted by Montgomery Tennis Patrons Association, features games in a bracket-style format and is an annual benefit for the Montgomery Township first responders. $115 per person. Minimum of four players per team. Register. 7 to 11 p.m.

Sunday June 7

Jazz & Blues

Christian McBride and Ursa Major, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. www. mccarter.org. Christian McBride is an 11-time Grammy-winning bassist. In Ursa Major, he is joined by four rising young master instrumentalists including saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King and drummer Savannah Harris. 7 p.m.

Live Music

Back on Broad: A Family Friendly Revue, Hopewell Valley Stage, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell. www.hvartscouncil.org. Broadway, pop and Disney tunes performed live. For all ages. A co-production with EllenRenee Productions. 3 p.m.

Art

ellarslie Open 43, Trenton City Museum at ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.ellarslie.org. Opening weekend. 125 pieces by 125 artists “From Sea to Shining Sea.” Showcasing contemporary work by artists from New Jersey and beyond. On view through September 6. 1 to 4 p.m.

Dance

Princeton Festival: An evening of Dance, Morven Museum and Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org/festival. The American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Symphony Orchestra come together to present a program of selections from “Sleeping Beauty,” “Swan Lake,” alongside “The Beech Tree” from Plan and Elevation. 7 p.m.

On Stage

A Healthy Marriage CoLAB Arts 9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick. www.colab-arts.org. “A Healthy Marriage,” a new musical comedy by Dave Seamon inspired by the infamous Hall-Mills murder case, invites audiences into the heart of the mystery through the point of view of the remaining choir members, struggling to stay together. They share the story as they saw it including love, betrayal, and the secrets that never made it to the

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Mercer County Cultural Festival, Food Truck Rally Returns June 6

Mercer County will celebrate the region’s diverse cultures, music and cuisine during the 14th Annual Cultural Festival and Food Truck Rally on Saturday, June 6, at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.

The free event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature live cultural music and dance performances, along with a large lineup of food trucks and vendors representing a variety of international cuisines.

Scheduled musical performances include Five Strings Bollywood Band at 12:45 p.m., The Broken Shillelaghs at 2:30 p.m. and David Cedeno & The Salsa Orchestra at 4:15 p.m.

Dance performances throughout the day will feature the Polish Janosik Dancers, Greek Hellenic Dance Troupe, Conjunto Folklorico Ritmo y Danzas de Panama, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble, Hea Sun Jung Traditional Arts Academy’s Korean fan and sword dance, Gruppo Folklorico San Jose de Newark’s Ecuadorian dance presentation and the Paradise Island Polynesian/Hawaiian Luau Show.

Food vendors scheduled to participate include Amanda’s Latin Cuisine, Black Perle Haitian Cui-

public. 3 p.m.

Disaster Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www.musicmountainTheater.org. It’s 1979, and New York’s hottest A-listers are at the opening of a floating casino and disco, but what begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to an earthquake, tidal wave, and inferno. $36 to $38. 3 p.m.

Family Theater

Oran etkin: Timbalooloo, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. www. mccarter.org. Family-friendly interactive musical adventure from the musician and educator that invites children to sing, drum, and dance while learning how music connects cultures and sparks creativity. $26 to $35. 11 a.m.

Family Theater

Fairs & Festivals

Wurst Bierfest German American Society, 215 Uncle Pete’s Road, Hamilton. www.gasociety. org/event. German food and both American and German bands performing live: Dockside Band, Kids at Play and The Adlers Band accompanied by schuchplattlers (shoe slappers) dressed in traditional German garb, who will be dancing around to the music. With accordionist Don Bitterlich and children’s activities. $10. noon to 6 p.m.

nJ Renaissance Faire Burlington Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Columbus. njrenfaire.com. This year’s storyline is “The Three Musketeers Return to New Crossford.” Familyfriendly festivities include sword fighting, fire breathing, comedy, live music, and a merchant village. $33.36 admission. 10 a.m.

sine, Buzzetta’s Festival Foods, Cha-Yen, Chef J’s Latin Dragon, Coastal Flavors, Dan’s Waffles and Divine Heavenly Food.

Additional vendors will include Dragon Bowl LLC, Frank’s Italian Ices, Fresh Kitchen, Harry’s Lil Kitchen, Hot Digg Dogs, Jersey Pickles, K.K. Sweets and Los Munchies.

The festival also will feature Ma & Pa Tex-Mex BBQ, Mamma Rosa’s, Mazza Fine Foods, Mister Softee, Pop Fizz Craft Sodas, Rolling Kusina, Scrumps & Yum Yum, Shabazz Fish & Chips, Soul Bruthas, Squeeze & Bean Co., Stevie’s Devlin, The Little Sicilian, The Sweet Stop and Tript Food. Mercer County Park is located in West Windsor.

