50 Years of Jaws with A Special Festival, Screenings 5
Nearly 100 Musicians
To Participate in Capital Philharmonic Season Opener 11
Building on RecordBreaking Career for PU Men’s Lax, Mackesy Produces Superb Debut Campaign for PLL’s Cannons 23
Heading into Senior Season for Lehigh Women’s Soccer, Former PHS Standout
Involving students in planning, planting, and monitoring trees will “foster positive connections” between students and the trees in their community,” notes the state organization Trees for Schools.
Council Votes in Favor of Immigrant Trust Act
Previous to the vote, Council members
Leticia Fraga and Leighton Newlin spoke to the crowd.
“will not govern by ultimatum.” To make his point, he referenced the actions of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.
and F
Share a Centenary Celebration 15
Lis Primed for Memorable Finale 25 Art 19, 20
21 Classifieds 30
& Design 16, 17
Such a connection between students and trees will be grown in Princeton. A grant to Princeton Public Schools (PPS) will result in a leafy landscape of 85 new trees across the district’s six school campuses. The $92,125 grant, awarded through Trees for Schools, allows for the purchase and planting of the trees, including planning, site preparation, watering, monitoring, and maintenance over a three-year period.
Sustainable Princeton partnered with PPS for the grant, considering it a “natural extension of our mission to inspire sustainable actions throughout the community,” said Christine Symington, Sustainable Princeton executive director, in a press release. She added that the project “brings tangible environmental benefits to our schools while also fostering student engagement with climate solutions.”
The first stage of the grant involves preparing a detailed planting plan by a certified arborist, said Sustainable Princeton Program Manager Jenny Ludmer. This includes specific tree species and their designated locations. The grant encourages New Jersey native species, but allows any, as long as they aren’t considered invasive species, she added.
One goal of the detailed planting plan will be to determine specific species for each location already under consideration. The plan and revised budget are due by mid-November, she said.
The importance of planting trees, said Ludmer, is that they “are vital and entwined in our lives. They create the air we breathe, filter air pollution, and soak up stormwater. Trees also provide cool shade and offer shelter and food for both animals and people. In addition, trees trap and hold carbon, while adding beauty and improving curb appeal.”
23
Trees increase shade to ease the heat of the sun, beautify their surroundings, soak up and filter stormwater runoff, and reduce the state’s carbon footprint, as noted by the Trees for Schools program. Tree for Schools is a joint effort of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Sustainable Jersey, and The College of New Jersey.
At its meeting Monday night, Princeton Council passed a resolution that supports the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA) and urges the State Legislature to pass it into law. The resolution will “expand the protections in the Immigrant Trust Directive, so that no one need fear that a visit to the DMV, to enroll their children in school, to obtain lawfully entitled healthcare, etc., could lead to their private information being shared with ICE [Immigrant and Customs Enforcement], putting themselves or their families in jeopardy,” it reads.
On July 23 and 24, 16 Princeton residents were detained by ICE. In three previous Council meetings, representatives from the immigrant support group Resistencia en Accion NJ have urged the governing body to pass a resolution in favor of the ITA. While expressing gratitude for Council’s vote, organizers from Resistencia and other members of the public called the action a first step, urging them to take it further.
“We also need a safety plan to alert people when ICE is in town,” said Ana Paola Pazmino, executive director of the organization. “We urge Council to not stop taking action now. This is a time where we need to work collectively. We will continue to approach and say what we think we need as citizens and immigrants.”
“We do this with one reason and one reason only: We understand the dangerous social climate we are living in and we value all Princeton residents no matter their citizenship status,” said Newlin.
“Princeton is our home. We will protect your dignity and your right to live without fear.”
But Newlin cautioned that the Council
“It did not succeed because it was loud. It succeeded because it was wise, disciplined, and united,” he said. “People placed their cause above the spotlight. We live in a time that demands the same kind of wisdom. It is not enough to be loud. We must be smart. It is not enough to be visible. We must be effective.”
Princeton University Study on Autism Subtypes Paves Way for Personalized Care
Princeton University researchers have co-led and contributed to a breakthrough study uncovering autism subtypes, which could lead to better diagnosis and care.
Working with the Simons Foundation, the Princeton researchers have identified four clinically and biologically distinct subtypes of autism, which, they say, marks a “transformative step in understanding the condition’s genetic underpinnings and potential for personalized care.”
This work could open the door for more precise diagnoses and personalized support, according to the Simons Foundation website (simonsfoundation.org). It also explains that autism is classified as
a “spectrum” because each case is different. “Scientists have struggled to parse through the many ways autism can manifest, much less to link these varying observable traits (called phenotypes) to underlying genetics,” the Simons summary states.
This study defines four subtypes of autism that exhibit distinct traits and different patterns of genetic variation. The study is described on princeton.edu/news as analyzing data from more than 5,000 children in an autism research study funded by the Simons Foundation. The researchers used a computational model
Continued on Page 10
Charlie Chaplin
Scott Fitzgerald
ICE CREAM TIME: Halo Pub was bustling on Saturday evening as many people waited patiently in line for their favorite ice cream treats The pub features Music in the Alley, live outdoor music, every Saturday night from 6 to 9 p m through September 27 .
(Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
The Board of Experience Princeton (EP) is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as our next full-time Executive Director.
This marks an exciting new chapter in Experience Princeton’s history — building on the strong foundation of EP’s first three years and stepping forward into a future defined by community building, economic vitality, and strategic promotion of the Princeton as an ideal place to live, work, and play — or to visit for a day, for an evening, or for a weekend.
Experience Princeton’s mission remains unchanged: to shape, maintain, and grow a flourishing Princeton economy by offering an exceptional experience for residents and visitors, and by advocating for a robust and diverse business community through strong partnerships.
Our next Executive Director will be charged with advancing this mission and ushering in the next phase of growth and impact.
Candidates interested in this exciting opportunity are encouraged to send their resumes to: info@experienceprinceton.org
PRINCETON IS ... A PLACE TO LIVE
, WORK & PLAY
TOWN TOPICS
Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946
DONALD C. STUART, 1946-1981 DAN D. COYLE, 1946-1973 Founding Editors/Publishers DONALD C. STUART III, Editor/Publisher, 1981-2001
LAURIE PELLICHERO Editor BILL ALDEN, Sports Editor
DONALD GILPIN, WENDY GREENBERG, ANNE LEVIN, STUART MITCHNER, NANCY PLUM, DONALD H. SANBORN III, JUSTIN FEIL, JEAN STRATTON, WILLIAM UHL
Among the food purveyors are AMA Pizza e Cucina, Cas’ Pierogi & Kielbasa Food Truck, Olsson’s Purveyors of Fine Foods, Free Spirits, Lone Eagle Brewing, and Unionville Vineyards.
Guests seeking an elevated culinary experience can gather in the VIP area, curated by the Ryland Inn. This ticket level includes a locally sourced farm-to-table buffet dinner crafted by Chef Daniel Brunina; all-day access to light snacks and beverages, including Unionville wines, Lone Eagle craft beers, and signature cocktails; shaded seating and a VIP parking
“Chef Dan and the Ryland Inn team are known for their commitment to seasonal, sustainable ingredients and
fine dining,” said festival co-chair Suzanne Parsons. “This VIP experience offers festivalgoers the rare chance to enjoy their hospitality in a casual, open-air setting. It’s truly extraordinary.”
The festival also features native plants for sale from My Backyard at Nectars; handcrafted goods and gifts from local artisans like Hillsborough Trading Company; and interactive fun, from face painting and psychic readings to guided hikes and llama visits. Visit sourlandmountainfest.com for tickets.
Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin
Help clean storm drains to prevent flooding in local neighborhoods. Cleanup supplies provided. Princetonnj.gov/1694/Adopt-a-Drain.
: Through August 15, donate items at Community Park Pool for children in under-resourced communities in New Jersey. Most needed are bathing suits for children sizes 5 through young adult.
: Housing Initiatives of Princeton sponsors this drive for families struggling with food insecurity. Cards to grocery stores such as ShopRite Aldi, Target, and Walmart can be mailed to HIP, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton NJ 08540.
: Councilman Leighton Newlin is available for one-on-one discussions about issues impacting Princeton on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on August 13 at the Alchemist and Barrister, 28 Witherspoon Street (outside seating); on August 20 at Hinds Plaza; and on August 27 at Delizioso, 205 Witherspoon Street. For the Princeton Food Task Force to deliver recovered meals, package produce, or tend to community gardens. Visit princetonnj.gov/1476/Princeton-
Arm in Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, frozen proteins, and quality baked goods as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are available for those in need, and different social services agencies are on site. Mcl.org. : Register for fall classes at Dorothea’s House, the Italian American cultural center at 120 John Street. In person and remote classes are offered starting September 8 for 12 weeks. Visit dorotheashouse.org.
YUM: The Sourland Mountain Festival celebrates 20 years on Saturday, August 16 with music, vendors, artisan goods, and lots of food.
(Photo by Dan Eldridge Photography)
Garden Theatre Marks 50 Years of “Jaws” With a Special Festival and Screenings
The Princeton connection to the blockbuster film Jaws is part of local legend. Bolstered by the success of his 1974 book of the same name, Peter Benchley moved with his family from Pennington Borough to a house on Boudinot Street a year later. When the film opened at
the Princeton Garden Theatre on Nassau Street in June 1975, Benchley and his wife Wendy, who served three terms of the former Princeton Borough Council, were on hand with family and friends. It has become a tradition for Renew Theaters, owner of the Garden since 2014, to screen the movie toward the end of summer.
16 feet long. So Peter tried to tame some of these exaggerations. But he knew, really, to count his blessings, sit back, and enjoy the ride.”
The demonization of sharks was an unfortunate result of the movie’s extraordinary success, and the Benchleys became involved in changing that image.
This year — Jaws ’ 50th anniversary — is especially noteworthy. To mark the milestone, the theater will hold a week of screenings following the Jaws Fest premiere on August 29 at 7 p.m. That night, a discussion with the audience will precede the showing.
TOPICS
Of the Town
“We’re trying to keep it pretty simple this year, focusing on the movie itself rather than the fanfare surrounding it,” said Kyle Stenger, the Garden’s director of outreach. “In the discussion we want to hear from people about their experiences with the movie. I like to hear about when people saw it for the first time in a theater. Did it make them scared to go into the water?”
The nonprofit theater is also launching a member drive in conjunction with the festival. Anyone who signs up during the month-anda-half drive will receive an extra month of membership and a free popcorn. Those who sign up in the first two weeks can take advantage of a buy one, give one promotion to gift a membership to a friend.
Steven Spielberg was just 27 years old when he directed Jaws . A tale of the terrorizing of the townspeople of Amity Island by a great white shark, the film was shot on Martha’s Vineyard, which Wendy Benchley recalled in a talk at Princeton’s Present Day Club in May, 2022 (Peter Benchley died in 2006).
“It was great to be on Martha’s Vineyard, and we enjoyed it,” she said. “Richard Dreyfuss, especially, was a riot of a guy. We had fun with him.”
Spielberg decided to make the killer shark in the movie 25 feet long. “That just does not exist,” Benchley said. “A really big one is 15, maybe
Jaws is one of those movies that has “a summer energy,” said Stenger. “It’s got the whole feeling of vacation. And there is politics, and murder. It’s kind of Hitchcockian in that way. It’s very primal. The opening scene is just crazy. You never see the shark, but its presence is so felt. It really digs into what humans
A LOCAL CONNECTION: The marquee of the Princeton Garden Theatre on Nassau Street when “Jaws,” based on the book by local luminary Peter Benchley, opened 50 years ago. The anniversary is being celebrated at the movie house starting August 29. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Garden Theatre)
“Jaws”
Continued from Preceding Page fear and are drawn to at the same time.”
Visit princetongardentheatre.org for tickets and screening times.
—Anne Levin
Wine and Hip Hop At Old York Cellars
On Thursday, August 28, Old York Cellars in Ringoes will host the exclusive release of the 2023 King DMC Reserve Wines with a live appearance by Darryl DMC McDaniels, legendary founding member of RunDMC and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
McDaniels partnered with Old York Cellars in 2020 to create Darryl Mack Cellars, a one-of-a-kind wine collection that merges music, philanthropy, and fine winemaking. The King DMC Reserve wines represent the pinnacle of that partnership. A portion of the proceeds supports The Felix Organization, the nonprofit McDaniels co-founded in 2006 to provide inspiring experiences and opportunities for children in foster care.
A forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.
Question of the Week:
“What do you like best about Princeton in the summertime?”
“Partnering with DMC on this collection has been a truly rewarding experience,” said David Wolin, owner of Old York Cellars. “Not only do we get to share exceptional wines with our guests, but we also help Darryl continue his mission to uplift and inspire foster children through The Felix Organization. It’s an honor to blend our passions for wine and community with his legacy in music and philanthropy.”
“Wine brings people together the same way music does,” said McDaniels. “This collection is about celebration and giving back and will help The Felix Organization continue to provide valuable resources and support for kids in foster care. I appreciate Old York Cellars collaborating with me for this wonderful cause, and I look forward to meeting everyone at this event.”
The event includes a buffet dinner by Chef Jose with a glass of wine, samplings of the newly released King DMC Reserve Red and White Blends, a discussion with McDaniels, and a bottle of 2023 King DMC Reserve Red or White Blend to take home. Guests will also be able to purchase additional wines from the Darryl Mack Cellars collection, as well as Darryl’s Koolest Cookies in the Universe, at the event.
Tickets are $70 per person ($60 for Vintner’s Club members). Visit oldyorkcellars.com/dmc-collection.
“All the events going on in Princeton over the summer. I like bringing visitors to the area, and going to the Dinky Bar for seasonal cocktails.”
—Aliya Khan, Lawrence Township
Anna: “I really like the towpath at the canal, and go frequently.” Henry: “Princeton is vibrant with flowers and trees.”
—Anna Mazhar and Henry Prestegaard, Princeton
Brenda: “Quiet walks around campus.” Rick: “Less people!”
—Brenda Nyce-Taylor and Rick Taylor, Princeton
Frank: “We have the town to ourselves!” Ellen: “Princeton’s very quiet. You get the best service in the restaurants.”
—Frank Ruck and Ellen Wolff-Ruck, Blue Jersey Band, Princeton
Book by Lauren M. Gunderson
Music and Lyrics by Ari Afsar
Movement Direction by Steph Paul Music Direction by Sujin Kim-Ramsey
Directed by Sarah Rasmussen
September 13 - October 12
Based on Lauren M. Gunderson’s award-winning play—produced hundreds of times worldwide and translated into over a dozen languages—this luminous new musical blends wit, poetry, and poignancy. Two unlikely classmates collide over a school project on Walt Whitman, sparking an evening of humor, revelation, and the fragile wonder of being alive. Audiences leave surprised, lled with hope, and
"Unforgettable. The end will leave you gasping" – Washington Speaks
LEARN MORE & BUY TICKETS
Use code CAROLINE26 to save 20% o tickets September 13 - 18. Zone restrictions apply. O er expires September 8.
Explore Fall Events
Camille A. Brown & Dancers: I AM
Fri, Sep 26, 7:30PM
David Sedaris
Fri, Oct 3, 7:30PM
The Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band –West Side Story Reimagined
Sat, Oct 4, 7:30PM
Pink Martini All-Stars
Sun, Oct 5, 7:30PM
Disney’s Moana Live-To-Film Concert
Thu, Oct 9, 6:30PM
Celia Cruz – A Tribute to the Queen!
Fri, Oct 10, 7:30PM
Aída Cuevas –“The Queen of Mariachi”
50 YEARS SINGING TO MEXICO
Fri, Oct 17, 7:30PM
Choose your own McCarter season of 3 or more events and save. View the full list of events here!
continued from page one
Speakers, some of whom identified themselves as members of Resistencia’s rapid response team, told Council they would like to have “a seat at the table” when it comes to coming up with an action plan.
“Thank you for the resolution, but we need to continue to work together to come up with a plan,” one said. “If you are truly honest about wanting to protect the community, we must work together. Sit with us to think of a community action plan.”
Irfan Khawaja praised the wording of the resolution, but said it does not indicate who residents should call during an ICE raid.
“It is unclear whether there is anyone to call in real time when such a raid takes place,” he said. “There is a desperate need for such a service. By contrast, in the case of Resistencia, there is a phone line you can call, and they will come as soon as they can. There is a desperate need for such a service.”
Resident and activist John Heilner urged “a quieter and better way to communicate. Instead of focusing just on Council, call your state senators to
become co-sponsors of the Immigrant Trust Act. This will give us a much wider reach.”
Presiding over the meeting in Mayor Mark Freda’s absence, Council President Mia Sacks wrapped up the discussion after everyone had a chance to speak, both in person and on Zoom.
“This has been a really productive evening,” she said. “There is a lot of healing that has gone on tonight. Trust has been built. There is a framework of collaboration. Let’s end on a good note. Mutual respect is obviously the foundation of working together.”
She added, “There are some things government can do and some things it can’t. There is a role for everyone to play, and now is a time we have to work together. I hope today is the beginning of that.”
