Town Topics Newspaper, July 2, 2025 by Witherspoon Media Group

PPPL Unveils New Device To Help “Unravel Mysteries Of the Universe” . . . . 5

NJTL of Trenton Celebrates Five Decades 10

Library Grant Enhances Resources For Voices of Princeton . .

“Chaplinesque” — Art And Life in Rohmer’s Paris 14

PU Summer Chamber

Concerts Presents String Quartet . . . . 15

Coming Off a Banner

Season for PU Women’s Golf, Rao Primed for U S Women’s Amateur Tournament 23

Princeton Little League Battles Hard to Final

Affordable Housing Plan Gets Official Approval And Positive Feedback

As expected, Princeton Council officially adopted the comprehensive affordable housing plan that details out how the town will fulfill its state-mandated obligations over the next 10 years. Council’s adoption, at a special meeting on Thursday, June 26, came a day after the Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the plan.

The Fourth Round Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan calls for 249 units, spread across 13 sites in the former Borough and Township. They vary in size from 19 units, proposed for The Jewish Center at 435 Nassau Street, to 191 units at the Niksun office complex, located at 457 Harrison Street.

Three properties — at the former Chestnut Street Firehouse, former Harrison Street Firehouse, and 303 John Street (across multiple buildings) are 100 percent affordable and will be built and managed by Princeton Community Housing. The other sites are mixed-income developments with 20 percent affordable mixed with market rate units.

While some of the people who spoke during the public comment portion of the Planning Board meeting offered a few suggestions and concerns, each of them praised the plan and thanked those responsible for putting it together. Among them was Dana Molina of Laurel Road (and vice chair of Housing Initiatives of Princeton), who was concerned about traffic, especially at the intersection of Laurel and Mount Lucas roads where her daughter was recently hit by a car at the crosswalk.

Planning Director Justin Lesko assured Molina that a full site plan review will be undertaken, and a traffic engineer will be involved. Molina also asked if the community will be included in development of the designs. Lesko said that the plans will be available at public meeting of the Planning Board.

Chris Sturm of Riverside Avenue said the plan “strikes a great balance between 100 percent affordable and inclusionary projects,” and that while she was happy to see that there are some opportunities for ownership [in addition to rental] of the units, she would like to see more, concluding, “This plan continues Princeton’s historic legacy of being a diverse and inclusive place to live.”

Jane Scott of Battle Road commented

Municipality Makes Vision Zero Official

Three years after passing a resolution to make Princeton part of the global movement known as Vision Zero, Princeton Council has officially launched its Vision Zero initiative.

The goal is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on local roadways through improved street design, public education, enforcement, and post-crash response — in short, prioritizing people over cars.

“While we have very few incidents of death and serious injury, the Vision Zero framework is right for Princeton because it helps us understand where we have problems and where we should focus our resources to solve them using a safe systems approach,” Councilman David Cohen said in a press release from the municipality.

In addition to serving on the Vision Zero Task Force, Cohen got special insight into the issue when he attended Smart

Growth America’s Complete Streets Champions Institute earlier this year. The program helps local officials from across the country define, design, build, and evaluate Complete Streets in their communities (Complete Streets are “streets for everyone, designed to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders,” according to Smart Growth America).

“It was really worthwhile,” Cohen said this week. “The quality of the other participants, who were from all over the country, was really top-notch.”

While the launch of Vison Zero is significant for Princeton, efforts to make streets safer have already been underway by the town and by Princeton University.

“The Engineering Department has been really ramping up efforts for roadway improvements in the past few years,” Cohen said. “The Harrison Street corridor is one example. And a study of the Wiggins

HEAVY RESCUE: Princeton First Aid & Squad held its annual Community Open House on Sunday. The event gave attendees the opportunity to meet EMTs and rescue technicians, enjoy ice cream and music, and see ambulances and emergency equipment up close.

But the launch of Vision Zero gives the initiative an official stamp. Among the elements is a Vision Zero Motorist Pledge, which encourages residents to commit to safe driving behaviors such as staying within speed limits and avoiding distractions. Those who take the pledge get a Vision Zero magnet for their vehicles to help spread the word.

The Vision Zero concept was introduced in Sweden in 1997. In 2017, the Vision Zero Network launched its Vision Zero Focus Cities program in the U.S. to encourage collaboration among leaders with a goal of zero traffic deaths. Starting with big cities such as Chicago, New York, and Boston, the idea gained traction across the country to include numerous others.

Readings, Fireworks, Old-Fashioned Fun, And More Mark July 4

Although this July 4, 2025 is just a year shy of the nation’s upcoming 250th megastar Semiquincentennial, this year doesn’t lack for celebrations and meaningful events. Marking the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, are municipal parades and fireworks, at least four readings of the foundational Declaration of Independence (including where it was originally read on the date and time), and two readings of Frederick Douglass’ powerful address: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Fireworks span more than a week, from some earlier events, to Thursday, July 3 (Ewing), to as far out as July 11 (New Hope, Pa.).