Art

Morven Curator Corner: The Joseph Hewes Miniature. www. morven.org. Free virtual talk with museum curatorial team. Curatorial assistant Emily Marturano will discuss the Joseph Hewes miniature, currently on view in “Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey.” Get link at website. noon to 1 p.m.

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.

Outdoor Action

to 6 p.m.

Kids Stuff

Two Children’s Film Shorts and Book Signing with Michael Heffler Acme Screening Room, 25 S Union St, Lambertville. www. acmescreeningroom.org. Longtime Lambertville resident Michael Heffler returns to town to bring his new children’s books and film shorts, “Hornwell Honeypicker, The Flying Pig” and inspired by his friendship with local artist and filmmaker Bill Jersey, “How Do I Get Smarter and Happier?” Post-screening book signing. All proceeds to benefit the ACME Screening Room programming. Free for children. 1 to 3 p.m.

Outdoor Action

Strawberry Festival Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. www.terhuneorchards. com. Wagon rides around the farm 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children’s games and activities, pony rides, scavenger hunt, animal shows, bubble parties. Live music noon to 4 p.m. Pam’s Strawberry Buffet features lunch, snack or dessert. Hand-scooped strawberry ice cream, strawberry slush and strawberry rhubarb pie. Advance tickets online. 10 a.m.

Tuesday June 9

Jazz & Blues

Hamilton de Holanda Trio, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. www.mccarter. org. Hamilton de Holanda is “a global ambassador for Brazilian music, and a master of improvisation.” Purchase tickets online. 7:30 p.m.

Live Music

Princeton Festival: The Sebastians, Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton. www.princetonsymphony.org/festival. Program highlighting Bach cantatas. 7 p.m.

Women’s executive nine & Dine, Royce Brook Golf Club, 201 Hamilton Road, Hillsborough Township. www.acg.org/newjersey/events/acg-nj-legs-nj-womens-executive-nine-dinejune-9-2026. With ACG NJ Women of Leadership and LEGS NJ. Play nine holes or join the golf clinic. We’ll then all gather for a networking reception to round out the day. 2 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday June 10

Art

Suminagashi, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Explore the ancient Japanese art of paper marbling. Prints are made by dropping ink on the surface of water and touching paper to the water’s surface. Ages 21 and up. Register. 6 to 8:30 p.m.

On Stage

For Teens

Club Chef Challenge Cure Insurance Arena. 81 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton. www.bgcmercer. org/upcomingevents. The Chef Challenge is the exciting culmination of hands-on learning in our Healthy Cooking Program—one of many Club initiatives that help youth build healthy habits, confidence, and essential life skills. Friends, family members, and volunteers are invited to the CURE arena, as youth teams representing all 9 of our After School Program sites whip up flavorful creations and showcase their culinary creativity. Guests can even cast their votes for Fan Favorite, while judges evaluate each team on creativity, teamwork, healthfulness, and taste.

“Clouds” by Gary Becker, a photograph that is part of the Ellarslie Open 43 exhibition at the Trenton City Museum. The exhibition opens this weekend.

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Bristol Riverside Theater Review: Real Women Have Curves

Listening closely, you can discern the drama, comedy, and humanity inherent in Josefina López’s “Real Woman Have Curves” at Bristol Riverside Theater.

You can glean the play’s potential, but you don’t see it realized in director Leyma López’s listless, spiritless production that leaves “Real Women” hanging in some theatrically inert limbo from which it doesn’t break free.

The show’s opening night at Bristol seemed more like a mid-process rehearsal than a readyfor-primetime work. Everything that happened on stage, every potentially interesting subject discussed from immigration worries, frustrating deadlines, giving birth, childrearing, seeking love, enduring lovelessness to building a business, creating an identity, and living as independently as possible, come off as ordinary to the point of remaining bland and even boring.

Josefina López provides opportunities for texture, personality, and emotional levels, but Leyma López keeps matters on too even a keel. Josefina’s play drifts along as a situational slice of life because Leyma’s production hasn’t found a way for it to exude life. Bristol’s “Real Women” had the right dramatic ingredients, but lacks enhancing spices and juices. In spite of able performers, it never graduates from being a talkfest to eliciting any regard for Josefina’s characters or concern for their various dilemmas. Even when Regina Carregha supplies some fun by growling out a punch line while using her hand as if was a puppet’s mouth or Paulina De La Parra brings to the brink of getting involved with a character’s individual plight, Leyma’s staging never brings “Real Women” past second gear. It proceeds unfulfilled. It turns a daisy to a dud.