In a press release, Resistencia cited “a major victory for immigrant justice in Princeton as the Council voted tonight to pass a resolution in support of the Immigrant Trust Act. The decision comes after months of grassroots organizing, fueled by persistent engagement from community members, who called the Council, wrote letters, and shared their stories.”
—Anne Levin
Young Entrepreneurs Can Apply for
Program
High school students from across Mercer County can apply to join the upcoming cohort of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a practical business and leadership program run by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
YEA! guides students step by step as they create and operate their own fully registered businesses or social ventures, with mentoring and insight from Mercer County business leaders. Throughout the 30-week program, students develop an idea, write a business plan, pitch to a panel of investors for funding, and officially launch their venture.
This year’s schedule includes a behind-the-scenes tour of TerraCycle in Trenton, where students will tour the recycling company and learn firsthand how founder Tom Szaky turned an idea into a global sustainability powerhouse. This field trip is one of several visits YEA! students make during the year to successful local businesses, providing real-world insight into entrepreneurship and leadership that can’t be learned in a classroom.
“This year’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy students have the opportunity to visit TerraCycle’s global headquarters in Trenton for an inside look at how a mission-driven idea grew into a global company tackling hard-to-recycle waste,” said Eric Ascalon, global director of community affairs at
TerraCycle. “They’ll learn how we turned a college dorm room concept into a business that proves sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. It’s a chance to see how big ideas — and a commitment to the planet — can shape the future of business.”
In addition to visiting companies in a range of industries to see how businesses operate day to day, students work closely with mentors — including CEOs, attorneys, accountants, and marketing professionals — who volunteer their expertise to guide them through key decisions.
“The Chamber community is so excited to support our local high school students as they embark on their entrepreneurship journey. So many have remarked that they wish this program had been around when they were in high school,” said Chamber President and CEO Hal English. “Mercer County students are high-achievers, and we can’t wait to see how they take advantage of this opportunity.”
YEA! programs across the country have produced countless success stories, including Rachel Zeitz who went on to graduate from Princeton University while continuing to build Gladiator Lacrosse, the business she founded through YEA! at the age of 13. Other YEA! entrepreneurs include Asad Muhammad who established Taste of Supreme Bakery, specializing in all-natural baked goods in Rochester, NY; and Brandon Boynton who is now the CEO of MostBeastlyStudios, LLC, the mobile application development suite he developed while a part of YEA!
The program is open to motivated students in grades 9-12 attending any Mercer County high school. No business idea is required. Tuition for YEA! is $995 and includes all program materials, field trips, events, and supplies. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated need, and the YEA! team can assist with transportation challenges as needed.
Visit princetonmercerchamber.org/yea for more information.
Think Global Buy Local
Police Blotter
On August 3, at 2:37 a.m., patrols observed a suspicious vehicle traveling on Alexander Street that proceeded into the parking lot of a commercial business that was closed for the evening. Patrols then observed the driver exit the vehicle and begin urinating in public within view of the roadway. Patrols initiated a motor vehicle stop and made contact with the driver/sole occupant, a 35-year-old male from Princeton. During the interaction, patrols observed a handgun present in the space between the driver’s seat, where the driver was seated, and the vehicle’s center console. Upon the arrival of additional officers, the driver was placed under arrest. Patrols took possession of the handgun and found that it was loaded with hollow point ammunition. Further investigation revealed that he was driving while intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (handgun), Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons, Possession of Prohibited Weapons (hollow point ammunition), Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, and Urinating in Public. He was later transported to the Mercer County Correctional Center, where he was turned over to the custody of their staff.
On August 2 at 5 a.m., patrols responded to Nassau Street for a reported attempted robbery. Upon arrival, patrols made contact with an individual who said that two unknown males allegedly threatened him with a knife and demanded money. The individual said that he never observed a weapon, only that the males referenced one during the encounter. He also stated that the unknown males fled on foot without taking anything shortly after the
interaction. Patrols canvassed the area, however no individuals were located. The incident remains under investigation.
On August 1, at 12:32 p.m., the caretaker of a commercial property on Herrontown Road reported that, on July 19, an unknown person(s) stole approximately $1,000 worth of various items from the rear of the property. Patrols also determined that the unknown person(s) entered into the building on the property by breaking open a boarded window and causing damage. The cost to re-board the window is unknown. There are no suspects at this time.
On July 3, at 8:17 p.m., patrols responded to Cherry Hill Road on a report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon arriving in the area, patrols located a male on Cherry Hill Road who was determined to be the driver/sole occupant, a 56-yearold male from Hillsborough. An investigation was initiated and he was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated after he was found to have operated his vehicle while intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and later released to a sober adult. He was issued multiple motor vehicle summonses for Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage, Failure to Report Accident, and No Liability Insurance Coverage on Motor Vehicle.
On July 30 at 12:49 p.m., a Dodds Lane resident reported that, between April and May 2025, he sent a total of $90,000 to an unknown individual who claimed to be a stock market expert, after communicating with them on a messaging platform regarding the purchase of stocks. He reported that, after not receiving any funds, he realized it was a scam and as a result he suffered a total momentary loss of $90,000.
Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released.
Join us for the Evergreen Forum
The Evergreen Forum is a peer-led, interactive dynamic learning program which provides rewarding, day-time classes on diverse subjects led by knowledgeable course leaders.
Fall 2025 Course List
Classes begin in September and October 2025.
AMMONITES AND CLEOPATRA: TWO BY PENELOPE LIVELY (Virtual)
Lynne Cullinane
AN INQUIRY CONCERNING DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA (Hybrid)
Gary Sykes
ASTONISHING ADVENTURES (Hybrid)
Harold Kuskin
APPLYING PRECEPTS OF BUDDHIST THOUGHT FOR WELL-BEING (In-Person)
Robin Shapiro
DOCUMENTARY FILMS II (In-Person)
Judy Zinis
THE EVOLUTION OF WESTERN ART, PART 3 (Virtual)
Wendy Worth
EXPLORING AUTOCRACIES (Virtual)
Martin Oppenheimer
EXPLORING FEMINIST WRITERS (In-Person)
Carol Friend
THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SCOTLAND (Hybrid)
Peter Smith
HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE (Hybrid)
Robert Nolan
IT COULD BE VERSE: LYRICAL INTRODUCTIONS TO THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, I AND II (In-Person)
Dave Saltzman
JANE AUSTEN, NOVELS AND FILMS (In-Person)
Dianne Sadoff
THE KAREN ANN QUINLAN CASE (In-Person)
John Zen Jackson
MEDIA ON THE EDGE: JOURNALISM, INFLUENCERS, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Hybrid)
Elaine Jacoby
MINDFULNESS BASED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (In-Person)
Naomi Browar
MORE FUN MATH YOUR TEACHERS LEFT OUT! (In-Person)
Mark Schlawin
NATURE & YOUR HEALTH (In-Person)
Jack Carman
OCEAN GROVE AND THE HISTORY OF THE HOLINESS MOVEMENT (In-Person)
Rich Hendrickson
Celebrating Twenty-five years of the Evergreen Forum A Lifelong Learning Community
THE RULE OF LAW: HISTORICAL CASE STUDIES (Hybrid)
Phil Carchman & Stan Katz
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS (Hybrid)
Harold Heft and Panelists
SOUTHERN WRITERS: NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES (In-Person)
Judith Wooldridge
“THOUGHT AND CALCULATION”: EXAMINING THE THEATRICAL INVENTION OF TOM STOPPARD IN THREE PLAYS (In-Person)
T.J. Elliot
THREE EARLY BLACK AMERICAN WOMEN IN WORDS: PHILLIS WHEATLEY, ESTHER “HETTY” SAUNDERS & SOJOURNER TRUTH (In-Person)
Paul F. Soltis
TICK-TOCK, WHAT’S THE PLOT? (In-Person)
Lois Harrod
UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS (In-Person)
Ruth Goldston
VISIONS OF AMERICA (In-Person)
Roy Carman & Seth Malin
The Evergreen Forum uses a first-come, first-served registration system which opens on Tuesday, August 26 at 9:30 a.m. Course format is subject to change. Evergreen Forum Fees: $95 for three- to four-week courses and $125 for five- to eight-week courses Cost should never be a barrier to learning! Senior Scholarships are available to those for whom the fee is a hardship.
Forum corporate sponsors for fall 2025:
Awarded Grant
continued from page one
The program is funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Proceeds from cap auctions are used to fund programs to benefit the environment.
Launched in 2023, Trees for Schools provides grant funding to New Jersey public school districts, county colleges, and state colleges and universities for planting trees on school grounds and campuses.
The Trees for Schools grant funds will plant more than 4,500 trees at public schools, colleges, and universities across the state. These grants are part of the second round of funding through the program; the first round of grants was awarded in 2023 and resulted in the planting of nearly 3,000 trees at 33 school campuses.
The Trees for Schools grant recipients will now work with the project team to develop their tree project design and participate in tree-planting workshops, with the goal of planting more than 4,500 trees in spring 2026.
“The tree plantings at schools across New Jersey will provide environmental benefits for communities and inspire students to be stewards for the environment we
share,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette.
“Many of the plantings will also improve residents’ quality of life in communities that have disproportionate access to green spaces,”
The Sustainable Jersey School website notes that grant awards range from $10,000 to $250,000 and support costs including planning, site preparation, tree purchases, planting, and two years of maintenance.
Other local awardees in Mercer County are Paul Robeson Charter School, $212,150; The College of New Jersey, $250,000; and Hamilton Township School District, $23,000.
PPS Superintendent Mike LaSusa acknowledged the grant and the prospect of new trees. “We are thrilled to receive the Trees for Schools grant, which will help us create greener, healthier learning environments across our campuses,” he said in the PPS press release. “This is more than a beautification project. It’s a living lesson in environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and community care. Our students and staff will benefit from shade and cleaner air, and our district will contribute to building a more sustainable future for the entire community.”
More information is available at sustainable jerseyschools.com.
—Wendy Greenberg
NextGen Giving Circle Grants to Nonprofits
The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded $27,500 in grants to three local nonprofits for a children’s school day breakfast initiative, a workforce program for high school boys, and job training for teens and adults.
At Every Child Valued’s breakfast program, the grant will be used in part to help offset the cost of the rising price of groceries.
At the Father Center, the grant will help pay for field trips and test fees for boys enrolled in an employment and credentialing program.
At RISE, the grant will help fund workforce training for its thrift store staff.
“I founded NextGen with the goal of inspiring and developing the next generation of philanthropic leaders in our community,” said Jeremy Perlman, who created the fund in 2017. “The giving circle brings together likeminded young professionals to learn how nonprofits are addressing key issues facing individuals and families in the greater Trenton area, and to make a bigger impact than any one of us could on our own. I have made lifelong friendships through my participation in NextGen, and each time we gather it is meaningful, educational, and fun.”
More than 20 young adults are members of the NextGen Giving Circle, an initiative in which donors make monthly contributions to the NextGen Fund, then meet once a year to review grant applications and recommend funding to local nonprofits. Anyone can join the Giving Circle. Most members are Millennials or Gen Z.
By pooling their donations, the members of the Giving Circle can make a larger impact in the community. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded $210,000 in grants to local nonprofits.
Membership in the Giving Circle also allows the donors to learn more about philanthropy and nonprofits
in the region working to make a difference in the lives of local residents.
“I joined NextGen to be able to give back to organizations that have values that align with the younger generation,” said Emma Natale. “We give in ways that have a positive impact on the world around us and the world we want to see thrive in the future.”
Visit pacf.org for more information.
Free Screening of NASA’s Documentary “Planetary Defenders”
The New Jersey State Museum will present an exclusive free screening of NASA’s new documentary, Planetary Defenders, in the Planetarium on August 16 at 4:15 p.m.
The documentary delves into the high-stakes world of asteroid detection and planetary defense. The film takes viewers on a journey alongside a dedicated team of astronomers and scientists working tirelessly to track and monitor near-Earth asteroids, aiming to protect our planet from potential impacts. This documentary captures the intricate and collaborative efforts of these unsung heroes, blending cutting-edge science with personal stories to reveal the human spirit behind this critical global endeavor. Viewers will witness the drama, the challenges, and the triumphs of those on
the front lines of planetary defense.
“We are excited to partner with NASA to share with Museum audiences the important work astronomers do to defend our planet,” said Jacob Hamer, assistant curator for planetarium education. “This program aligns perfectly with our August 30 Science Under the Stars lecture, which will explore a new telescope that will help to monitor the potentially hazardous asteroids described in the documentary.”
Run time is one hour, 15 minutes, after which there will be time for questions. Reserve a seat and get more details at statemuseum.nj.gov.
MCCC Awarded Grant to Bridge Technology Divide
Mercer County Community College (MCCC) has been awarded $1 million through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) Digital Literacy and Equity Training Grant Program. MCCC will work together with Ocean County College to launch a program designed to help close the digital literacy divide among Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) recipients in Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties.
Lead by MCCC’s Community Education and Training Department, this new multiphase initiative will focus on
developing and enhancing digital equity and literacy in the workforce through techbased skills among WFNJ participants who will be provided with access to training, workplace readiness, industry-recognized certifications, and employment opportunities.
“We are very excited to be the recipient of this grant which will help bridge the digital divide in the central region of New Jersey,” said Jill Marcus, MCCC’s director of community education and training, workforce education, and innovation.
“We are happy to partner with Ocean County College to provide access to opportunities that strengthen our communities.”
Program participants will receive a laptop with onsite internet access, an individualized digital literacy plan, and support services during self-paced classes beginning mid-August for a period of 12 weeks. The initiative aims to bolster participation in training and career opportunities for WFNJ recipients including recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance (GA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents). Visit nj.gov/labor/research-info/grants.shtml for more information.
MUSIC IN THE ALLEY: Juan Carlos Y La Fiesta Cubana performed on Saturday evening in the area beside Halo Pub on Hulfish Street. Band members include, from left, Juan Carlos del Castillo – vocals, piano, and saxophone; guest musician Carmen Marranco – guitar and vocals; Edwin Ashton – percussion; and Aliya Khan – percussion and vocals. The outdoor music continues every Saturday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. through September 27. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Nearly 100 Musicians to Participate
In Capital Philharmonic Season Opener
An ambitious new symphonic jazz work that celebrates the artistry of some locally-based cultural figures is the opening program of the coming season for The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey. The orchestra will debut Oh God…Beautiful Machine at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton on October 25.
A collaboration of the orchestra with Yusef Komunyakaa, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and Vince di Mura, resident music director and composer at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, the monumental piece includes full orchestra, jazz ensemble, traditional Chinese instrumentalists, and a women’s chorus.
The performance is a tribute to the late Larry Hilton, a dedicated supporter of the arts in Trenton who died suddenly on July 5. The project, described as “a reflection on environmental peril, resilience, and reverence for life on Earth,” was his idea.
“Larry had this brewing in his head for a long time,” said di Mura. “He asked Yusef to write a series of poems. At first, it was going to be just a jazz ensemble with members of the orchestra. Somehow it became a jazz ensemble and the entire orchestra. Yusef wanted to use more than just a single singer, so it was his idea that we employ a chorus. I just went along for the ride.”
Asked what the piece is, di Mura pointed out what it is not.
“It is not an activist protest work,” he said. “It is a very positive, very spiritual piece that tackles climate concerns and environmental concerns by simply asking the right questions. It’s a conversation with the audience. Musically, it is 10 large movements, and they are written in very different jazz vernaculars — which was not the intention. But I was responding to the text, and created a kind of diverse jazz vocabulary — Latin American vibes, fusion, blues, gospel.”
Sebastian Grand, who has been acting music director of the orchestra since former conductor Daniel Spalding stepped down last year, will lead the piece. He describes it as “ambitious and unusual. Often, contemporary compositions are confined to the periphery of a program,” he said. “To dedicate an entire concert is really rare, and very special.”
Members of the Capital Philharmonic usually don’t meet and rehearse until a week before a concert. “My responsibility is to pull it all together,” Grand said.
“It’s always a fun challenge, and will be especially so this time because of the variety involved.”
Grand is among five finalists for the position of music director of the orchestra. The search, which has been underway for more than a year, began with 75 applicants interested in coming to Trenton.
“They were from every continent except Antarctica,” said Jill Aguayo, the orchestra’s executive director. “We narrowed it down to 10, including our current assistant conductor [Grand] and a guest conductor from last year. We did interviews with each one, so now we’re down to five.”
As is the custom in this type of search, each finalist gets a chance to work with the musicians and conduct a concert. Scheduled to lead the annual New Year’s Eve performance is Ruth Ochs, familiar to Princeton audiences from her work leading the Princeton University Sinfonia and the Westminster Community Orchestra. Ochs debuted with the Capital Philharmonic last fall. Kenneth Bean, assistant conductor of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, is another finalist with a Princeton connection.