The worry is the Bristol production will not have the time nor the theatrical impetus to gather more pep or spark by its closing date, Sunday, June 14. The ingredients for an engaging production do not seem to be in place. No scene or character pops outs at you and commands attention, not even Luana Psaros’s youthfully ebullient Ana, who breaks the fourth wall to comment directly to the audience, ostensibly about a book she’s writing.

The word ‘flat’ echoed repeatedly in my head, even as I was concentrating to see Josefina’s script beneath Leyma’s staging.

What Leyma’s production lacked was curves. And levels and emergence of five distinct personalities, instead of dull amorphous group.

Leyma and her obviously able company kept all pedestrian. Even breakout scenes, designed to alter the tone or energy of “Real Women, “failed to invite people to care much about what the characters were enduring in their individual lives and as co-workers in an East Los Angeles sewing shop that makes dresses for boutiques and retailers via contract.

Such a contract sets up the first trauma in the play. Estela (Regina Carregha) owns a storefront dress factory that has an order for 200 dresses, gowns requiring beading, trim, and a sense of elegant formality it has too little time to complete no matter how fast the five women Estrela employs strain to do it.

Add to that Estela’s fear her small shop will be raided, rendering her vulnerable to deportation because she is without naturalization papers, or even a green card,

by n eal Zoren

although her mother and sister are full U.S. citizens. Consider also the dodgy nature of the factory’s rented equipment, an important worker getting ill as the contract deadline appears to be reachable, imperfect work that has to be done over, mother-daughter squabbles, sister-to-sister squabbles, Estela’s love interest, a birthday celebration, and lots of frank talk about being a woman.

That list shows you see all the ammunition Josefina gives Leyma to work with. I scratched my head pondering how most of it remains so squandered.

Even sequences that seem surefire lead nowhere. When Estela and her staff believe immigrations officers are heading toward their door, they duck en masse under sewing tables or hide behind six-foot-high spools of tulle. The women’s sudden dives for cover should be funny and the overall situation chilling and fraught with empathy, yet neither the comic nor serious nature of the moment come through. The motions to hide quickly are too sudden and choreographed to elicit laughter. A feeling there’s no real worry from the raid neutralizes the scene to just another calamity that might occur. The actresses’ instincts are right, but the idea has no effect. It brings home neither immigration, a hot topic among Latina women, nor the fear or desperation in their responding to a perceived threat. The idea is registered. It is not lived or made serious.

Estela snags a date with her unseen Don Juan from across the street. We know the date is a disappointment, but it takes ages for Estela to tell her friends, including her mother, and us why it fizzles. Her withholding is the opposite of dramatic or enticing. By the time Estela speaks about it, the incident seems unimportant old hat.

Opportunity after opportunity, plot twist after plot twist arrive, and they’re played comme il faut, as if no one wanted to do the work that would enliven them.

Let me tell you something that becomes clear. Regina Carregha, Adela Romero, Pauline De La Parra, Luana Psaros, and Ava Sofia Mattox have the acting chops to enliven anything, given the chance. They seem unencouraged to break out and individuate their characters. They become mired in storytelling instead of blossoming into the full women the script leaves room for them to be. (Bristol co-artistic directors Ken Kaissar and Amy Kaissar should step in, unions willing, while “Real Women Have Curves” continues to run. They’d know how to get the rhythm of comedy and pathos going,)

One reason I say Bristol’s looks like a rehearsal is you can see what Leyma López is aiming for. You see attempts at comedy in embryo. On opening night, they weren’t worked out or fluid enough to pay.

What you don’t see is the five women in Estela’s shop establishing some kind of presence. “Real Women Have Curves” works on the “Steel Magnolias” model. Robert Harling’s play seems bulletproof, but it can be a masterpiece in the hands of a sterling cast, such as the one that performed it at Malvern’s People’s Light in March, or be just another play.

“Real Women Have Curves” is not as deep or varied as “Steel Magnolias,” but it can entertain better than it’s doing at Bristol Riverside, What’s missing there is oomph.

through June 14. Bottom:

Women Have Curves.” (Photos by Mark

Even dance numbers provide little life. The last half of the second act, especially the final scene, give clues about what Leyma was going for, but by then, it all becomes a matter of too much too late.

I put the onus on Leyma López because she couldn’t animate a cast that reveals ready talent or mine Josefina López’s script to find the gold waiting in plain sight. Directorial ideas were sparse. Rhythm and cohesion never materialized. Even the opening scene, in which a stubbornly defiant younger daughter makes her mother go out to buy the bread she’ll need to make lunch for the shopworkers, has no defining tone. You can’t tell whether it’s supposed to be comic or if some spoiled brat is using false logic about her needs to refuse her mother’s wishes.

Who could know “Real Women” would not recover from that scene, that the static ball game would end there?

Regina Carregha gets an “A” for effort. While she never makes you care about Estela, her immigration status, her business, her lusts, or her deadlines, she shows Estela’s drive and desire for independence and success.