Sections of Oh God… Beautiful Machine that include lyrics and spoken word are in multiple languages “paying homage to visionaries such as Paul Robeson, Herbie Hancock, and Carlos Santana, and explore styles ranging from Native American and Afro-Caribbean influences to the swinging rhythms of Bossa Nova and the soul-stirring sounds of Mississippi Gospel,” reads a press release.
The piece is the second that Hilton created as a collaboration between di Mura and Komunyakaa. The first was Echoes of the Great Migration, an oratorio that is now turning into a theater piece and might be done at the New Federal Theatre in New York City in 2026, di Mura said.
Producing Oh God…Beautiful Machine “is an incredible act of courage for the Capital Philharmonic,” di Mura said. “This is an orchestra that wants to make a mark. They’re taking a gigantic risk, and that alone deserves the support.”
Oh God…Beautiful Machine is Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m., following a lecture by di Mura at 6:45 p.m. Visit capitalphilharmonic.org for ticket information.
—Anne Levin
with the
of New Jersey in an ambitious program on October 25.
CMAP Celebrates 25 Years of Evergreen Forum Courses
The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) has announced the Fall 2025 Evergreen Forum, marking 25 years of fostering curiosity, conversation, and community for older adults. This milestone season offers a rich variety of in-person, virtual, and hybrid courses that invite participants to engage their minds, share perspectives, and discover new ideas.
Registration opens Tuesday, August 26, at 9:30 a.m., with participants able to select up to two courses. Telephone and mail applications will not be accepted. To register, visit cmaprinceton.org.
This fall’s offerings include topics in literature, history, science, culture, politics, and personal well-being. Featured courses include: Ammonites and Cleopatra:
Two by Penelope Lively — Explore the humor, energy, and insight of Booker Prize–winning author Penelope Lively through her memoir Dancing Fish and Ammonites and the novel Cleopatra’s Sister. Led by veteran educator Lynne Cullinane, this six-week virtual course invites readers to immerse themselves in vivid storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
The Rule of Law: Historical Case Studies — Examine the foundations and evolution of the rule of law through pivotal historical moments, from 17th-century England to the modernday United States. Retired Princeton University history professor Stanley N. Katz and retired New Jersey judge Philip Carchman guide participants through constitutional struggles, revolutions, and contemporary challenges to this essential democratic principle.
Applying Precepts of Buddhist Thought for Well-Being — Learn how principles of patience, curiosity, and generosity from Buddhist philosophy can enhance your daily life and sense of belonging. Dr. Robin Shapiro, author of The Buddha Lives in New Jersey, brings decades of study and teaching to this engaging and practical course.
Course Fees: $95 for three- to four-week courses and $125 for five- to eightweek courses. Scholarships are available for those for whom the fee is a hardship — cost should never be a barrier to learning.
CMAP, the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (formerly Princeton Senior Resource Center), is a community nonprofit where aging adults and their families find support, guidance, education, and social programs to help them navigate life transitions and remain
active, healthy, and engaged.
The Evergreen Forum’s corporate sponsors for Fall 2025 are Bryn Mawr Trust; Home Instead; Homewatch CareGivers; McCaffrey’s Food Markets; Peapack Private Bank & Trust; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Princeton Theological Seminary; and Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law.
Experience Princeton Seeks New Director
The Board of Experience Princeton (EP) is seeking a leader to serve as its next full-time executive director. Isaac Kremer, executive director for the past three years, recently resigned. This marks a new chapter in Experience Princeton’s history — building on the foundation of their first three years and stepping forward into a future defined by community building, economic vitality, and strategic promotion of Princeton as an ideal place to live, work, and play, or to visit for a day, evening, or weekend. Experience Princeton’s mission is to shape, maintain, and grow a flourishing Princeton economy by offering an exceptional experience for residents and visitors, and by advocating for a diverse business community through strong partnerships. The next executive director will be charged with advancing this mission and ushering in the next phase of growth and impact. Interested candidates should send their resumes to: info@experience princeton.org.
TOWN
TOPICS
is printed entirely on recycled paper.
CREATIVE COLLABORATION: “Oh God…Beautiful Machine” brings together composer Vince di Mura, poet Yusef Komunyakaa, and artist John Gummere
Capital Philharmonic
Study on Autism continued from page one to group individuals based on their combinations of traits. The team called this a “‘person-centered’ approach that considered a broad range of over 230 traits in each individual, from social interactions to repetitive behaviors to developmental milestones, rather than searching for genetic links to single traits.”
The Princeton website article, written by Molly Sharlach of the Office of Engineering Communications, explains that the “discovery of clinically relevant autism subtypes,” which the researchers linked to distinct genetic profiles and developmental trajectories, offers new insights.
The subtypes are: Social and Behavioral Challenges, in which individuals show social challenges and repetitive behaviors but generally reach developmental milestones at a pace similar to children without autism; Mixed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with Developmental Delay, in which individuals tend to reach developmental milestones later than children without autism but do not show
signs of anxiety, depression, or disruptive behaviors; Moderate Challenges, in which individuals show core autism-related behaviors, but less strongly than those in the other groups; and Broadly Affected, in which individuals face more extreme and wide-ranging challenges. The study more specifically defines these groups.
Each subtype has distinct genetics behind it, the study shows. This study ‘s approach, notes the Princeton article, “differs from classic gene discovery efforts by identifying robust autism subtypes that are linked to distinct types of genetic mutations and affected biological pathways.”
It finds that while children in different subtypes share some traits, there are genetic differences.
“Understanding the genetics of autism is essential for revealing the biological mechanisms that contribute to the condition, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and guiding personalized care,” said senior study author Olga Troyanskaya, director of Princeton Precision Health, the Maduraperuma/Khot Professor of Computer Science and
the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton, and deputy director for genomics at the Center for Computational Biology of the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute.
“These findings are powerful because the classes represent different clinical presentations and outcomes, and critically we were able to connect them to distinct underlying biology,” said Aviya Litman, a Ph.D. student at Princeton and co-lead author, who, like the others, are quoted in the article.
Moreover, the researchers identified divergent biological processes affected in each subtype. “What we’re seeing is not just one biological story of autism, but multiple distinct narratives,” said Natalie Sauerwald, associate research scientist at the Flatiron Institute and co-lead author. “This helps explain why past genetic studies often fell short — it was like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle without realizing we were actually looking at multiple different puzzles mixed together. We couldn’t see the full picture, the genetic patterns, until we first separated individuals into subtypes.”
This study builds on more than a decade of autism genomics research led by Troyanskaya and collaborators, supported by the Simons Foundation and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and most recently by Princeton Precision Health, an interdisciplinary initiative launched in 2022. It is the result of the integration of interdisciplinary expertise in genomics, clinical psychology, molecular biology, computer science and modeling, and computational biology. For families navigating autism, states the article, knowing which subtype of autism their child has can offer tailored care and support. “Understanding genetic causes for more individuals with autism could lead to more targeted developmental monitoring, precision treatment, and tailored support and accommodations at school or work,” said Jennifer Foss-Feig, clinical psychologist at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and vice president and senior scientific officer at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative.
“It could tell families, when their children with autism
FLESCH’S ROOFING
are still young, something more about what symptoms they might — or might not — experience, what to look out for over the course of a lifespan, which treatments to pursue, and how to plan for their future,” Foss-Feig is quoted.
The results were published July 9 in the journal Nature Genetics in a paper entitled, “Decomposition of phenotypic heterogeneity in autism reveals underlying genetic programs.”
The study was co-led by Litman, Sauerwald, and Troyanskaya, who holds joint appointments at Princeton and the Flatiron Institute, along with Christopher Y. Park and Yun Hao of the Flatiron Institute; LeeAnne Green Snyder and FossFeig of the Simons Foundation; Chandra Theesfeld of Princeton; and Ilan Dinstein of Ben Gurion University in Israel.
—Wendy Greenberg
Fall is a busy time at The Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Road in Pennington. Several participatory events are planned.
On Sunday, September 14 and October 26 from 9-11 a.m., Sunday Stewardship is a monthly volunteer event where community members work alongside the Stewardship Team to restore native plant communities, create healthy ecosystems, and ensure clean water for all. Tasks may include removing invasive plants, maintaining deer protection, and planting native species.
Anyone can volunteer and families are encouraged to work together. Ages 15-16 must be able to work independently with adult supervision. Ages 12-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Community Watershed Advocate Program 101 is held October 1-November 12. This self-faced course is mostly online with live sessions at The Watershed Institute October 1 and November 12. The class is free (suggested donation $10).
The class is designed for those 16 or older. There are no diploma or experience requirements.
The Community Watershed Advocate Program gives community members the information and training they need to be effective advocates for water-related environmental issues in their communities. Through
the online training modules and regular check-in/support meetings, participants will learn how flooding and water pollution are affecting the community, learn what actions elected officials, municipal staff and community members can take to reduce flooding and protect waterways, and learn how community advocates can help by providing information and advocating for action to protect our watersheds. Participants can go through online modules at their own pace anytime during the course. There will be an active online discussions board moderated by staff at The Watershed Institute throughout the course. Participants will also prepare a local advocacy project that they can implement in their own communities.
A hybrid session on October 1 will begin the course, during which participants will have the chance to meet past program participants. On November 12, participants will gather at the Watershed Center to network with other community advocates, discuss issues, tips, and tricks, and engage directly with staff on environmental advocacy opportunities. Following the program, participants will be regularly engaged on upcoming opportunities for further training and new advocacy opportunities.
The Origins of Halloween Hike is Saturday, October 25 between 7 and 8:45 p.m. Participants will step onto a lantern-lit trail and journey through an ancient Irish folktale. Along the path, they will meet live characters who bring to life the story of Stingy Jack — the clever trickster who inspired the very first jack-o’-lantern. The event is labeled as “not too scary — Just the Right Kind of Spooky.” Since 1987, families have taken part in this original outdoor drama. Visit thewatershed.org for more information.
WORLD-CLASS CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH, CLIMATE, FOOD, AND FARMING
SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2025
SPECI AL GUESTS
Tiya Miles Barbara Brown Taylor Willie Jennings
Jeff Chu Michael Twitty Heber Brown
Hanna Reichel Norm Wirzba Tink Tinker
WORKSHOPS
Writing with the Land Composting 101 Native Seed Collection Cooking with the Ear th Helping Institutions Think Ecologically The Upside to Downspouts And More!
FOOD AND DRINK
Wine and the Bible Farm Chef Fest
PAY WHAT YOU CAN PRICE MODEL MAKES THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Books
Author Pandian to Discuss New Book
“Something Between Us” at Labyrinth
Anand Pandian, anthropologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, will discuss his new book, Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down , on Tuesday, September 9, at 6 p.m. Princeton University
Professor Elizabeth Anne Davis will join the conversation at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.
In 2016, Pandian was alarmed by Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrants to the U.S. and the appeal of Trump’s politics of anger and fear. In the years that
followed, Pandian traveled the country seeking out fellow Americans with markedly different social and political commitments, trying to understand the forces that have hardened our suspicions of others. The result, according to the publisher (Redwood Press, $28), is a groundbreaking and ultimately hopeful exploration of the ruptures in our social fabric, as well as an accounting of courageous efforts to rebuild a collective life beyond those ruptures.
“The stakes of disconnection have never felt higher,” the publisher continues.
“From the plight of migrants and refugees to the climate crisis and the pandemic, much relies on our care and concern for lives and circumstances beyond our own. As Pandian discovers, such empathy is often thwarted by the infrastructure of everyday American life: fortified homes and neighborhoods, bulked-up cars and trucks, visions of the body as a fortress, and media that shut out contrary views.”
In the book, Pandian reveals how “strategies of mutual aid and communal caretaking can help to reveal more radical visions for a life in common with others
and ways of meeting strangers in this land as potential kin.”
Pandian is Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University. His books include A Possible Anthropology: Methods for Uneasy Times and Ayya’s Accounts: A Ledger of Hope in Modern India . He has served as president of the Society for Cultural Anthropology and as a curator of the Ecological Design Collective.
Davis is professor of anthropology at Princeton University. Her ethnographic and archival projects in Greece and Cyprus address knowledge, subjectivity, and social relations in the context of social division. She is author of three books: Bad Souls: Madness and Responsibility in Modern Greece; Artifactual: Forensic and Documentary Knowing; and The Time of the Cannibals: On Conspiracy Theory and Context ; as well as articles on economic crisis and suicide, body doubles and body politics, and visual culture.
This event is co-sponsored by Princeton University’s Department of Anthropology and Labyrinth Books.
A Centenary Celebration of “The Great Gatsby” and “The Gold Rush”
Carl Sandburg was less of a poet than Charlie Chaplin.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
Every time you understand a thing you multiply yourself
—Charlie Chaplin
Scott Fitzgerald went out of his way to praise Charlie Chaplin in an August 1921 interview, having returned to his hometown St. Paul in triumph “with the crest of fame” on his head and his Princeton novel This Side of Paradise in its 11th printing. According to Andrew Turnbull’s 1962 biography, he “carried a great excitement within him,” enthusing to an older writer “how wonderful it is to be young and beautiful and a success.”
That same year, Chaplin returned to a triumphant reception in his own hometown of London. According to a newspaper interview, as he walked through Kennington, a neighborhood he’d grown up in, “I was recognized and people began to follow me, but at a little distance, very quietly. I found myself at the head of a procession, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin.” The people were “charming, and so refined,” but there was “a look of sadness” in their eyes suggestive of “what they had been through in the four years of the war, and how they’d had the courage to endure it.”
“Gold Rush” and “Gatsby”
In A Woman of Paris (1923), Chaplin surprised his public by forsaking slapstick and the Tramp to deliver one of the most innovative, sophisticated pictures of the Silent Era. A year later he began working on The Gold Rush , a film that blended slapstick and America’s current “money madness” with the emotional pulse of the human comedy. Released nationwide on August 16, 1925 after a lavish, late June Hollywood premiere, it received universal acclaim and in 2025 celebrates its 100th year as one of the greatest films ever made.
When The Great Gatsby was published on April 10, 1925, however, the reviews and sales were disappointing. In December 1940, after Fitzgerald died at 44, the New York Times obituary referred to a career “that began and ended” with the 1920s, its “promise never fulfilled.” The “best of his books” was Gatsby, published “at a time when gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession.” In it Fitzgerald displayed his “ability to catch the flavor of a night, a snatch of old song, in a phrase.” As its centenary is celebrated, Gatsby is considered not only one of the century’s greatest books but a rival to Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick for the ultimate acclamation: “The Great American Novel.”
Fitzgerald’s Enthusiasm Fitzgerald’s thoughts on Chaplin are
expressed at length by Manley Halliday, a fictional character in Budd Shulberg’s novel The Disenchanted (1950). One advantage of an in-the-moment record of the hard-drinking weekend in 1939 that Fitzgerald and Shulberg spent working on a screenplay is the way the conversation captures Fitzgerald’s uninhibited enthusiasm for The Gold Rush : “If movies didn’t die so fast it’d be considered a permanent classic like Hamlet or Cyrano. Funny as hell on the surface and full of inner meanings ... just when the whole country was rushing for gold.” Halliday then goes on to mention a “little one-reeler” in which “Charlie’s a drunk being dragged along, grabs a bush as he struggles, finds a daisy in his hand. Daisy changes mood entirely. Becomes a poet, a dreamer, an aesthete.”
Daisy and Georgia
Struck by the stress on a name that just happens to be at the heart of Fitzgerald’s novel, where the power of Gatsby’s love for a girl named Daisy inspires him to create a realm of riches to lay at her feet, I noticed similarities between Gatsby’s dream of Daisy and the Tramp’s adoration of a dancehall girl named Georgia. In the 1942 revival of The Gold Rush narrated by Chaplin, he introduces her with a wistful warmth, leaving no doubt that she’s the soul of his story, the Tramp’s muse, the light of his life.
dreams, is being romanced by Big Jack, the Gold Rush equivalent of Daisy’s obnoxious husband Tom Buchanan. In his dream dinner, the Tramp becomes the smiling all-powerful master of the scene, the girls wearing the favors he made for them, toasting him, adoring him, calling for a speech. Instead, he performs the “Oceana Roll,” a candlelit poem composed with two forks and two rolls that everyone should see at least once before they die.
which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray.” While she looks on, “the soft rich heap mounted higher — shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue.” At that moment the tension of Gatsby’s exalted excitement and Daisy’s sheer wonder come to a climax as she bends “her head into the shirts and begins to cry: ‘They’re such beautiful shirts ... it makes me sad because I’ve never seen such, such beautiful shirts before.”
New Year’s Eve
The Gold Rush achieves its most poetic moment in the Tramp’s dream of the New Year’s Eve dinner he prepares for Georgia and the other dancehall girls. On one level “the Little Fellow,” as he’s affectionately referred to in Chaplin’s narration, is lighting candles, spreading a newspaper for a tablecloth, putting presents and favors at each girl’s place and keeping an eye on the roast in the oven. In fact, the girls never come, he’s alone and forgotten, while the revelers in the dance hall are singing “Auld Lang Syne” and Georgia, the girl of his
In a 1925 interview, Chaplin describes movies as the “keyhole into the way the other half of the world lives” — the “wastes and savings, graces and disgraces, hearts one does not know. If people see one good film in ten bad, they are coming near to possession of the world. Every time you understand a thing you multiply yourself.” As an example of “something new,” Chaplin cites the moment in The Gold Rush “where I tear a pillow to pieces and the feathers dance white in the black screen. Impossible on the stage!.... There I extended myself to the full. I think that bit has a sort of intensity. I tried to get something desperate and terrible into that and to express it in a new form, a sort of visual music.”
I’d forgotten the torn pillow until I saw the restored Gold Rush. Why would the Tramp tear a pillow to bits? Why all those feathers dancing in the dark? See it again and you know he’s giddy with delight because Georgia just told him that she and the girls will be coming to the dinner and he’s already celebrating, the scattered falling feathers becoming the confetti for his own New Year’s Eve dream. Fitzgerald’s Visual Music
The closest Gatsby comes to realizing his dream of Daisy is when he gives her a tour of his fabulous home. One moment in the novel comparable to Chaplin’s explosion of feathers occurs when Gatsby takes out a pile of his shirts, “throwing them one by one” before Daisy, “shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel
What’s touching about Gatsby’s unmitigated joy at finally showing Daisy his domain is how his giddy love contrasts to the charismatic figure created by Fitzgerald’s prose poetry: “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away.”
In Fitzgerald’s unfinished Hollywood novel The Last Tycoon (1941) he sets out to transform his film producer hero Monroe Stahr into another character with “something gorgeous about him.” Reading the New Directions paperback of The Crack Up, a collection of Fitzgerald’s writings edited by his friend and Princeton classmate Edmund Wilson, I’m convinced that if Chaplin had read that book, Fitzgerald’s swan song, he’d have sympathized with the author’s plight and recognized a view of life like his own in the vignettes and fragments and nuggets of insight, wit, and style scattered throughout the alphabet-lettered notebooks.
The Eyes Have It
The way the Tramp’s eyes follow the magical dance of the “Oceana Roll” in The Gold Rush dream reminds me of one of The Great Gatsby’s signature images, the giant billboard spectacles of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg overlooking the valley of ashes, an image inspired by Francis Cugat’s Celestial Eyes, the painting that makes the Gatsby first-edition cover so striking and that captures Jay Gatsby’s vision of Daisy Fay, his love and his doom, “whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs ... sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth.” This is Daisy as Gatsby imagines her — the “colossal vitality of his illusion” that “had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way.”
Now I’m thinking of Chaplin’s Tramp, who tears a pillow to pieces and “the feathers dance white” against “the black screen,” expressing “something desperate and terrible ... a new form, a sort of visual music.”
—Stuart Mitchner
State Theatre New Jersey in the coming
Single Tickets on Sale
For Broadway Series
State Theatre New Jersey has the largest and most extensive Broadway show season in New Jersey, featuring the national tours of Tony Award-winning hit shows. Tickets are now on sale.
The Broadway Series kicks off with Mrs. Doubtfire – The New Musical Comedy on November 1-2; then continues with Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! By Hal Holbrook on November 5-6; Kinky Boots on February 27-March 1; Stereophonic on March 2729; Meredith Willson’s The Music Man on May 8-10; and Monty Python’s Spamalot on June 27-28.
Oher shows included in the Broadway season include Mandy Patinkin in Concert: JUKEBOX on November 7; ELF The Musical on November 14-16; Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony on November 30; Cirque Dreams Holidaze on December 12-13; and RENT in Concert on February 19.
In addition to offering tickets to individual shows, the theater has a “Broadway Buy More Save More” program allowing patrons who purchase two Broadway shows to save 10 percent and save 15 percent with the purchase of three or more shows. Ticket buyers can also become a season ticket holder and save 20 percent and receive an array of benefits.
The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj. org/Broadway for more information.
Over 40 Musicians At Doylestown Festival
The Doylestown Arts Festival will hold a weekend full of live music on September 6 and 7. More than 40 musicians will perform on five stages across the event, which runs from 10 a.m.5 p.m. daily and is free to attend.
The 2025 festival features musicians from across Bucks County, the greater Philadelphia region, and beyond. Performances will include local fan favorites
The Great Bonfire, Dirk Quinn Band, The Little Red Rooster Blues Band, School of Rock Doylestown, and Lost Cricket String Band. The festival will also host acts from the surrounding region, including Cherry Lane Band, Two Rocks Rye, Wild Hymns, Pure Jerry, and Elle Gyandoh & The John Doe Band.
Special acts for kids and families by Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre and Lolly Hopwood are also planned.
“We have looked forward to the Doylestown Arts Festival weekend every year since my father exhibited for a couple of years in the early 1990s. Music, art, food, great people, and a fun overall community experience. What more could you ask for? Doylestown is a terrific community to live and work in,” said Colette Hearn, Doylestown Borough business owner and resident.
The festival includes some 160 artists, a variety of activities, local food, and live art demonstrations. Music ranges from jazz and rock to pop and blues. For more information, visit dtownartsfestival.com.
TerraCycle Presents
Jersey Fresh Jam
On Saturday, August 16, Jersey Fresh Jam returns from noon to dusk at TerraCycle headquarters, located at 1 TerraCycle Way in Trenton, for its 20th anniversary celebration. One of the best known showcases of hip-hop culture on the East Coast, the free, all-ages festival brings together graffiti artists, DJs, MCs, and dancers for a full day of music, murals, food, and community.
Organized by Trenton-based graffiti artist Leon Rainbow and the Vicious Styles Crew, the event honors the four pillars of hip-hop: graffiti, MCing, DJing, and breakdancing. This year’s lineup includes live mural painting from top aerosol artists, 2-vs-2 breaking battles, and sets from some of the region’s most influential underground DJs and emcees. Local vendors will be onsite selling food, beverages, and locally made goods.
Since its founding in 2005, the Jersey Fresh Jam has grown from a small gathering of graffiti artists into a citywide block party that transforms the TerraCycle office into a vibrant outdoor gallery every summer. Today, the event draws a broad mix of artists and attendees from across the region.
“Art conquers all, and the Jersey Fresh Jam has always been about culture and connection,” said Rainbow. “This year’s milestone event is not just a celebration of hip-hop— it’s a reminder of the power of community, creativity, and collaboration.”
To commemorate both Jersey Fresh Jam’s 20th year and TerraCycle’s more than two decades in business, participating artists will create
a special legacy mural that traces TerraCycle’s journey from its earliest days selling fertilizer made from worm castings in reused soda bottles to its role today as an international leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. The piece will span TerraCycle’s headquarters and visually celebrate its evolution — marking key milestones, global growth, and its continued mission to eliminate the idea of waste.
“As a company born in Trenton, we’ve always believed in the power of communitydriven creativity,” said Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “The Jersey Fresh Jam has helped transform our headquarters into a living canvas. This year’s mural tells the story of what’s possible when artists, activists, and entrepreneurs come together to rethink what’s been discarded—it’s not just about where we started, it’s about where we’re going.”
Visit jerseyfreshjam.com for more information.
U.S. Army Big Band Performs in Allentown
The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI) welcomes back the U.S. Army’s Jazz Ambassadors for a free concert on Sunday, August 17, at 3 p.m. on the lawn behind Allentown Methodist Church, 23 Church Street.
All are welcome and asked to bring a chair. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place inside on the same date and time at Allentown High School, 27 High Street, Allentown.
The Jazz Ambassadors, the U.S. Army’s premier big band, was formed in 1969 and is celebrated both nationally and internationally
for performing America’s original art form — jazz. Known as “America’s Big Band,” this 19-member ensemble performs classic big band standards, solos, patriotic tunes, contemporary jazz, and original compositions by its members. Many of these works are available through their jazz education initiative, Perspectives.
The Jazz Ambassadors have performed across all
50 states and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, and India, joining orchestras like the Boston Pops and National Symphony and appearing at major jazz festivals in Montreux, Newport, and Toronto. Their performance in Allentown is part of TAVI’s “Allentown Arts” series. For details and weather updates, visit allentownvinj.org.
BROADWAY IN NEW BRUNSWICK: The musical “Mrs. Doubtfire” is among the touring Broadway shows that will stop at the
season. (Photo by Johan Persson)
Tell them you saw their ad in
FALL ART CLASSES: The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster’s fall art classes and workshops for adults, teens, and children begin on September 8. Select classes will be offered virtual or in a hybrid format. For more information, visit ccabedminster.org.
Registration Now Underway For Classes at Art Center
Registration is underway for The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster’s fall art classes and workshops for adults, teens and children beginning September 8. Select classes will be offered virtual or in a hybrid format. Classes and workshops are offered for artists with all levels of expertise in a variety of media including oil and acrylic paint, pastel, watercolor, drawing, ceramics, and more.
More than 45 adult classes and workshops will be offered. Classes include Portrait Drawing with Oscar Peterson, En Plein Air with Wes Sherman, Beginner Watercolor with Wendy Hallstrom, Intro to Acrylics with Aprajita Lal, Artist Studio: Your Choice with Lena Shiffman, The Power of Pastels with Andrea Gianchiglia, Exploring Oil Landscapes
with Wes Sherman, and Chinese Brush Painting with Paul Tong. Ceramic classes include Advanced Ceramics with John Reinking, Beginner Wheel with Keiko Inouye, Morning Wheel and Handbuilding with John Reinking, Sculpture with John Reinking, and Tableware with Keiko with Keiko Inouye.
This fall there are many workshops to choose from including, Night Shades: Spooky Landscapes in Watercolor with Doris Ettlinger; The Power of Value: A Black and White Workshop with Andrea Gianchiglia; Expressive Acrylics: Bold Nature Inspired Painting with Aprajita Lal; Secrets of Ink and Mixed Media Intensive with Patti Jordan; Experimental Drawing with Linda Mead; Pysanky Egg Dyeing with Wendy Hallstrom; and The Golden Glow: Capturing Autumn Landscapes in Pastel
with Andrea Gianchiglia.
Fall classes for children and teens begin September 15. Classes for children ages 5-8 include Afternoon Art in All Dimensions, Drawing and Painting, Painting in Depth, and Drawing In Depth. Ages 6-8 can learn to work on the wheel and hand building in Pottery class. Children ages 9-11 have the choice of Painting in Depth, and Pottery. Intensive classes for teens allow students to dig deeper into the subjects of Mixed Media, Painting Intensive, and Pottery.
Classes will also be offered for children with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs beginning September 15. Students will explore a variety of art projects specifically geared to their interest and ability both in two- and threedimensional approaches.
The Center for Contemporary Art is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster. For more information or to register for a class, call (908) 234-2345 or visit ccabedminster.org.
“Ariel in NJ” Exhibition Coming to Gallery at PDS The Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School will present “Ariel in NJ,” opening on September 12, with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on the same day. The exhibition features textiles,
Ryan J. Brandau, Artistic Director
performance artifacts, design, and wearable works by the late Ariel Ruvinsky
The exhibition will be on view through December 5. Ruvinsky grew up in central New Jersey and graduated from Princeton Day School. She received her MFA in fiber Art from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BA in fine art and history of art from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions in London, Brooklyn, and New Jersey, including at Latymer Projects, Greenpoint Gallery, and the Straube Center.
During her years at Princeton Day School, Ruvinsky began a transformative relationship with former visual arts faculty member Jerry Hirniak, whose mentorship laid the foundation for her expansive and experimental approach to art making and design. Her practice was an ever-curious pursuit of learning that wove together research, play, and exquisite craftsmanship. Her garden, extensive library, and studio served as laboratories for layered inquiry, where the boundaries between daily life and performance became increasingly blurred.
Navigating illness and seclusion led Ruvinsky to identify with hermetic figures — the nun, Santa Claus, and witch — which she often incorporated into her artwork. Hybridity was central to Ruvinsky’s creative philosophy. She explored the human as cyborg, part biological and part technological, and saw pathways of medical trials, immune therapies, and implanted devices as sites where this hybridity could first emerge. Her compassion manifested in practical design, creating
clothing specifically for people with medical ports — garments that granted dignity, beauty, and ease while accommodating their needs. This vision extended throughout her art, where she combined sustainable, locally sourced materials with digital design processes, experimenting with “living” textiles that sprouted seeds and plants, bridging nature, technology, and the human body.
Under the pseudonym Ariel in NJ, Ruvinsky found success in the fashion world, designing shoes, knitwear, clothing, and accessories that merged bold aesthetics with intentional craftsmanship. In 2024, musician Chappell Roan wore Ruvinsky’s shoes for a Rolling Stone interview, showcasing the distinctive spirit of her designs and their resonance in contemporary culture. Collaboration was fundamental to Ruvinsky’s practice. She worked extensively with writer Robin Grearson, pattern maker Calli Roche, and many other creatives across the country and globe, fostering connections that enriched her artistic vision.
This exhibition brings together in-progress and completed designs that document and embody these collaborations, offering visitors a glimpse into Ruvinsky’s world of restless, passionate study and wonder. Her legacy invites us to consider the value of curiosity as a form of care, connection, and engagement with the world around us.
The Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School is located at 650 Great Road. For more information, visit pds.org/gallery.
“ARIEL IN NJ”: Works by the late Ariel Ruvinsky will be on view in the Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School September 12 through December 5. A public reception is on September 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. (Image courtesy of the Ruvinsky Family)
‘08.
Final Weeks to See “Slow Motion” at GFS
“Slow Motion,” an exhibition at Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) guest curated by Patricia Eunji Kim for Monument Lab, is entering its final weeks and will close on September 1. The exhibition, which is currently on view in and around the sculpture park’s Domestic Arts Building, expands the boundaries of contemporary sculpture using unconventional materials and processes. Founded in 2012, Monument Lab is a nonprofit public art and history studio based in Philadelphia, that cultivates and facilitates critical conversations around the past, present, and future of monuments. Traditional approaches to monument-making emphasize durability, solidity, and myths of enduring permanence; however, “Slow Motion” embraces the pleasures and possibilities of material transience.
“At GFS, we believe that exhibitions can become a catalyst for transformation across the organization, while reflecting our commitment to present the works of contemporary sculptors who reflect the greater world, challenge perceptions, and inspire,” said Gary Garrido Schneider, executive director of Grounds For Sculpture. “Collaborating with a guest curator and project partner such as Monument Lab has allowed us to infuse new perspectives and has supported innovative approaches to curating, while presenting new voices and ideas.”
“Slow Motion” was organized by Monument Lab, with five artists selected to participate and respond to the exhibition’s central question, “How do we remake our relationship with monuments?” The artists were chosen based on several key criteria: use of unconventional materials; ability to embrace playfulness in their creative practice; and the incorporation of accessibility, inclusivity, and equity lenses in their work. The featured artists are Billy Dufala, Ana Teresa Fernández, Colette Fu, Omar Tate, and Sandy Williams IV. Each artist’s work underscores how materials are not just a medium for monumental work; materials carry meanings themselves, functioning as symbols of specific places, memories, scents, and feelings.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with and learn from these five artists, whose interdisciplinary practices have long experimented with the materialities and temporalities of public memory. Their boundary-pushing artworks for this exhibition have inspired visitors to reorient themselves in how they relate to monuments, to collective memories, and ultimately, to each other,” said Kim.
As visitors experience the exhibition, they are invited to slow down and reexamine how they might remake their relationships with public monuments. An engagement space within the exhibition explores key themes addressed in this project, offering opportunities for active participation and reflection.
Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) is located at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton. For more information, visit groundsforsculpture.org.
New
Exhibition at PU’s
Mudd Manuscript Library
A new exhibition has opened at Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library entitled “Fashion, Feminism, and Fear: Clothing and Power in the 19th Century.” Curated by April C. Armstrong *15 and Emma Paradies, Library Collections Specialists in Special Collections at Mudd Library, the exhibition features late 19th and early 20th century cartoons satirizing women’s fashion at a time when the “New Woman” began to wear pants, tailored jackets, and sportswear, and enter traditionally masculine spheres.
The majority of the cartoons showcased in this exhibit are from 1895-1896 and by William H. Walker (1871-1938). Walker contributed frequently to formative American magazines like Life from 1894 to 1922, quickly becoming its leading editorial cartoonist. His fashion-focused political cartoons for Life captured the deep-seated anxieties of the era, implying that women were unfit for the new freedoms they sought. Walker created dozens of illustrations commenting on the “women in pants” phenomenon. These unflattering depictions obscured the perspectives of women’s rights activists by divorcing what they wore from its political context, suggesting they warranted only mockery.
The exhibition’s themes are still relevant today as
society continues to tackle the significance of gender and pressures to conform to externally defined expectations for one’s appearance, which are highlighted in the exhibition with examples of modern-day advertising.
A public opening with the curators is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16 from 12 to 2 p.m. While the objects in the main exhibition are in traditional cases, the opening event will also feature items that guests can touch and get a closer look at.
An interdisciplinary symposium (library.princeton. edu/fashion-feminism-fearsymposium) focused on related themes will be held on October 17.