Estela, at least, has ideas about how to enjoy the American dream. She is the entrepreneur. She risks all, economically, psychologically,

and romantically, to realize a better life, and not only for herself. Carregha finds variations that begin to bring you towards Estela. She certainly helps both Lópezes by making you understand her.

Paulina De La Parra doesn’t have much to do until late in the play. When given a chance, she deftly separates her character, Rosali, a woman who needs income and company enough to jeopardize her health to assist Estela, from the rest of the “Real Women” pack.

Rosali might be the weakest of the ‘Real Women” characters, but De La Parra finds a way to make her moving. Rosali, late emergence or not, becomes a character you root for.

Adela Romano makes you want to know more about Carmen, the mother of Estela and the uncooperative Ana. Listening to her experiences with men, going back and forth to Mexico, and maternal instinct — She has eight children, six of whom you hear nothing about. — gives the impression there’s depth that neither López the gumption to explore.

Luana Psaros is a likable if bratty Ana, a teen who takes notes that will lead to book about Estela’s sewing factory. Her bubbliness emphasizes her youth yet seems out of kilter with other performances. A

scene involving a porn magazine and attempts to keep it from Ana is particularly deadly.

Ava Sofia Mattox rarely brings Pancha, the most grounded of the characters, to the core. Mattox aces her chance when she finally has a scene she can sink teeth into.

Lenì Méndez’s busy set of sewing machines, fabric bolts, and workplace debris is the most complete part of Bristol’s “Real Women.”It is enchanted by Xuewei (Eva) Hu’s industrial lighting, which also makes use of a lone window.

Linda B. Stockton’s costumes capture the ugliness of factory-worker garb while coming to life as Estela accelerates her vision and inaugurates a fashion line of her designs. Ryk Lewis provides the street and factory noises that being East L.A. reality to this production.

“Real Women Have Curves” runs through Sunday, June 14, at Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, in Bristol, Pa. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $63 to $53 and can be obtained by visiting www. brtstage.org or calling 215-7850100.

Top: Adela Romero, Regina Carregha, Paulina De La Parra, Ava Sofia Mattox and Luana Psaros in “Real Women Have Curves” at Bristol Riverside Theater

De La Parra, Mattox, Romero and Psaros in “Real

Garvin.)

Life in the Fast Lane

Strategic Plan Rethinks Modern Library Space

The Plainsboro Public Library is asking residents to help shape the next phase of one of the township’s most-used public spaces.

The library will hold two public events in June as it begins implementing its 2026-28 Strategic Plan, a three-year effort that calls for rethinking how the library’s 44,000-square-foot building serves residents who come there to read, study, work, attend programs, use technology and connect with others.

The first event, “A Conversation About Our Space,” will be held Saturday, June 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Library Director Darren Miguez will lead a public discussion about the future of the library’s interior, including the possible use of study pods to create more private places for residents to focus, work and learn.

A second event, a visioning session with local architect Ed Klimek, will be held Sunday, June 14 at 1 p.m. in the Community Room. The session will look at libraries from around the world and ask residents what ideas from those spaces could work in Plainsboro.

Both events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The events mark the beginning of what the library is calling the “Connect & Demonstrate” phase of its strategic plan rollout. The phase follows a year of community listening that helped shape the plan and identified several priorities, including more quiet space, more comfortable places to read and study, more flexible public areas and continued attention to accessibility.

“This isn’t a presentation — it’s a conversation,” Miguez said in the library’s announcement. “Our residents have told us, with extraordinary clarity, how they want to use this building. Study pods are one possible response, and we want to think through them together — out loud, with the people who’ll actually use them.”

The discussion comes as the library continues to evolve from the building that opened in Plainsboro’s Village Square in 2010 into a space expected to meet demands that have changed significantly over the past 16 years.

Residents now use the library not only for books and children’s programs, but also for remote work, studying, public meetings,

By Bill Sanservino

cultural events, technology access, digital resources, passport services, adult learning, wellness programs and social connection.

In the community survey that helped shape the strategic plan, 41.24% of respondents listed quiet space among the most important things they value at the library. Another 33.38% named study and meeting rooms. About 8% of patrons said the lack of enough quiet space limits how often they visit.

When residents were asked what they most wanted to see changed, the top open-ended response was for more comfortable, quiet places to read, work and study, according to the library.

“What I keep coming back to is how specific our community has been with us,” Miguez said. “They didn’t just say ‘we love the library.’ They told us where the chairs are uncomfortable, where it gets too loud, where they wish there were a quiet corner. June 6 and June 14 are how we honor that — by inviting them back into the room as we figure out what to do about it.”