Mudd Manuscript Library is located at 65 Olden Street. The exhibition is open to the public during Mudd’s regular opening hours. Check princetonlibrary.org for current hours, as they change during the year.
Fall Art Show Coming To Terhune Orchards
The Annual Fall Art Show at Terhune Orchards celebrates the farm’s 50th anniversary with a special themed exhibit entitled “50 Years of Terhune Orchards.” Held in Terhune’s historic 250-year-old barn, the show, on view September 6 through December 7, will feature original works by local artists inspired by the farm’s rich history and natural beauty.
A Meet the Artists Open House, free and open to the public, is on Sunday, September 7 at 1 p.m. For more information, visit terhuneorchards.com.
Area Exhibits
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Léni Paquet-Morante: Extract / Abstract” through November 9. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Time of Day(s)” through August 21. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Milagros de Corazón: Wings of Hope in Tin and Paper” through August 29. Artscouncilof princeton.org.
Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Summer Exhibition” through August 29. Cranburyartscouncil.org.
Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Emerging Artists Exhibition” through September 30. Greenbuildingcenter.com.
Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Slow Motion” through September 1 and “Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World” through January 11. Groundsforsculpture.org.
Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory.org
Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution” through December 31, 2026. Mercermuseum.org.
Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Judith Schaechter: Super/ Natural” through September 14, “Lisa Naples: Grounded in Gold ” through November 2, and “Anila Quayyum Agha: All the Flowers Are For Me” September 6 through January 11. Michenerartmuseum.org Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Historic Morven: A Window Into America’s Past” (ongoing). Morven.org.
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Celestial Bodies: Black Queer Identity in Precolonial Africa” through August 18. Princetonlibrary.org. Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, has “50 Years of Terhune Orchards” September 6 through December 7. A Meet the Artists Open House is on Sunday, September 7 at 1 p.m. Terhuneorchards.com. West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Home: The Art of Belonging” through September 20. Westwindsorarts.org.
TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.
“SLOW MOTION”: The exhibition guest curated by Patricia Eunji Kim for Monument Lab is entering its final weeks at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, and will close on September 1.
“THE AMERICAN FAMILY”: This work by William H. Walker is featured in “Fashion, Feminism, and Fear: Clothing and Power in the 19th Century,” on view through April 2026 at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University.
Town Topics
Wednesday, August 13
8-9:30 a.m.: August
Business Before Business at the Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street. Held by the Princeton Mercer Chamber. Princetonmercer.org
10:30-11 a.m.: Special Storytime with John Parra at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Author and illustrator shares his latest book, This Moment is Special, answers questions, and signs books. Princetonlibrary.org.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Councilman Leighton Newlin is available for one-onone discussions about issues impacting Princeton at the Alchemist and Barrister, 28 Witherspoon Street.
12 p.m.: Trenton Walks: Guided walk on the Scudder Falls Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath. Gmtma.org/trail-happenings.
5-8 p.m.: Democrats Night Out in Mercer County at Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, 42 Pennington Avenue, Trenton. Annual event hosted by the Capital City Area Black Caucus, Mercer County Democratic Party and the Trenton Democratic Party. Networking, remarks by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and numerous others. (720) 629-0964.
Mark Your Calendar
Donation-based weekly class. Bring a mat, towel, and water bottle. Morven.org.
7:30-10 p.m.: Contra dance at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Deanna Palumbo with Raise the Roof. Princetoncountrydancers.org.
Thursday, August 14
10:30 a.m.: Short Story Discussion of Susan Choi’s Flashlight at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
5-8 p.m.: Trivia in the Winery at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With DJ Iron Mike. Includes such categories as general knowledge, entertainment, history and geography, sports, and name that tune. Terhuneorchards.com
6-8 p.m.: Talk on Traffic Law and PeopleFriendly Driving, at the Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street. Free. Princetonnj.gov.
6-8 p.m.: Dueling Pianos on the Green, Palmer Square. Performed by the Flying Ivories, who take requests. Bring chairs and blankets. Bar opens at 5:30 p.m. Free. Palmersquare.com.
6:30-8 p.m.: Poetry Reading and Open Mic Night: At the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of
original works; participation follows. Registration required. Mcl.org.
7-10 p.m.: Bingo at Congregation Beth Chaim , 329 Village Road, East Windsor. Cash prizes, food, games. Cash only; for ages 18 and up.
7:15 p.m.: Black Voices Book Group on Google Meet. The group discusses Thursday Night Lights: The Story of Black High School Football in Texas by Michael Hurd. Visit princetonlibrary.org for link.
8 p.m.: Lungs by Duncan Macmillan is presented by Chimera Productions at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. $20-$25. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Friday, August 15
12-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, music, light bites in the apple orchard. Music from 5-8 p.m. by Joah Blume. Terhuneorchards.com.
4 p.m.: Summer Reading Wrap Up Party at Princeton Shopping Center, North Harrison Street. Weather permitting, celebrate with games, splatter paint, sand art, and a scavenger hunt on the lawn. Princetonlibrary.org.
6:30 p.m.: Fearless
7-8:30 p.m.: “The Art of Belonging,” free event about the meaning of “home” with participants from HomeFront sharing their personal stories through art and poetry. Members of ArtSpace will also be present to discuss their mission. At West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. Westwindsorarts.org.
7 p.m.: The 2025 River Dance Festival is presented by Roxey Ballet at The Mill Ballet School, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa. Several artists from different companies across the region. Roxeyballet.org/ riverdancefestival.
8 p.m.: Lungs by Duncan Macmillan is presented by Chimera Productions at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. $20-$25. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
8:30 p.m.: D2 The Mighty Ducks is screened on the Green at Palmer Square. Free. Palmersquare.com.
Saturday, August 16
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Princeton Junction train station southbound side. More than 50 local farms and vendors. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free community celebration of Terhune Orchards’ at the farm, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wagon rides, live music, children’s games, cake-cutting ceremony, wine tasting, and photo exhibit. TerhuneThe Secret is screened at the Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, as part of the $5 Family Matinees program. Gardentheatre.org/family
AUGUST
Princeton Junction. Thriftstyle art supply sale. Westwindsorarts.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Canning Day and Pickling at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Free. Howellfarm.org.
11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Celebration of Conte’s Pizza’s 75th anniversary at the Valley Road field (behind Conte’s). Free event with food vendors, desserts, a DJ, photo booth, face painting, basket auction, and special guests. Pre-sale tickets for two slices of pizza and a bottled water for $5; benefits SHUPP/Princeton. Contespizza.net.
12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, food, farm strolls, and music from 2-5 p.m. by Brian Bortnick. Terhuneorchards.com.
12-4 p.m.: Jersey Fresh Jam at TerraCycle, 1 Terracycle Way, Trenton. Free festival of hip-hop, graffiti, DJs, MCs, murals, dancers, and more. Jerseyfresh.com.
7:30 p.m.: RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour 2025 comes to State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Stnj.org.
7:30 p.m.: Voices Chorale NJ’s Summer Sing and Social , at Music Together, 225 PenningtonHopewell Road, Hopewell. Voiceschoralenj.org.
Tuesday, August 19
9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick: Monarchs, Swallowtails and Honeybees, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Handson farm activity followed by stories. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.
10-11 a.m.: Summer Kids Club at MarketFair, 3535 U.S. Highway 1. Champions of the Environment: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Followed by story time at Barnes & Noble. Free. Marketfairshoppes.com.
1 and 7 p.m.: The 2025 River Dance Festival is presented by Roxey Ballet at The Mill Ballet School, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa. Several artists from different companies across the region. Roxeyballet.org/ riverdancefestival.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Eco-Art Exchange: Thrift, Create, At West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road,
3-7 p.m.: Annual West Windsor History-Music Fest , West Windsor History Museum, 50 Southfield Road. Music, dance, food, drinks, tours of the historic Schenck Farmstead, and more. Free. Westwindsorhistory.com.
3-8:30 p.m.: Sourland Mountain Festival at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. Live music, local flavors, and more. Proceeds fund the Sourland Conservancy. Sourlandmountainfest.com.
4:15 p.m.: Planetary Defenders is screened at the planetarium of the New Jersey State Museum, State Street, Trenton. Documentary by NASA followed by questions. Statemuseum.nj.gov.
8 p.m.: Lungs by Duncan Macmillan is presented by Chimera Productions at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. $20-$25. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Sunday, August 17
12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, food, farm strolls, and music from 2-5 p.m. by Bud Belviso. Terhuneorchards.com.
4-5:15 p.m.: Full Code, band of medical professionals, performs at the Listen Local series on Hinds Plaza (or inside Princeton Public Library’s Community Room if it rains). Princetonlibrary.org.
Wednesday, August 20 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Councilman Leighton Newlin is available for one-on-one discussions about issues impacting Princeton at Hinds Plaza. 6 p.m.: The Board of Trustees of Princeton Public Library meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org. 7:30-10 p.m.: Contra dance at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Karen Justin with Torrent. Princetoncountrydancers.org.
Thursday, August 21 6 p.m.: Meet Johnson Park school principal Stacy Young on the third floor of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Parents, students, and community members invited. Princetonlibrary.org.
6-8 p.m.: Dueling Pianos on the Green, Palmer Square. Performed by the Flying Ivories, who take requests. Bring chairs and blankets. Bar opens at 5:30 p.m. Rain date: August 28. Free. Pslmersquare.com.
7 p.m.: Story & Verse Open Mic at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Hosted by Brass Rabbit. Share a story, poem, or spoken word piece up to 5 minutes long. Free. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
7-8 p.m.: “Five Phases of an IRA,” at Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Thrivent financial advisor Michael Kochersperger talks about managing IRA distributions, reducing tax burdens, and adapting to evolving tax legislation. Register at mcl.org.
Hedy Shepard LTD Celebrates 25th Anniversary,
This is the age of change. In almost every aspect of our culture and society, change is at the forefront. How do people communicate today? How and where do they get the news and general information? How and where do they work? In an office, at home, some hybrid combination? Whom do they trust? And where and how do they shop?
store together until Lynn’s death in 2020. Reiss has been honored to carry on the vision that she and her mother began. “I am proud to continue the tradition that my mother and I enjoyed establishing together,” she says. “It has been an incredible sense of accomplishment to take the tools and lessons that she has given me in life and business, and move on with the same grace and dignity we have shared with our community. She gave me something I always dreamed of, and my dream has come true.”
value of a good business sense, the importance of attention to detail.
She dotted every I and crossed every T. She was always careful to see to everything so there was nothing to worry about later.”
In addition to her mother’s guidance, Reiss worked as a Hedy Shepard’s associate, first in Hedy’s Yardley shop, and then with her in Princeton. “I learned a lot from Hedy. She gave me an understanding of how to run a business and the importance of developing relationships with customers.”
Something Special
This is the Hedy Shepard hallmark, and it continues to stand the test of time.
“Our customers come here because they know they will be taken care of,” points out Reiss. “We are truly about service. About greeting someone by name, giving them our full attention. We know their needs — their style, their size, their shape. And we are always on the lookout for something that is right for them.
“We really are set apart by the development of our relationships and the reputation we have established in the community. It’s our identity and our focus. Reputation is worth everything.”
Change is apparent in all of these areas, and it has come quickly. None of this is the same as it was 20 years ago, 10, or even five years ago.
All the more reason to celebrate the occasion of a 25th anniversary of a Princeton business that has been a mainstay in the Princeton downtown for quality products and knowledgeable and friendly personal service.
Hedy Shepard LTD, the women’s boutique, located at 175 Nassau Street, has been proud to provide the finest innovative and quality fashion and superior service over these many years.
Grace and Dignity
Originally opened in 1987 by Hedy Shepard, it became the fashion focus for new owners Lynn Rabinowitz and her daughter Rachel Reiss in 2000. The mother and daughter team operated the
The dream began when, as a young girl, Reiss became intrigued with fashion. “I also had a mom who was always dressed attractively, and this was a part of my experience. My mother was always the best dressed lady and so put together. It didn’t matter if she was on a budget or she splurged. I would sit in her room every Friday night, and watch her get dressed to go out with my father. She instilled in me at an early age that to look beautiful is to feel beautiful. It didn’t matter what others thought. It mattered how you felt about how you looked.”
Indeed, her fashion sense was established early. As she says, “I recently came across a school project I had in sixth grade when I wrote a paper about Yves Saint Laurent!”
Also, she continues, “My mother installed in me the
In fact, the store’s success in maintaining its loyal clientele as well as attracting new customers has been remarkable at a time when so many bricks and mortar businesses have closed their doors or are continually coping with new challenges to stay in business.
Indeed, what attracts customers away from the convenience and the quick fix of an Amazon purchase? Yes, online shopping is convenient, but it is also impersonal. Increasingly in our technologically-focused society, to lure customers from the comfort of home something special must be awaiting them.
They will find it at Hedy Shepard LTD. Personal service, attention to detail, a staff waiting to share fashion ideas and honest advice, and to spend time with each customer — and all within a charming environment.
Fall 2025
AMB. AMSTERDAM HERITAGE. ANGELA CAPUTI. CAMBIO. D EXTERIOR. ESTELLE & FINN. GRAN SASSO. H+ HANNOH WESSEL. HEYNE BOGUT. IN 2. IN BED WITH YOU. INTERDEE LA PARISIENNE. KEMPTON & CO. KOKUN. KAL RIEMAN. KANGRA. LARS ANDERSSON. LIVIANNA CONTI. LORENZA GANDAGLIA. MAC. MATTHILDUR. MORAY CASHMERE. OF HANDMADE. PIER ANTONIO GASPARI. PLOUMANACH. PORTO. P SOPHIA. RAAG. REPLIKA. SANTACANA. SERIEN UMERICA. THINK ROYLN. VIVIANA UCHITEL. YAVI. 12 LBS.
Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 175 Nassau St | Princeton NJ 08540 | 609-921-0582 www.hedyshepardltd.com
Reiss also emphasizes that one’s individual style is important. Fashion is not dictated by rigid rules as in the past. It is much more eclectic.
Own Rules
“You can make your own rules now, create your own individual style. You don’t have to conform to anything but who you are. It’s important for people to feel comfortable in what they wear, and that it reflects who they are. We don’t want to reinvent anyone’s style. We help them to find their own comfort zone.”
Also she points out the importance of versatility. It is not necessary to buy a lot of new clothes to achieve a new look. “It’s very good to buy one or two items that can be worn with several other things. This is curating a wardrobe. You don’t need to wear something only one way. By mixing and matching, you can get mileage out of your wardrobe.
“For example, an important focus for us is showing five different ways to wear a piece. it can be very versatile. We can help guide a customer in this. Again, it is about her own individuality and also value. We offer a clothing home to find value. Buy less, buy better!”
In addition, Reiss and her associate of 19 years, Galina Gaziev, will help a customer update or reinvigorate her own wardrobe. “You can bring in something you have, and we can update it. It’s a way to reinvent your existing wardrobe.”
Of course, the shop is filled with an array of enticing choices, guaranteed to please the fashion palette of each customer. Dresses, pants, sweaters, blouses, tunics, jackers, and more are all available in many styles and designs.
Denim continues to be a very big item, reports Reiss, and one of the most interesting aspects of fashion change over the years is the ubiquity of jeans. They are now worn for almost any occasion —casual to dressy.
New Season
Planning ahead for each new season is a necessary part of the fashion business, and Reiss attends numerous fashion events, and regularly visits showrooms in New York. Keeping up-to-date is crucial, and her buying choices always reflect her customers’ style as well as her own fashion sense.
“Appliques are huge for fall,” she points out, “and also knitted lace is very popular. It has a very feminine look. And again, we see oversize sweaters, and earth tones are important again too.”
Among the array of innovative and flattering styles at the shop are the creations of many important American and international designers. Customers will find Liviana Conti, Cambio, Pier Antonio Gaspari, Mac, Kokun, Kai Rieman, Matthildur, Interdee, Serie Numerica, H+ Hannoh Wessel, Heyne Bogut, Kempton, Angela Caputi, In Bed With You, and 12 lbs, among others — all represented at Hedy Shepard.
Helping customers to accessorize is another special service at the boutique. Scarves, jewelry, belts, and handbags are all on display in all styles, patterns, and colors.
Scarves are always in demand, says Reiss. Many materials and sizes are popular, including silk, cashmere, and various blends There is nothing like a scarf to finish the fashion statement.
Jewelry is a big favorite too, and the selection includes styles from delicate to bold and dramatic. The shop is also known for its extensive handbag collection, including striking evening bags in sparkling sequins.
Quality and Style
The belt selection at Hedy Shepard is also a specialty, and a very important accessory these days. In many styles and colors, they will bring a unique look to the fashion statement.
“We believe we have beautiful clothing that you will not see in every other shop,” says Reiss. “It will last because of quality and style, and the versatility in the ways you can wear it. We offer specialty store prices, and we currently have our annual summer sale with discounts of 30 percent and 70 percent. In addition, we
always have sales of selected items.”
Reiss also points out that this specialty women’s boutique has quite a following of men among its loyal customers. “They come in regularly to buy for their wives, and I will help them. It is a comfortable place for them to come in, and sometimes, there are special moments. One man wrote on the gift bag what his wife meant to him. I enjoy being able to help them, almost as a personal shopper.”