The strategic plan identifies four major goals: transforming the library’s physical space, expanding literacy leadership, strengthening financial sustainability and deepening community engagement and partnerships.

The first goal is the one most directly connected to the June events. It calls for continuing the transformation of the library’s physical environment so that it remains inclusive, welcoming and fully accessible, with quiet study zones, collaborative workspaces and community gathering areas that can adjust to changing needs.

The timing reflects broader changes in Plainsboro itself.

The library’s 2025 Annual Impact Report describes Plainsboro as one of New Jersey’s most diverse communities, with more than half of residents born outside the United States and 56% speaking a language other than English at home. The report also notes that 31% of residents work from home and 97% have internet access at home.

Those figures help explain why the library’s role is changing. Even in a community where nearly all residents have internet access, the library remains a place where people seek quiet, reliable work space, technology support, trusted information and in-person connection.

The Plainsboro Public Library has become both a central gathering place for the community and a model for modern library planning, with spaces designed for reading, studying, programming, technology, and public connection.

In the impact report, Miguez wrote that the library spent 2025 listening to residents as it developed the new strategic plan.

“You told us that affordability, education, and safety matter most in your lives,” Miguez wrote. “You told us that this space — with its generous hours, welcoming rooms, and free access to collections across languages, formats, and interests — is essential.”

One survey respondent quoted

come to borrow a bestseller, use a study room, attend an AI literacy workshop, or sit and read in a comfortable chair, you belong here.”

That “ecosystem” idea is central to the new strategic plan.

The plan calls for the library to expand support for digital literacy, responsible use of artificial intelligence, online safety, financial literacy and health literacy. It also calls for stronger public funding and grant opportunities, continued support through the Plainsboro Public Library Foundation, and more programs and partnerships that connect generations, celebrate Plainsboro’s cultural diversity and create learning and mentoring opportunities.

Those goals fit into a long history of the library adapting to the community around it.

in the report described the library as a lifeline.

“I live alone and it is a life saver to have this space where I can be around people,” the resident wrote.

The library also reported a 95% community satisfaction rate, a figure Miguez said the staff could be proud of, while still treating the feedback as a call to keep improving.

The 2025 numbers show the scale of the library’s role in the township.

According to the annual report, the library had 198,886 visitors in 2025, circulated 258,267 items, hosted 911 programs attended by 14,066 people, recorded 6,783 study room reservations and handled 1,648 passport applications.

Residents also borrowed 61,930 digital items, while children and teens accounted for 7,426 program participants. Adult programs drew 4,713 participants.

The annual report estimated that the library delivered $7.7 million in value to the community in 2025 through borrowed materials, study room use, public computer use, database searches, programs, museum passes and other services.

For Miguez, the figures reflect not just library usage, but the many different ways residents depend on the building.

“Our collections, programs, spaces, and staff are not separate — they form an ecosystem,” Miguez wrote in the report. “Whether you

The Plainsboro Public Library opened in 1964 to serve a much smaller township. Its earliest version has been described as a 500-book collection on four shelves, open four hours a week. Over time, the library grew with the township, moving from modest quarters into larger facilities as the population and public expectations changed.

By the 1980s, the library had expanded into a larger role in municipal life. In 1993, it moved into a 17,000-square-foot facility at the municipal complex on Plainsboro Road.

But even that building was quickly outgrown.

Virginia “Jinny” Baeckler, who served as library director for 26 years, became the central figure in the library’s transformation from a traditional local library into a broader community learning center.

When Baeckler arrived in Plainsboro, the library had been housed in a two-room schoolhouse and was still widely viewed as a children’s room. By the time she retired in 2011, the library had moved through two later buildings, expanded its collection, built its reputation for major summer programs, and developed a strong emphasis on science, math, arts and cultural programming.

“The library is a social institution,” she said in a 2011 interview reflecting on her career.

Her view was that a public library should listen to its community and respond to what residents actually needed.

“Listening and communicating are the magic buttons,” Baeckler said at the time.

That philosophy helped shape the current Village Square library.

As early as the mid-1990s, Baeckler and library leaders were already discussing the limitations of the Plainsboro Road building. The building lacked enough space for study, programming and technology, and expansion at the municipal complex would have created parking and construction challenges.

The annual report estimated that the library delivered $7.7 million in value to the community in 2025. Continued

Baeckler often spoke of the library as more than shelves of books.

Township officials eventually chose to build a new library in the Village Center, with land donated by Sharbell Development Corporation. The project placed the library at the heart of the emerging town center, making it one of Plainsboro’s most visible public buildings.

The planning process began in the mid-2000s. The building was designed by BKSK Architects with extensive input from Baeckler. Plans called for a three-story library with a cafe, art gallery, roof terraces, science center, children’s floor, study rooms, community meeting space, technology access and a health education center.