Reiss knows the world of fashion, and she is pleased to be able to share it with her customers, who are from Princeton and the area. She enjoys the interaction with them and also with the designers. It is a world of color, style, and also for her, energy, excitement, and enthusiasm.
Most of all, though, the true meaning and value for her is the customers who have supported Hedy Shepard LTD from the earliest days.
“At the end of the day, people come here because they trust us. You are only as good as the relationship, trust, and respect you have established with your customers. To be successful, you must be willing to adapt, constantly evolving with the times. But the one constant is helping the customer to be comfortable in her own style, with clothing that reflects her — her personality, her life style. Her unique individuality.”
Hedy Shepard LTD is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information, call (609) 9210582. Visit the website at hedyshepardltd.com. —Jean Stratton
FASHION FOCUS: “Our fashion is elevated classic, day to evening, casual to formal, and special occasion. Always, we want to help the customer look her best with an outfit that reflects her own style, personality, and individuality.” Rachel Reiss, owner of Hedy Shepard LTD, is shown by an ensemble featuring a lace knit sweater from D. Exterior, a unique rubber/ mix metal long necklace from Liviana Conti, and Kai Rieman cotton shirting and cotton crop relaxed fit pants.
S ports
Building on Record-Breaking Career
for PU Men’s Lax, Mackesy Produces Superb Debut Campaign for PLL’s Cannons
Coulter Mackesy grew up idolizing Tewaaraton Award winners and professional lacrosse players. He never expected to be one when he came to Princeton University.
“Throughout my whole career, I’ve definitely — whether it’s good or bad – underestimated myself,” said Mackesy. Mackesy always had confidence, but his focus was singularly on helping the Princeton men’s lacrosse team any way he could for the past four years. After a record-setting career for the Tigers, Mackesy was one of five 2025 Tewaaraton men’s finalists, which is given to the college player of the year, and started his career in the Professional Lacrosse League (PLL) with the Boston Cannons, who selected him fourth overall.
“I honestly never thought that I would be in that position and the position I am today,” said Mackesy. “I think not really chasing that goal also helped me achieve it in some way and just putting my head down and working hard and trying to be the best player and teammate at Princeton and in high school I could be, I think helped me get to that point and obviously the coaching staff and different teammates I’ve had, I couldn’t have made it without them too.”
The 5 ’ 10, 185-pound Mackesy has always been quite the athlete. He was highly touted out of Brunswick School in Connecticut as a left-handed scorer, but he’d also been a key cog for Brunswick’s national No. 1 boys squash team. Squash took a back burner to lacrosse and lacrosse has become a career for Mackesy, who fit in well with the Cannons. His 15 goals and five assists in his rookie season ranked him in the top 30 for points in the league.
“It’s been a ton of fun,” said Mackesy. “Obviously coming off a great season and career at Princeton, it was a tough end there, but being able to just jump right into playing with the Cannons and being with the new locker room has been awesome and I’m super grateful for how my teammates have treated me so far.”
Mackesy graduated after leading the Tigers to a 13-4 record and the NCAA quarterfinals this spring where they lost 19-18 to Syracuse. He scored a program-record 167 career goals — including a single-season record 55 in 2023. His 248 career points rank second all-time. He didn’t have much time before he was into his first PLL game.
“Right after the season ended was definitely a little bit overwhelming just having graduation and training camp and wanting to spend time with all my teammates at Princeton and all my guys there,” said Mackesy. “It’s definitely a quick turnaround and I had to close that chapter so quickly, but I’ve really enjoyed it and my body feels pretty good. Obviously not having five practices a week and being in school and stuff
like that, it’s been a fun adjustment so I can really just focus on getting better and getting healthy every week.”
Mackesy didn’t score in his first PLL game. He has scored in every game since then, including a pair of goals in a crucial 13-10 win over the Philadelphia Waterdogs on August 1 that helped Boston’s playoff chances. It was the first time that he and fellow lefty Will Manny started together, and the combination seemed to help spark the offense.
“Coming off of a threegame losing streak and having our backs against the wall definitely gave us some extra motivation there,” said Mackesy. “But I think where we fell short in the past few games was just lack of discipline and kind of beating ourselves, a lot of mistakes that cost us the game, but nothing where teams were beating us. I think it was more we were beating ourselves and I think you saw that on Friday night where we corrected a lot of those mistakes and we were able to dictate the game throughout the whole 48 minutes.”
The final regular season action was hosted last weekend by Boston, and the hosts suffered a gut-wrenching 18-17 loss to the California Redwoods on Friday despite a career-best four goals from Mackesy and then lost 15-9 in a do-or-die game to the Maryland Whipsnakes on Saturday to end their season 4-6 overall. Mackesy was hopeful that his first year at Boston could mirror some of the success he experienced in his first season at Princeton when the Tigers advanced all the way to the 2022 NCAA semis. Mackesy and the Cannons will be hungry to return to the playoffs when it gets into the 2026 season.
“Once you just get into the playoffs, it’s kind of anyone from there can win,” said Mackesy. “You never know what can happen.”
Mackesy never could have predicted all that he enjoyed as a player at Princeton. Setting the scoring record and being a Tewaaraton finalist and a Top-5 PLL draft pick were all affirmations that his dedication to lacrosse paid off. His mindset enabled him to become a professional player.
“Towards the end of my career, as it got more realistic, I kind of just kept it in the back of my mind, but never really made an effort to make that the priority,” said Mackesy. “It was always Princeton and always trying to maximize my four years there because it goes by so fast. But I think towards the end of my career it was a cool opportunity to experience the draft with my teammates, especially with the guys I’ve been playing with for four years and at the program that I love so much. It was definitely an exciting moment to hear my name being picked.”
Mackesy has since taken to adjusting to the PLL. It’s faster paced with a faster shot clock than the college game. (52 seconds versus 80 seconds in college.) He’s
third in scoring on the team behind veterans Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman, and he singled out another veteran, former Princeton standout Alex Vardaro , with helping him adjust in his first season. The shot clock forces every player to be more aggressive and joining a new team also opened him to finding his role.
“I’m playing without the ball more, playing with guys like Matt Campbell, Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman and the rest of our midfield guys who are more ball dominant,” said Mackesy. “I’m trying to find a role where I can be effective to help the offense out more without the ball, which is a little bit of an adjustment coming from college where I had the ball on my stick a lot more than now. It’s been fun just realizing how talented everyone is on the offense and just trying to work as a group to get the best shot possible.”
Mackesy has jumped right in as a contributor, which has helped confirm that he can play at this level.
“I’ve always had confidence deep down and in my work ethic and who I am as an athlete, but I think everyone feels some sort of impostor syndrome throughout every step in their career,” said Mackesy. “I definitely felt that committing to Princeton, being at Princeton, being able to play, and then obviously being able to be at that Tewaaraton
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ceremony and now in the PLL. It’s always a bit of imposter syndrome and being that little kid and remembering all those days and hours of watching lacrosse and idolizing those older guys and now being in that position, it’s definitely an honor.”
Mackesy still has to pinch himself sometimes to realize he’s at the pinnacle of the sport professionally only a couple months after graduating from college. He’s playing among some of the best the game has ever seen, including Princeton products Michael Sowers ’20 and Tom Schreiber ’14.
“I still have some of that like fanboy in me every time I step into our locker room and being with guys like Marcus Holman and Will Manny, all these guys who’ve been in the league for so long and who are still super successful today,” said Mackesy. “It’s been incredible.”
Mackesy has poured his energy into his new job, but he’s also trying to share his love of the game on the business side. Outside of playing, he’s been coaching and started a stick stringing business — Tiga Strings — which features pockets patterned and named after Princeton players like Sowers, Nate Kabiri and
Mackesy himself. He’s also conducting clinics and camps.
“ We ’re doing just little things like that, just to give back to the next generation,” said Mackesy.
In Mackesy, young players have a great example of how far a player can go just by focusing on working hard and helping his team. He never imagined getting so much out of his four years at Princeton.
“It’s hard to pay it back in a way,” said Mackesy, “but I’ll just try to be the best fan and best alum I can be for those guys.”
—Justin Feil
BOSTON STRONG: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy, left, races past a Rutgers defender in action this spring during his final campaign with the Tigers. Mackesy, who set the Princeton career goals record with 167, went on to star this summer in his debut season with the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). He tallied 15 goals and five assists which ranked him in the top 30 in scoring in the PLL.
(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
PU Sports Roundup
Princeton Women’s Golfers
Make U.S. Amateur Round of 32 Princeton University golf stars Catherine Rao and Olivia Duan advanced to the Round of 32 last week at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship held at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore.
Rising senior Rao tied for fourth after 36 holes of stroke play, carding rounds of 70 (-2) and 67 (-5) to finish at 137 (-7) to qualify for match play. Rising sophomore Duan shot even par both days with matching 72s to slot in at 144 which was tied for 44th and also advanced her to match play.
State star Biermann 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final last Sunday.
PU Men’s Soccer’s Jasinski, Whitchurch Make United Soccer Coaches Watch List
Princeton University men’s soccer players Jack Jasinski and Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch were named to the United Soccer Coaches’ NCAA Division I Players to Watch List last week.
INC.
The honor comes as the two rising seniors return to Princeton for their final season after playing pivotal roles in the team’s success last year, which saw the Tigers go 12-7 on the way to winning the Ivy League Tournament.
Incoming 2025 captain Whitchurch was a cornerstone of the Tiger defense last year, starting all 19 matches for the Tigers while recording a squad-high 1,717 minutes. He also scored a goal in the Tigers’ season opener against Rutgers.
After helping the Tigers to a goals against average of 1.16, both defenders earned league honors. Whitchurch was named as a first-team All-Ivy performer while Jasinski was named as a second-team All-Ivy selection. Both Whitchurch and Jasinski were named to the Ivy All-Tournament team.
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In the Round of 64 last Wednesday, Rao edged Allison Paik in 24 holes while Duan posted a 4 and 2 win over Gianna Clemente. A day later in the Round of 32, Rao lost in 23 holes to Andie Smith and Duan fell in 22 holes to eventual runnerup Brooke Biermann. Megha Ganne, a native of Holmdel and a rising Stanford senior, topped former Michigan
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Jasinski and Whitchurch are two of 21 defenders selected in the watch list, which recognizes United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2024 who are set to return for the 2025 season.
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Last year, Jasinski tallied nine assists, putting him at third in the Princeton record book for most assists in a season. Three of those assists came during the Ivy League tournament, helping the third-seeded Tigers edge second-seeded Cornell 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals and then defeat top-seeded Penn 3-1 in the final.
Princeton kicks off its 2025 season when it hosts Rutgers on September 5. Princeton Rowers Shine at U-19 Worlds
Three incoming Princeton University freshman rowers earned gold medals at the Under-19 World Rowing Championships held in Trakai, Lithuania from August 6-10.
Lauren DuBois ’29 helped the U.S. women’s four take gold as the Americans edged runner-up Great Britain in the A final. The U.S. clocked a winning time of 7:09.61 over the 2,000-meter course with Great Britain coming in just behind at 7:10.20.
It was a second-half charge from DuBois and the Americans that led to gold as the U.S. boat trailed at the threequarters mark but were making gains heading into the final piece. In the last quarter. the United States overtook the British and held off an attempted comeback
“I am thrilled for Lauren and her teammates with the United States,” said
Princeton women’s open head coach Lori Dauphiny. “They showed tremendous grit and resilience over the course of the Championships and especially in the final. It was a fabulous display of rowing from all the crews, and the future is bright for the next generation of our sport.”
A pair of incoming men’s lightweight rowers took gold medals for Great Britain as Ed Galer ’29 rowed for its winning men’s four and Ivo Monaghan ’29 helped the men’s eight prevail.
In the men’s four, Galer helped Great Britain post a winning time of 6:21.19 in the A final with Italy taking second in 6:25.03. Another incoming Tiger rower, George Dolce ’29, competed for the U.S. boat that took fourth in the race in 6:29.87.
In the men’s eight, Monaghan and Great Britain clocked a time of 5:57.59 to top runner-up Czech Republic by more than three seconds (6:01.10).
“Ed and Ivo had outstanding Championships and it is awesome to watch them win
Get the scoop from gold,” said Princeton men’s lightweight head coach Matt Smith. “To watch Ed and his Great Britain team race against a fellow Tiger in George Dolce and the United States was a true testament to the quality of rowers Princeton has coming in from all over the world. All three of these young men are already leaders in their countries and I can’t wait to watch them grow when they get to Princeton later this month.”
SILVER LINING: Princeton University field hockey star Beth Yeager, right, controls the ball in a game last season. Earlier this month, rising senior midfielder Yeager helped the U.S. national team take the silver medal at the Pan American Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay. Yeager scored a team-high four goals in the tournament for the U.S., who lost 3-0 to Argentina in the gold medal game on August 3.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Heading into Senior Season for Lehigh Women’s Soccer, Former
PHS Standout Lis Primed for Memorable Finale
In the fall of 2021, Sophia Lis enjoyed a memorable senior season for the Princeton High girls’ soccer team, scoring a program-record 38 goals as the Tigers went 21-3 on the way to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state final.
Going on to join the Lehigh University women’s soccer team, Lis is looking to produce another special finale as she starts her senior season with the Mountain Hawks when they play at Maryland on August 14 in their 2025 opener.
“I am very excited for senior year, I definitely have more perspective going in from that experience of three years under my belt,” said 6’1 forward Lis, who has tallied six goals and five assists in 52 games so far in her Lehigh career. “I do have high hopes for my team this year; I think we can do great things.”
Although the Mountain Hawks are coming off a tough 3-9-5 season in 2024, Lis is confident the squad can get on the winning track this fall.
“Something that I love about the Patriot League is the fact that there is not a clear winner every year, you really have to work for your wins,” said Lis.
“You have to go into each one having the mentality that it is going to go your way and you are going to give it your all on the field. The Patriot League is definitely up in the air so we are going to give it our best shot this year.”
Getting on the field as a freshman in the fall of 2022 was an eye-opening experience for Lis.
“Naturally the first thing that comes to mind is the physical aspect of the game,” said Lis, reflecting on her debut campaign. “You go into your freshman year a little bit scrawny and you get thrown right into the swing of things. That is how you learn the best. You learn how to best position yourself on tackles and how to use your speed carefully so you are not wasting too much energy. But you are also being proactive, being able to help your team out where you can. Adjusting physically was a big thing for me. It was lifting more.”
Lis produced a big highlight when she scored her first college goal against Siena on September 8.
“I was so excited,” recalled Lis. “It was who do I hug first and all of the feelings. I can’t say that it has changed for any goal after that. It is always an exciting time.”
As Lis went through her freshman season, she was buoyed by her teammates.
“They were so supportive, no matter if I had a good game or a bad game,” said Lis. “At the end of the day, we were with each other the whole season; just building each other up and continuing to be positive to help me feel more comfortable and making me feel that I can have more of a positive impact. I really leaned on my team. I think that is what makes being part of a team so great. There are good and bad days. Whether you have a great goal or hit it right at the keeper, you support each other. They say brush it off, look forward to the next one, look at what you have done already so far. I think that positive communication goes a long way.”
Playing Princeton at Roberts Stadium that October was a positive experience.
“It was so great, friends and family were 100 percent there,” said Lis, whose older sisters, Taylor and Devon, were also PHS standouts and D-I college athletes with Taylor playing for the Cornell women’s lacrosse team and Devon competing for the Georgetown women’s soccer program. “Some of my old teammates from Princeton High were there, I think coach [Dave] Kosa was there. My extended family was there, my aunt and my cousins. Playing those games, you just have to look at them and smile at the experience that it is. You are playing in your home town and all you want to do is represent yourself and your team as best as possible and really just enjoy the experience and take it all in. Going to those stadiums is always an exciting time and something that I am so grateful for is that my teams play some of the teams that Taylor and Devon played.”
Heading into this fall, Lis is looking to bring the Lehigh team together.
“I think now going into my senior year, I am feeling like
I have seen a lot of things before,” said Lis. “I know how to best manage my time. My goal is to make everyone on the team feel as comfortable as possible so that we can play well and perform well together. I have grown a lot more in the role that I am playing, just feeling more confident in my voice and being a leader on the team.”
Over the summer, Lis did an internship for a bank in New York City and competed for the New York Athletic Club’s team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
“I feel like I really jibed with the coaches well,” said Lis, who has previously played for Real Central Jersey in the WPSL. “Living in the city, it would have been impossible to be able to make practices and games
with Real Central Jersey. But with this new team, every girl there is also a college athlete or used to be. They just love playing the game, it was getting to know each other on and off the field. I had a great experience this summer working with them. Playing in the city was also very cool, it is something I had been wanting to do for a while.”
The combination of playing for the NYAC squad and fitting in workouts had Lis in good condition as she looked ahead to starting preseason training with Lehigh on August 1.
“Practices were two times a week and then it was two games a weekend, one on Saturday and one Sunday,” said Lis. “I would usually run in the morning. There is also a nice lifting facility in my gym in my apartment that I am living in. There was definitely ways to keep in shape.”
Coming off the disappointing 2024 season, Lis and her teammates know they need to be in tip-top shape.
“Things that we took away was that fitness is something we really prioritized in the spring,” said Lis. “We really wanted focus on fitness so that we can use our time in August preparing for this coming season to be technical and focused on shooting well so we can come back from being a goal down or just get ahead early.”
In addition to focusing on fitness and honing technical skills, Lis believes Mountain Hawks need to apply a key lesson she learned from her PHS experience to produce a winning campaign.
“My goals for this year are to make sure that the team is as collaborative as possible,” said Lis. “Something that I took away from Princeton High and being a captain there was that teams tend to perform better when they
trust each other and when they are really bonding off the field. The players understand their purpose and the impact that they have on the team. I think we need to be setting that stage early on and using August to prepare us as much as possible just to give it our all. The season does fly by so quickly, by November we will be done. It is just working as hard as possible.”
—Bill Alden
SO GOOD: Sophia Lis boots the ball in a game last season during her junior campaign for the Lehigh University women’s soccer team. Former Princeton High standout Lis is primed for a big senior season for the Mountain Hawks who kick off their 2025 campaign by playing at Maryland on August 14. Forward Lis tallied six goals and five assists in 52 games over the first three years of her Lehigh career. (Photo provided courtesy of Lehigh Athletics)
After Excelling as a 3-Sport Athlete for Princeton High, Petrone Starting Career with FDU-Florham Football
Travis Petrone gave everything he had last fall in his final campaign for the Princeton High football team.
Petrone starred at quarterback for PHS, passing for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 190 yards and six TDs. When he wasn’t playing QB, Petrone came up big at defensive back, making 33 tackles and grabbing one interception.
“I started both ways, I never wanted to get off the field,” said Petrone, who helped the Tigers win four of their last five regular season games on the way to making their first trip to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) playoffs since 2014.
In reflecting on the program’s playoff breakthrough, Petrone pointed to a total team effort as a key factor.
“It was the dedication from all of the guys on the team and the bond of all of the captains to keep everybody going,” said Petrone, who scored the lone TD for PHS in a 69-6 quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Winslow that left the Tigers with a final record of 5-5. “We proved that PHS football is back. At practices, it was always locking in with all of the guys, listening to our coaches and then when it got to Friday night or Saturday morning putting it all out on the field.”
This week, Petrone will be taking the field for a new team as he starts preseason practice for the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Division III football program.
Having starred at basketball and baseball at PHS in addition to football, Petrone decided that he wanted to continue his athletic career in college.
“There was a thought that maybe I just go to a
school and put my head into the books have a little fun,” said Petrone. “I have been in sports for the past 10-12 years of my life and I couldn’t let it go. At the end of my junior year, I really thought that I might be able to take this thing to the next level and play the game that I love the most which is football.”
Playing three sports helped Petrone grow as a teammate. “I would say it definitely did help me; a lot of perseverance goes with playing quarterback,” said Petrone. “If you win a football game, the quarterback gets a lot of glory. If you lose, the quarterback gets the blame for it. You always have a leadership attitude through all of the sports with the captain mentality. It is not just strive for me to be better but for everybody else.”
Petrone and his fellow seniors strove to help get Tiger football back on the winning track.
“One of our coaches, Brandon Williams, came into PHS with my class when we were freshmen,” said Petrone. “He said he always had a feeling that our grade is going to be the grade that turns the wheel in the right direction. Just having a bond with those guys for the four years through practices, through weight room, the summer, we always remembered what our coaches tell us. It was all right guys, this is on us, we have to bring PHS back.”
That bond helped keep the squad focused as it overcame a shaky 1-3 start to make its playoff run.
“Football tied everyone together,” said Petrone. “When August rolls around, it is football, football, football, you have to click your mind. The summer is over and you have to focus on one thing if you want to be
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great. That is what we all had in common. We wanted to be great and prove to our school and all of the schools around the county that we mean business now and we are here to play.”
Throughout his football career, Petrone has enjoyed playing on both sides of the ball.
“As a young kid, I would play quarterback in flag football and I feel like I was always good with seeing the field,” said Petrone. “I also played defense and I always felt like I had a knack for the game to see the ball. “
Over the years, Petrone worked hard to improve his game at quarterback.
“My brother Jaxon was a quarterback and I watched him play his sophomore, junior and senior year,” said Petrone. “It seemed like what you really have to do is to put yourself out there as a quarterback to lead a team. From a technical standpoint, it is taking a snap, throwing the ball, throwing guys open, and throwing to where the guys are going to be. It was a lot of practice, working in the offseason strengthening my arm, strengthening my legs. It was strengthening what I could do with an O-line, learning what the right call is, what the right play is.”
As Petrone went through his recruiting process, he got a strong feeling that FDU-Florham was the best fit for him.
“I just really bonded with the guys when I visited in mid-March,” said Petrone, who also considered Moravian, The College of New Jersey, Ursinus, and Springfield College. “I thought it was great what they had going on. The coaches and players preach on it, not only are they building football players for the future from freshman to senior year, they are also building
good young men for the next 40 years, setting them up. I bonded with the guys a lot. I love what they had going on through the weight room and the football. The coaches were very outgoing in the process.”
This summer, the versatile Petrone juggled playing with the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team with training for his college football debut.
“We had three phases of our workout packet- in the weight room, on-field sprints and other conditioning,” said Petrone. “Legion could be back-to-back-to-back. I always tried to make time to go to the weight room.
I got a Y membership for the summer and I am always in there. I have put on some muscle.”
That added muscle will come in handy as the FDUFlorham coaches are looking at Petrone to play in the secondary.
“The whole recruiting process was though my defensive side,” said Petrone, who moved into school on August 12 and starts preseason camp on August 14. “I am playing safety. I am nervous but I am pretty pumped up and amped up for it.”
The example of Petrone’s older sister, Eva, a former multi-sport athlete for PHS who went on to become a
starter for the Fairfield University women’s lacrosse team, will help inspire him as he goes through the ups and downs of college sports.
Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of publication: 4438 Rte 27N. Kingston, Middlesex County, New Jersey 08528. Full Name and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher and Editor-in-Chief: Publisher, J. Robert Hillier, 4428C, Suite 2, Rte 27. Kingston, NJ 08528; Owners, J. Robert Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542; Mary Glazer, 2515 Boston Street, Unit 804, Baltimore, MD 21204; Julia Gonzalez-Lavin, 14770 Orchard Parkway, Unit 438, Westminster, CO 80023; Aurora Bearse, 3228 74th Avenue SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040; Jean Alison Peebles, 24 Markham Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; Michael J. Napoliello, 27 Richard Court, Princeton, NJ 08540. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees & other Security Holders owning more than one percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or securities: None.
Average Number of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 months: A) Total Number of Copies: 15,300; B) Paid and/or Requested Distribution: 1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 (Include Direct Written Request from Recipient, Telemarketing, and Internet Requests from Recipient, Paid Subscriptions including Nominal Rate Subscriptions, Employer Requests, Advertiser's Proof Copies, and Exchange Copies.): 337; 2) In County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 (Include Direct Written Request from Recipient, Telemarketing, and Internet Requests from Recipient, Paid Subscriptions including Nominal Rate Subscriptions, Employer Requests, Advertiser's Proof Copies, and Exchange Copies.): 4,203; 3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: 10,610; 4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 0; C) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 15,150; D) Non Requested Distribution by Mail and Outside the Mail: 1) Outside County Non Requested Copies as stated on PS Form 3541 (Include Sample Copies, Requests Over 3 Years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists and other Sources.): 0; 2) In County Non Requested Copies as stated on PS Form 3541 (include Sample Copies, Requests over 3 years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists, and other sources): 0; 3) Non Requested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail (e.g. First-Class Mail, Nonrequestor Copies Mailed in Excess of 10% Limit Mailed at Standard Mail or Package Service Rates): 0; 4) Non Requested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail (Include Pickup Stands, Trade Shows, Showrooms and Other Sources): 0; E) Total Non Requested Distribution: 0; F) Total Distribution: 15,150; G) Copies Not Distributed: 150; H) Total: 15,300; I) Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 100; Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: A) Total Number of Copies: 15,300; B) Paid and/or Requested Distribution: 1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 (Include Direct Written Request from Recipient, Telemarketing, and Internet Requests from Recipient, Paid Subscriptions including Nominal Rate Subscriptions, Employer Requests, Advertiser's Proof Copies, and Exchange Copies.): 337; 2) In County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 (Include Direct Written Request from Recipient, Telemarketing, and Internet Requests from Recipient, Paid Subscriptions including Nominal Rate Subscriptions, Employer Requests, Advertiser's Proof Copies, and Exchange Copies.): 4,203; 3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: 10,610; 4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes
Glass & Aluminum Co.
replace “FOGGY” Insulated Glass 741 Alexander Rd, Princeton • 924-2880
Local family owned business for over 40 years Wells Tree & Landscape, Inc 609-430-1195 Wellstree.com Taking care of Princeton’s trees
“She was at a whole other level than I am; I look up to her as an athlete and as a person,” said Petrone. “She had a lot of hardships in college but she fought through them all. Just seeing how she started her college career, she wasn’t the best but she kept grinding, kept fighting and finally pushed through. The coaches realized how much of a great athlete she was and what a great player she was. She finally got what she wanted, she was on the circle starting as a midfielder in D-I women’s lacrosse. Out of the five years she was there, she has four rings to show for it. She is not even playing any more and is still working out.”
Looking ahead to this fall, Petrone will be working hard to make an impact for the Devils.
“I was told when I went on one of my visits there that they graduated over 40 seniors this year,” said Petrone. “I want to make my parents proud and show them I am playing and you are going to be seeing me play a lot. As a freshman, I am not just going to be thrown in as a starter. I will be working out, getting bigger, getting stronger, getting faster, learning the game, and hopefully getting on the field.”
—Bill Alden
Tell them you saw their ad in
STAYING IN THE GAME: Travis Petrone gets ready to fire a pass last fall during his senior season for the Princeton High football team. Petrone, who also starred in basketball and baseball at PHS, is getting ready to play football at the next level for Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFlorham. He will be starting preseason camp this week for the Devils. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Former PDS Hoops Standout Reed Coming Home
To Host Event at Moody Park in Ewing on Aug. 19
Having initially honed his basketball skills on the courts in nearby Ewing, Davon Reed went to star at the Princeton Day School and the University of Miami, play in the NBA, and compete for Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On August 19, Reed will be coming home as “Davon Reed Day” is being held at Moody Park in Ewing from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is being hosted by the Right “Reed” Podcast.
In 2017, Ewing Township declared that Reed would be feted every August 19. This is the first celebration stemming from that pronouncement.
The event, which is free of charge, is geared to children with the first 50 kids to receive backpacks. It will feature basketball, refreshments, prizes and entertainment. The hoops
focus will be on having fun, not instruction.
Reed, 30, who has previously run summer camps at PDS and Fisher School, has long been an inspiration to young players in the area.
During his career at PDS, star guard/forward Reed scored a program-record 2,102 points for the Panthers, becoming just the third high school player in Mercer County history to total 2,000 points.
Reed went on to play at the University of Miami in 2013, where he tallied 1,343 points for the Hurricanes over the next four years.
Following his stellar college career, Reed was chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.
The 6’6, 220-pound Reed played one season for the
Suns and then saw action with the Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers. He has made a total of 122 NBA appearances, averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds a game.
Last summer, Reed averaged 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game off the bench in the FIBA (International Basketball Association) qualifying tournament as Puerto Rico earned its first appearance in the Olympic men’s basketball tournament since 2004. The squad went on to go 0-3 in Group C action in Paris.
After the Olympics, Reed played in the NBA G League for Mexico City Capitanes (independent) and the Birmingham Squadron (New Orleans Pelicans affiliate) as he looks to work his way back into the league.
—Bill Alden
Local Sports
Hun’s Kraemer Brothers Help Great Britain Win Euro U-23 Former Hun School baseball standouts Jackson Kraemer ’22 and Will Kraemer ’25 helped Great Britain win the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-23 Euro Baseball 2025 championships in Trebic, Czech Republic.
redshirt junior outfielder-
pitcher for the University of Richmond baseball program hit .267 with four RBIs while younger brother, infielder Will, who is starting his freshman season for Pepperdine University, batted .222.
Great Britain went 2-1 in Group B play at the tournament and then defeated the Netherlands 7-4 in the semifinals last Friday before topping the Czech Republic 9-7 in the final on Saturday. Princeton Youth Soccer Accepting Registrations The newly-formed Princeton Youth Soccer
League (PYSL) for children in Grades K-5 is now taking registrations for its inaugural season this fall.
The PYSL season is slated to go from September 13 to November 15 with a coed K-1 division and divisions for Grades 2-3 and 4-5 with boys and girls being separate. The games will be on Saturdays with a practice component beforehand. To learn more about the league and to register, log onto princetonysl.com.
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DREAM TEAM: Members of the Princeton Silver Sluggers 12U travel baseball team are all smiles as they posed together at the Cooperstown Dreams Park baseball tournament. Competing in an event that featured 104 teams from across the country, Princeton went 4-1 in pool play to get seeded 24 for the single-elimination portion of the tourney. Princeton rallied from a 9-1 deficit to edge the Wayzata Walleyes (Minn.) 12-9 in the Round of 64 before falling 16-3 to the ninth-seeded Mass Hurricanes in the Round of 32 on August 3. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Jake Lutz, Ned Lord, Lee Lord, Grayson Pleasant, Rhys Fitzgerald, and Robby Conrad. In the back row, from left, are Thomas Calabrese, Conan Odell, Ewan Dunn, Emilio Azcona, Michael Shaver, and Luca Agosto. The team was coached by Brett Shaver, Eric Fitzgerald, and Kevin Lutz.
SPECIAL DAY: Davon Reed celebrates after he helped Puerto Rico defeat Lithuania 79-68 in the FIBA (International Basketball Association) Olympic Qualifying Tournament final in San Juan, Puerto Rico last July to secure the final spot in the men’s hoops tournament in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former Princeton Day School standout Reed, who starred at the University of Miami and played in the NBA before competing for Puerto Rico in the Olympics, will be hosting “Davon Reed Day” at Moody Park in Ewing on August 19. (Photo provided by Davon Reed)
Obituaries
tia and aphasia.
Born in Roslyn, New York, Robert was the son of the late Gilbert Malcolm Shull and Karen (Lunde) Shull. He spent his early years in Old Lyme, Connecticut, later moving to Bernardsville, New Jersey, and settling in Princeton in 1990 — a place he came to call home. Robert is survived by his sister, Dr. Susan Shull of Burlington, Vermont; his brother, Thomas Shull, and
sister-in-law Lorraine Shull of Arundel, U.K. He leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 30 years, Cynthia Dalton (McHenry) Shull; his daughters, Kristen Shull (Alex Melville) and Karen Shull; and his treasured granddaughter, Gwendolyn Melville. He is also lovingly remembered by his stepchildren, Tim Dalton (Angela Grenier) and Alison Mason (Thomas Mason), and his step-grandchildren: Lily Mason, McHenry Mason, Halsten Mason, Madison Dalton, Alexis Dalton, Timothy Dalton, Natalie Grenier, and a caring aide Isaac Otabil. Robert attended Morristown Prep (now Morristown-
Beard School), where he was a proud champion wrestler. He studied at Indiana University before launching a successful career in advertising on Madison Avenue, where he formed many lasting friendships. He was previously married to Emily Swartzentruber, mother of his daughters Karen and Kristen.
Later in life, Robert followed his entrepreneurial spirit and opened a record store, blending his love of music with his gift for connecting with people. A lifelong musician, he played bass guitar in several bands and sang bass in the St. Matthews Church Choir. His music brought joy and rhythm to every room he entered.
Robert met Cynthia at a church support group, and their bond blossomed into a loving partnership rooted in faith, family, and shared adventures. He retired in 2015 from Munich Re-Insurance in Plainsboro, where he worked in Information Technology.
Robert will be remembered for his humor, warmth, and compassion. He was quick with a joke, loved cooking for family and friends, and found peace at his shore house — listening to music, enjoying the ocean breeze, and spending time with his loyal dog, William. For over two decades, he was a devoted member of a Bible Study Group, and his greatest legacy remains the love he gave and the memories he created with those closest to him.
An active and dedicated member of the Princeton community, Robert volunteered with Friends of
Princeton Open Space, sang in the St. Matthews Episcopal Choir, and was a member of The Nassau Club. He served as Treasurer of the High Barbaree Association (Harvey Cedars, NJ), was a member of the Barnegat Light Yacht Club, enjoyed games with The Poker Gang, and shared his musical talents with the Hazbins Band.
A private graveside service was held at Princeton Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s memory to support the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Center. Checks can be sent to: Attn. FTD Center, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104, made payable to: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Please include “In Memory of Robert Shull.”