The Township Committee awarded a construction contract in November 2007, and the project broke ground the following month. The $12.4 million building opened to the public in April 2010.

At the time, the building was designed to hold 125,000 volumes and provide informal reading areas, art display space, quiet study rooms, 40 computer stations, a children’s section with an expanded science and computer center, a local history room and community meeting rooms.

The opening marked a major milestone, but not the end of the library’s evolution.

In September 2010, the library opened a Health Education Center, supported by a major grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb and guided by an advisory board of local med-

in guidance and counseling from Rider University. She also earned doctoral credits in education at Rutgers University.

Her legislative work has focused heavily on education, children, families, public health, consumer protection, affordable housing, small business development, job growth and government reform.

Among her legislative accomplishments are laws involving child safety, criminal history checks for child care center employees and school volunteers, school bus safety, scholarship opportunities, student nutrition standards, eye exams for students, mentoring programs and after-school programs for at-risk youth.

As chair of the Senate Education Committee, Turner has overseen legislation affecting primary and secondary education. She has also worked on measures involving child abuse and neglect, adult literacy, affordable housing, homeownership and opportunities for students to attend two-year and four-year state colleges.

Turner received national attention for efforts to prevent publicly funded jobs from being outsourced overseas, an effort that set a precedent later followed by other states. She also helped establish laws involving microcredit business loans for women, insurance coverage for minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and childbirth, identity theft protections, predatory lending protections and smoke-free bars and restaurants.

She also worked on legislation to abolish the death penalty, create drug court programs for first-time, nonviolent offenders, reduce gun and gang violence, reform motor vehicle surcharge laws and promote efficiency and transparency in government spending.

Turner was the first woman and first African American elected Senate president pro tempore. She is a founding member of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus and a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States.

Blackwell will receive the Robert M. Appelbaum Service Award.

Blackwell has served on the Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees for more than a decade and has chaired the board since 2020. He joined the board in 2017 after knowing the organization for more than 30 years through his involvement with Yardley Friends Meeting.

When he became chair, Blackwell said he had been introduced to Mercer Street Friends through a winter effort that collected gloves, scarves and hats for families served by the agency.

“I saw firsthand the good work of the food bank and now am witness to the impact of our programs focused on food, families and education,” Blackwell said at the time.

As chair, Blackwell has helped guide the organization through a period of growth and transition. He recently represented Mercer Street Friends at the Feeding America Conference in Dallas.

Blackwell is CEO of InKlaritas, a leadership development and executive coaching

firm based at 300 Carnegie Center in Princeton.

The firm works with leaders and teams on executive coaching, group facilitation, offsite retreats, in-person training, assessment-based learning, 360-degree feedback and team climate surveys.

InKlaritas works with U.S. and international companies across a range of industries and focuses on helping organizations improve communication, collaboration and workplace performance.

Blackwell is a certified coach, trainer and keynote speaker. He has appeared on Comcast Network’s “Money Matters” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” and hosts the “Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell” podcast, which focuses on leadership, teamwork, workplace performance, neuroscience and organizational success.

He is an active member of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Society for Human Resource Management. He has served on several nonprofit

and professional boards, including Learning & Development Professionals of Greater Philadelphia, the National Speakers Association’s Philadelphia Chapter and the Friends Camp Association of Pennsylvania.

Bloomberg Philanthropies will receive the Corporate Leadership & Public Service Award.

The organization works in five focus areas: the arts, education, the environment, government innovation and public health. It includes Michael Bloomberg’s foundation, corporate and personal philanthropy, as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consulting group that works with mayors and cities around the world.

Bloomberg Philanthropies works in more than 700 cities and 150 countries. In 2025, the organization invested $4.3 billion globally, and Bloomberg has given $25.4 billion to philanthropy over his lifetime.

The organization’s connection to Mercer Street Friends includes support for local food-security work. Bloomberg Philanthropies was among the partners that supported Mercer Street Friends’ 2025 Thanksgiving turkey distribution, when the nonprofit distributed 10,000 turkeys to more than 100 pantry and community partners across Mercer County.

That effort helped supply turkeys to organizations including Arm in Arm, HomeFront, East Trenton Collaborative, St. Raphael-Holy Angels and Mt. Carmel GuildCatholic Charities for distribution to families facing food insecurity.

Bloomberg’s broader food-security work has also included its global Million Meals Challenge, which surpassed its goal in 2023 by helping package and distribute 1.1 million meals. More than 2,500 Bloomberg employees in 35 cities participated in the effort, supporting more than 100 food-assistance organizations around the world.

In New Jersey, Bloomberg employees partnered with Mercer Street Friends, Nourish.NJ, America’s Grow-a-Row and Bentley Community Services to provide fresh produce and meals in low-income communities. Turner will receive the 2026 Humanitarian Award.