Ana Palacios Timoney
Ana Palacios Timoney, beloved wife of the late John H. Timoney, and mother of Maria Teresa (Tess), Francis, Mark, and Michael Timoney, died peacefully at home on July 28, 2025.
Born October 23, 1928 to Leonor and Maximo Palacios, Ana grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She attended San Antonio College before coming to New York City to live in Greenwich Village and study at NYU. Ana joined the United States Foreign Service and in 1958 was assigned to La Paz, Bolivia, where she met John. They married in La Paz and went on to live and raise their family in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, New York, the Midwest, and Berkeley, California before coming to Princeton in 1978 where she worked for Princeton University until she retired.
Peter L. Krasnoff, 61, en trepreneur, banking executive, pilot, beloved friend, and devoted father, died of natural causes at his home in Pennington, NJ, on July 10, 2025.
Born and raised in Princeton, Peter graduated from Princeton High School. He ventured westward for college, graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brother first, and an Economics major second. Not quite ready for the real world, Peter spent time pursuing his true love, flying, and worked as a flight instructor in South Carolina. A true Princetonian, Peter made his way back to the Princeton area, to start his career in banking, and where he lived the rest of his life.
Peter began his banking career as a management trainee, and was selected to attend the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, where he graduated with honors. He rose through the ranks to become Vice President at several banks over the years. Eventually his entrepreneurial spirit and independent streak led him to strike out on his own. He left the banking world to found Krasnoff Capital Management and the Krasnoff Domestic Growth Fund, which he managed successfully for almost 25 years. Peter also founded several small businesses, based on whichever of his brilliant ideas he could bring to life.
like brothers, their wives, and their children; and many close friends who were also his family. Peter is pre-deceased by his father and fellow pilot, Eugene L. Krasnoff and his mother and partner in revelry, Ann M. Kellogg.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County or Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Memorial service to be held August 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
Barbara
104, died Friday, August 1, 2025. Born in Princeton, NJ, she moved to Hampton in 1944 where she went to work at NACA/NASA as a Human Computer/Mathematician, retiring in 1980 after 36 years of service.
She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Hampton and had been a member of Grace Fellowship for the last 20 or so years. She was very active in both churches. Christ was everything to her and she gave much of her time in His service. She was very supportive of the Missions Ministry at Grace Fellowship, especially in Uganda where a Christian church and school had been built. She also supported the Wycliff biblical translations and had funded their disbursement. Barbara had always kept up with friends from her high school and college years and met regularly for lunch with the NASA Alumni Association. She had many friends from all the walks of life she traveled.
Along the way, Pete always found time for flying. Before he graduated from high school, he had earned his glider license and was racking up hours toward his private power single engine license. He went on to become an accomplished competition glider pilot, competing in contests across the country. He earned his glider instructor’s license and taught and mentored many new pilots. Pete delighted in giving glider rides to friends and family, to share the joy of soaring.
Preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Lena Weigel ,and her brother, Henry S. Weigel, she is survived by her nieces, Susan E. Troeger and Barbara Kelley; her nephew, Bruce E. Weigel; great-nephews, Grant and Andrew Troeger and Travis Weigel; and cousins, Michael Clohessey, Barbara Weigel Monk, Dorinda Weigel Davidson, Jay Weigel, and Eileen Weigel Kreiling.
pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
Ana was widely traveled, widely read, resolute, and elegant. Despite so many destinations, she maintained friendships made along the way. Ana and John frequently hosted extraordinary gatherings for family, friends, and colleagues from around the world. Their home, decorated with beautiful art collected throughout their travels, was a place where people felt welcomed and engaged.
pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
Visitation will be on Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ, immediately followed by a funeral service. Miss Weigel will be buried with her parents in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We encourage
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
Ana was an exceptionally loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was happiest surrounded by her family. In addition to her children and their spouses, she is survived by her 10 grandchildren and great-grandson, as well as her sister Carmen Underwood. She is predeceased by her sister Antonia Peets. She will be remembered for her unfailing grace and generosity.
Pete’s outgoing nature allowed him to gather a community of cherished friends around him, from every corner of his life, old friends and new — those who knew him as “Kraz” and those who met him later on — anyone who appreciated his wacky sense of humor, creative pranks, left-handed intelligence, and entertaining storytelling. Pete loved to throw a good party, big or small, not just for the fun of it, but for the love of his family and friends.
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
ITS EASIER
The Funeral Mass will be held on August 14, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Princeton.
An exceptionally devoted father, Pete spent as much time as he could with his daughter Anya. She was his life.
Memorials may be made to the Grace Fellowship Church Mission Fund, 609 Aberdeen Road, Hampton, VA 23661, Attn: Peggy Davis. In the memo line please specify that it’s for the Ugandan Mission church and school.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
Arrangements are under the direction of the MatherHodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
He is survived by his beloved daughter Anya; sister Stephanie, brotherin-law Moise, and niece Carly; cousins who were
Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimble FuneralHome.com.
Barbara Lena Weigel
Lena Weigel,
Dr. Salah S. El-Shakhs, Ph.D.
Dr. Salah S. El-Shakhs, Ph.D., 90, of Princeton, New Jersey; Wellfleet, Massachusetts; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, died after a brief illness on July 17, 2025, in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. He was buried the next day at The Princeton Cemetery following prayers at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey. A Celebration of Life is being planned for later this year.
Salah is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Judy Page Coghlin El-Shakhs, and their three children: Tamer, Hisham (Jennifer), and Muna (David), as well as four cherished grandchildren: Benen, Malek, Galena, and Billy. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews around the world, and countless friends who will miss him dearly.
Born on February 23, 1935, in Shirbin, Egypt, Salah was the youngest of four children. With two older brothers Abdel Rahman and Abdel Monem, and an older sister Nafeesa. With the encouragement of his eldest brother Abdel Rahman who became a teacher, he
pursued education with passion. He earned a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Cairo University in 1956, then came to the U.S. on a scholarship to Harvard, where he completed a Master’s in City Planning in 1961 and a Ph.D. in 1965. While in Boston, he met Judy, whom he married in Cairo in 1966.
The couple began their life together in Egypt, where Salah was Director of LongRange Planning for Greater Cairo and served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Housing Strategies. Their sons Tamer and Hisham were born during this time. In 1969, the family returned to the U.S., settling in Princeton, where their daughter Muna was born and Salah began a long and distinguished career at Rutgers University.
At Rutgers, Salah became a professor of urban planning and the founding director of the School of Urban and Regional Policy (a predecessor to the Bloustein School). He also chaired Urban Studies and directed the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies. He received the university’s Presidential Award for Distinguished Public Service and retired in 2005.
Salah’s work as a planner, scholar, and consultant had global reach. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Egypt and presented research at leading institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America. He consulted for organizations including the UN, US AID, and Dar Al Handassah, and contributed to city planning projects in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.
His writings explored urban development in the Muslim world, systems of cities, and modernization in developing nations.
Among his most treasured roles was mentoring international students through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, which he coordinated at Rutgers from 1995 to 2005. The Fellows — mid-career professionals from around the world — were welcomed into his home and heart. He postponed retirement more than once to remain involved and maintained lifelong friendships with many of them.
Despite his many professional achievements, Salah was, above all, a devoted husband, father, and friend. He embraced life with joy — traveling, dancing, laughing, and sharing good food. His love of the ocean drew him to Wellfleet, where summer days were spent at Newcomb Hollow Beach, and to Fort Lauderdale, where winters brought sun, surf, and gatherings with friends. A photo he took of Newcomb Hollow was once featured on the cover of Wellfleet Magazine, and he continued boogie boarding well into his 80s. Even in retirement, Salah never slowed down. He worked out daily, danced at every opportunity — from country line dancing in New Jersey to salsa in Florida — and kept a full calendar of visits with friends and family. He and Judy hosted
summer and winter gatherings, never missing a chance to celebrate life and loved ones.
When asked about future living arrangements after his 90th birthday, Salah laughed off the idea of slowing down, saying, “I’m in the prime of my life!” Even as illness came suddenly, he reflected with gratitude: “I’ve had a wonderful life and done everything I wanted to do.”
He leaves behind not only an impressive legacy of scholarship and service, but also a model of generosity, curiosity, and joy. His greatest accomplishments were rooted in his love — for Judy, for his children and grandchildren, and for a life fully lived.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Salah’s honor to Islamic Relief USA or to the Islamic Society of Central Jersey.
Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com. www.towntopics.com
DIRECTORY
am: Holy Communion Rite I 10:00 am: Holy Communion Rite II
Mercer St. Princeton • 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org
Town Topics CLASSIFIEDS
YARD SALE +
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!
Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf
HOUSECLEANING: Experienced, English-speaking, great references, reliable with own transportation. Weekly & bi-weekly cleaning. Green cleaning available. Call Susan at (732) 873-3168. 09-24
HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860. tf
JOE’S LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON Property Maintenance and Specialty Jobs Commercial/Residential Over 45 Years of Experience
Text (only): (609) 356-9201 Office: (609) 216-7936 Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500
HOUSE FOR RENT
Recently restored house for rent on Leigh Ave, close to Witherspoon. A lovely front porch and backyard. Two full bathrooms, one upstairs and the second downstairs. Two bedrooms upstairs, with a smaller room ideal for a study.
Downstairs: a kitchen with a dishwasher, living room, separate dining room, in the basement a washer and dryer
Available August 31st for a year’s lease with options for further years. Please call: (609) 439-3166 $3100 per month.
08-13
BIG MOVING/ESTATE SALE
(Rocky Hill, minutes from Princeton) Friday 8/15 and Saturday 8/16 Rain or shine
8:30 am-4 pm (no early admittance)
House is under contract and all contents must go...a great variety, worth stopping by! Vintage/antiques, furniture, art, home décor and misc. household/kitchen items, holiday, books, tools/ hardware, garden/outdoor/recreation misc., clothing/accessories.
All sales CASH only, will have a FREE pile too!
303 Knoll Way - turn off Route 518 onto Young Dr. and follow signs –parking on the street only, not in other resident spots! No public bathrooms or help loading will be available. Bring totes/boxes to pack up your treasures.
08-13
I BUY ALL KINDS of Old or Pretty Things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 921-7469. 08-06-26
BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & fine jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613. tf
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!
Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go!
We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:
I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. tf
WE BUY CARS
Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131
Ask for Chris tf
PRINCETON TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT: In Griggs Farm development, Princeton Township. End unit, 3 BR, 2.5 baths, hardwood on 1st floor, fireplace, 2 parking spaces. $3,100/mo. (609) 577-5875 or ktpropertyrentals@gmail.com.
08-20
WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?
A Gift Subscription!
Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!
Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf
HOUSECLEANING: Experienced, English-speaking, great references, reliable with own transportation. Weekly & bi-weekly cleaning. Green cleaning available. Call Susan at (732) 873-3168. 09-24
HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT PART-TIME
Small Princeton law office seeks experienced Administrative Assistant for part-time work. Competitive salary. Flexible hours and schedule. Computer proficiency including Word and Gmail required. Spanish and legal experience helpful, but not required. Responsibilities include calendar management, light bookkeeping, preparation of documents. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail are essential. Contact (609) 683-0065. 08-27
watches, coins, diamonds, jewelry, silver, paintings, musical instruments, etc. All items wanted. Certified appraiser and buyer. Highest prices paid. 40 years experience. Call Tom at The Time Traveler Antiques: (609) 577-4659. 08-06-26
Recently
HOUSE FOR RENT
separate dining room, in the basement a washer and dryer
Available August 31st for a year’s lease with options for further years. Please call: (609) 439-3166 $3100 per month. 08-13
New Jersey Mansion Tax Shift Puts Burden on Sellers
As of July 10, 2025, New Jersey ’s Mansion Tax has been overhauled, shifting the responsibility from buyers to sellers and introducing a tiered structure based on the property ’s full sale price. Previously, buyers paid a flat 1% supplemental realty transfer fee on homes priced over $1 million. Now, sellers will pay 1% on homes between $1 million and $2 million, 2% for sales between $2 million and $2.5 million, 2.5% for $2.5 million to $3 million, 3% for $3 million to $3.5 million, and 3.5% for properties sold above $3.5 million. This is in addition to the existing realty transfer fee, which remains unchanged.
To ease the transition, contracts fully executed before July 10 and recorded by November 15, 2025, may qualify for a refund of any tax paid above 1%, provided the seller submits a claim within the required 90 to 365 day window. These changes mark a significant increase in closing costs for luxury home sellers while reducing upfront taxes for buyers.
26 WELLINGTON COURT
BELLE MEAD NJ 08502
BD 5 | BA 5.5 | Price Upon Request
ROAD, SKILLMAN
impressive 5000 square foot expanded colonial (2010) emanates all the comforts and conveniences of upscale suburban lifestyle. A perfect floor plan for modern living and the multigenerational household. exceptional home boasts numerous updates, a first floor bedroom with full bath, home office, finished basement with an egress window, and a beautiful rear yard with an inviting in-ground pool.
curb appeal to its thoughtfully designed layout, this five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath residence blends everyday comfort with polished sophistication. A paver stone driveway and walkway guide you to the front door, surrounded by beautifully landscaped and hardscaped grounds. Inside, hardwood floors and detailed moldings set the tone for a home that feels both timeless and fresh. Sunlight pours through the windows, amplified by a soft neutral palette that flows throughout. The main level offers the flexibility and function today’s lifestyle demands, including a first-floor guest suite with en suite bath and double door entry--perfect for multigenerational living or weekend guests. Entertaining is effortless with a graceful open concept living and dining area, while daily living centers around the inviting kitchen and two-story family room. The kitchen shines with granite counters, stainless steel appliances including double wall ovens, a center island with seating, and a sunny breakfast area that opens to an expansive paver patio. Out back, enjoy al fresco dining, lounging, or entertaining in a private yard lined with mature trees. The family room impresses with soaring ceiling, a gas fireplace framed by archtop windows, and a second staircase leading to the upper level. Upstairs, the primary suite is a true retreat, complete with a tray ceiling, sitting area, and an oversized walk-in closet. The luxurious en suite bath features a soaking tub set within a bay window, separate shower, water closet, and dual sink vanity. Three additional bedrooms include a Jack-and-Jill suite and a fourth bedroom with easy access to a hall bath. Need even more space? The finished basement delivers--with room for a rec area, home gym, playroom or office with a full bath for added convenience. Located in the top-rated Montgomery Township School District and just moments from schools, parks and community tennis and pickleball courts, this home combines location, lifestyle, and livability in one exceptional package. $1,548,000
26
26 WOODLAND DRIVE, PLAINSBORO
WELLINGTON COURT
BELLE MEAD NJ 08502
donna.murray@foxroach.com donnamurrayrealestate.com 6/16/23 10:40 AM
Tucked within the Estates at Plainsboro, 26 Woodland Drive offers a refined blend of elegance, comfort, and convenience--just moments from Plainsboro Community Park and the scenic Preserve. With a beautifully landscaped exterior, three-car side-entry garage, and an expansive tiered patio in a large yard bordered by mature trees, this home is as impressive outside as it is within. Step into the grand foyer, where gleaming hardwood floors and a sweeping floating staircase set a striking first impression. Flanked by formal living and dining rooms, the entry creates a generous, open layout ideal for entertaining. Archtop windows, crown and picture frame molding, and stylish ceiling pendants add depth and character. A step down leads to the stunning two-story family room, anchored by a gas fireplace nestled within a wall of windows. Custom built-in cabinetry keeps everything from books to board games neatly tucked away, while a knee wall creates a natural flow into the sunny breakfast area and kitchen. Designed for both beauty and function, the kitchen features granite countertops, rich cherry cabinetry, a center island, stainless steel appliances including a double oven, and a spacious walk-in pantry. Sliding glass doors open to the patio for effortless al fresco dining. Also on the main level is a vaulted-ceiling conservatory--perfect for morning coffee or afternoon reading--a private home office with built-in bookcases, and a laundry room with a utility sink. A convenient back staircase connects the kitchen to the second floor. Upstairs, the hallway overlooks both the foyer and family room, bringing in abundant natural light from the second story windows in both of those rooms. The primary suite is a true retreat, with double-door entry, a sitting area, tray ceiling with recessed lighting, and a large walk-in closet. The spa-like bath features dual vanities at opposite ends of the room, a soaking tub at center stage, a separate shower, and a private water closet. The upper level also includes a second en suite bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill suite--providing comfort and privacy for everyone. The full basement offers plenty of space for storage or the opportunity to finish and customize to suit your lifestyle, as a rec room, gym, or home theater. Whether hosting friends on the patio or enjoying a quiet evening by the fireplace, 26 Woodland Drive offers the space, style, and setting to live beautifully--within the top-rated West Windsor Plainsboro School District. $1,798,000
BD 5 | BA 5.5 | Price Upon Request
This impressive 5000 square foot expanded colonial (2010) emanates all the comforts and conveniences of today’s upscale suburban lifestyle. A perfect floor plan for modern living and the multigenerational household. This exceptional home boasts numerous updates, a first floor bedroom with full bath, home office, finished basement