The celebration comes during a leadership transition for Mercer Street Friends.

Sen. Shirley K. Turner and Ken Blackwell will be honored on Thursday, June 9 during Mercer Street Friends’ Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration.

Randall West, who joined the organization as chief administrative officer in 2025, has been named the nonprofit’s next CEO and is scheduled to assume the role July 1. Longtime CEO Bernie Flynn is transitioning to the organization’s Board of Trustees.

The organization said West will bring entrepreneurial, business and nonprofit board experience to the role as Mercer Street Friends continues responding to growing needs for food access, educational support and family services across Mercer County.

The June 9 event will bring together community partners, supporters, business leaders, volunteers and elected officials to recognize service and raise awareness of Mercer Street Friends’ work across the county.

More information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities is available at mercerstreetfriends.org.

Business Meetings

Wednesday, June 3

networking, BnI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting with structured networking and member presentations. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

AI Literacy Workshop for Business Leaders, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Township. www. princetonmercerchamber.org.

Anthropic, the New Jersey AI Hub, and Tenex present a handson workshop for small and midsized business leaders exploring practical uses of artificial intelligence in business operations and decision-making. Participants will work through real-world business applications and workflow development. Advance application required. Free.

1 to 5:30 p.m.

Travel Scams: Spot the Red Flags and Plan Smarter, Robbinsville Branch Library, 42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville, 609-259-2150. events. mcl.org. Local travel advisor Virge Cavalli discusses common travel scams, warning signs, and strategies for protecting personal information and travel investments. Register. 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 4

networking, BnI Tigers Chapter, Conference Center at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3237. www.bninjpa.org. In-person meeting with structured referrals and member presentations. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

networking, BnI Top Flight, Town Diner, 431 Route 130, East Windsor, 609-443-8222. www. bninjpa.org. Weekly business networking meeting focused on referrals and relationship-building. 7 a.m.

Women of Achievement 2026

Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Alliance, TPC Jasna Polana, 4519 Province Line Road, Princeton, 609-924-1776. www.princetonmercerchamber. org. Awards program recognizing women business and community leaders, honoring Mary Betz of PNC Private Bank, Suzanne Borgos of Capital Health, and Brenda Ross-Dulan of The Ross-Dulan Group. Register. 8 to 10:30 a.m.

Friday, June 5

networking, BnI Driven, Elks Lodge #2622, 1580 Kuser Road, Hamilton, 609-585-9610. www. bninjpa.org. Weekly networking meeting featuring member speakers and referral exchange. 7 a.m. networking, X-Factor BnI, VFW 133, 485 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, 908-421-6151. www. bninjpa.org. Networking meeting with business presentations and referral opportunities. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Healthcare and Life Sciences Construction Conference, New Jersey Alliance for Action, Fors-

gate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township, 732225-1180. allianceforaction.com.

Conference on healthcare and life sciences construction featuring facilities, construction, real estate, engineering, design, and operations leaders from regional healthcare and life sciences organizations. Register. 8 to 11 a.m.

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

Weekly job search support group featuring speaker presentations and networking. 9:45 a.m. to noon

AI Deck Club at nJ AI Hub, Startup Grind Princeton, NJ AI Hub, 619 Alexander Road, Princeton. www.startupgrind. com. In-person discussion group for founders, builders, investors, operators and researchers featuring a curated industry presentation deck, guided discussion, takeaways and networking. RSVP. 10 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, June 9

State of the County 2026, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Boathouse at Mercer Lake, 334 South Post Road, West Windsor, 609-9241776. www.princetonmercerchamber.org. Mercer County Executive Dan Benson delivers the 2026 State of the County address, with updates on priority projects, county initiatives, and what lies ahead for Mercer County. Breakfast and networking included. Register. 8 to 10 a.m.

Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, 3 Graphics Drive, Ewing. mercerstreetfriends.org. Mercer Street Friends honors Bloomberg Philanthropies, state Sen. Shirley K. Turner, and Ken Blackwell during an awards celebration bringing together community partners, supporters, business leaders, volunteers, and elected officials. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities available. 5 to 7:30 p.m.

JobSeekers, Online. sites.google. com/site/njjobseekers. Virtual meeting for those seeking employment offering networking, support, and job search strategies. Visit website for meeting link. 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10

networking, BnI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting with structured networking and member presentations. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Housing Initiatives of Princeton 25th Anniversary Gathering, Ivy Inn, 248 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609-462-7817. www.housinginitiativesofprinceton.org.

Housing Initiatives of Princeton staff and board members host an informal gathering with live music by East Coast Ambush to mark the nonprofitâ€™s 25th anniversary and support work helping Mercer County families avoid eviction and homelessness. No RSVP or cover charge. 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 11

networking, BnI Tigers Chapter, Conference Center at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3237. www.bninjpa.org.

In-person meeting with structured referrals and member presentations. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

networking, BnI Top Flight, Town Diner, 431 Route 130, East Windsor, 609-443-8222. www. bninjpa.org. Weekly business networking meeting focused on referrals and relationship-building. 7 a.m.

Princeton ACM / Ieee Computer Society Planning Meeting, Home of Dennis Mancl, 108 Brokaw Court, Bridgewater, 908-2851066. princetonacm.acm.org. Annual elections and planning meeting for the 2026-27 season featuring officer elections, discussion of future topics and speakers, and networking. Hybrid meeting available online and in person. 7 to 9 p.m.

Fast Lane

Continued from page 9

ical professionals. The center offered health reference materials, educational videos, a blood pressure station and a quieter setting for residents seeking medical information.

That center reflected a larger idea that remains important to the current strategic plan: residents need help finding reliable information, especially when facing major life decisions.

The years after Baeckler’s retirement brought several leadership transitions.

Eileen Burnash became director in 2011. Carol Quick later led the library after Burnash’s departure in 2013, including during the library’s 50th anniversary and the development of its 2015-18 Strategic Plan. Maryann Ralph became director in 2016 after Quick retired.

Miguez joined the Plainsboro Public Library in 2015 as head of Youth Services. He became acting director in April 2020 and was officially named director in September 2021.

At the time, Miguez described the library as a connecting institution in a large, diverse community.

“The community is not a tiny town or a village or some such,” Miguez said in 2021. “It’s pretty large, and it’s got various demographic groups existing all in one space that aren’t necessarily nicked together, and our hope is that the library can be this connective tissue.”

“We’re looking to connect with folks, and not just be a passive institution that is a book hoard,” he said.

That perspective is visible throughout the 2026-28 Strategic Plan.

The plan does not propose replacing the library’s traditional functions. Instead, it treats books, digital access, programs, study rooms, cultural events, adult learning, youth activities and public

gathering space as parts of a single civic role.

The annual impact report shows how broad that role has become.

The library’s Youth Engagement Services team offered storytimes, STEAM activities, creative programs and interactive learning experiences in 2025. Adult programming included networking, chess, tabletop games, senior socials, creative writing, art, yoga, meditation, financial programs, book clubs, cooking programs and author talks.

The library also hosted major cultural celebrations. The annual Diwali celebration drew 698 attendees, while the Lunar New Year celebration drew 374 attendees. Other events included the Live at the Library Summer Music Festival, Spring Jazz Series, Makers Day, Egg Drop Challenge, Paint-aPot and Plant and Seed Exchange.

Those programs show why the physical space question has become important.

A library that serves as a place for toddlers, teens, remote workers, seniors, artists, chess players, passport applicants, readers, job seekers and families has to balance competing needs. Some residents want noise, activity and connection. Others want quiet, privacy and focus.

The strategic plan’s challenge is to make the building work for both.

The June 6 discussion will begin with one possible tool: study pods.

Study pods are enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces that can give patrons a more private place to work or study without requiring a full renovation. They may offer an option for residents who need quiet for remote work, online classes, tutoring, test preparation or focused reading.

But the library’s announcement makes clear that the idea is still being explored, not finalized. The point of the June 6 event is to discuss how residents would use such spaces and whether they would solve the problems identified in the survey.

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The June 14 session with Klimek is intended to broaden the discussion.

Attendees will look at examples of libraries elsewhere that have created spaces for quiet work, collaboration, children, teens and public gathering. They will be asked to react and help map possibilities onto the Plainsboro building.

Klimek will also remain after the formal session to speak with teens interested in architecture as a career.

That detail fits the library’s larger approach. Even a planning session about the building is being turned into a learning opportunity.

The library’s strategic plan describes its vision as being “the trusted heart of a creative, dynamic, and diverse learning community.”

Its mission is “to encourage lifelong learning that advances literacy, connects generations, and promotes the values of diversity in a rapidly changing world.”

Those statements could describe much of the library’s history.

From the original 1964 collection to the Village Square building, Plainsboro’s library has repeatedly changed because the township around it changed. It expanded as the population grew. It added technology as residents’ information habits changed. It embraced science, arts and cultural programming as the community became more diverse and more educationfocused.

Now it is asking a new question: whether the building that opened in 2010 can be adjusted to meet the needs of 2026 and beyond.

Miguez wrote in the annual report that the future will involve both immediate changes and longer-term work.

“Some of what’s coming you’ll see right away: in our spaces, programs, and in the ways we show up for different parts of this community,” he wrote. “Some of it will take longer to take shape. But I want you to hold us to it. Tell us what you need. Show up — and bring someone with you.”

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