Celebrating in Mercer County and environs may be particularly meaningful as the Battles of Trenton and Princeton were crucial to the outcome of the Revolutionary War, and George Washington and his troops crossed through the area.

In 1783, Morven, which had been the home of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton, hosted Congressional delegates celebrating Independence Day when the Continental Congress met in Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden continues this tradition, using its role as the home of a signer of the Street corridor is being done right now, to do the first improvements from Harrison Street to Walnut Lane. So in terms of the Engineering Department, this is not a big shift.”

on Page 9

(Photo by Sarah Teo)

Young Princetonians Town Topics

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In the heart of downtown Princeton, this three-story brick contemporary townhouse offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a two-car garage, on a private street. Created for a true lover of literature, the home is lined with custom floor-to-ceiling bookcases in nearly every room. Renowned architect Robert Hillier envisioned the space for both comfort and entertaining, with hardwood floors and oversized windows that flood the interior with natural light. $1,295,000

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Mercer County Unveils Community Outreach Van

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and Mercer County Board of Social Services (MCBOSS) Director Jeff Mascoll recently announced the launch of a new Community Outreach Van aimed at expanding access to vital county services.

The van will travel to neighborhoods across Mercer County, bringing MCBOSS resources directly to residents — particularly those who face barriers to transportation.

“Transportation remains one of the biggest challenges

and

for many Americans — not only in accessing services, but also employment, healthcare, and childcare,” said Benson. “By bringing our services directly into communities — whether it’s at a local library, community center, house of worship, food pantry, or school — we’re breaking down barriers and meeting people where they are. This initiative opens the door for residents who may not otherwise engage with us to learn how we can support them.”

MCBOSS Director Jeff Mascoll emphasized the importance of outreach in

raising awareness and ensuring accessibility.

“The Board of Social Services provides essential support in areas such as food assistance, financial aid, employment services, and more,” he said. “But too often, people simply have difficulty connecting with us. This outreach van gives us the opportunity to connect with individuals and families in their own communities— and ultimately improve their quality of life.”

The Community Outreach Van will begin operations this summer, with a rotating schedule of stops throughout Mercer County.

Leighton Listens : 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 July 2 at the Witherspoon Street bus stop in front of the playground at the Avalon Bay apartments. On July 9 under the trees on Nassau Street across from South Tulane Street. On July 16 at the inside area of the clock tower at Princeton Shopping Center. On July 23 at DeAngelo Italian Market, 35 Spring Street. On July 30 on the steps of Princeton University Chapel, enter on Nassau Street across from South Tulane Street.

Pool Reminder : Community Park Pool is now open daily through Labor Day (September 1). Public swim hours are 12-8 p.m. weekdays, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends. Registration remains open for all membership options (resident and non-resident). Visit princetonnj.gov.

Paving on Rosedale Road : Milling and paving on Rosedale Road between Province Line and Elm roads is underway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and should last for up to three weeks. Local traffic will be accommodated but delays should be anticipated; use alternate routes. Call (609) 530-7500 ext. 130 for more information.

Food Pantry: 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.

Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library” : Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.

BRINGING

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, center, is

Mercer County

Trenton officials at the ribbon-cutting of the new Social Services’ Outreach Van.

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FLARE IS LAUNCHED: Notables from the Princeton Plasma

the U.S. Department of Energy, and Princeton University

celebration for FLARE, PPPL’s new facility. PPPL

scissors aloft at center.

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Plasma Physics Lab Unveils New Device To Help “Unravel Mysteries of the Universe”

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Providing capabilities found nowhere else in the world as it probes the physics behind magnetic reconnection, the Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments (FLARE) is up and running at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

Twelve feet long, nine

feet in diameter, and weighing more than 10 tons, FLARE will help scientists at PPPL’s Forrestal Campus and around the world study what happens during magnetic reconnection, when magnetic field lines approach each other, snap apart, and then reattach in new configurations.

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Described in a PPPL press release as “the next generation of research into fundamental plasma physics, FLARE will allow researchers to expand understanding of atmospheric disturbances that could damage satellites and power grids, and shed light on solar flares, the aurora borealis, and fusion plasma behavior.

“FLARE is a new research platform with capabilities that scientists have not had access to before,” said FLARE’s principal investigator Hantao Ji, who is a distinguished research fellow at PPPL and a professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University. “It will provide information about magnetic reconnection that spacecraft, computer simulations, and other laboratory experiments cannot provide. It’s a new way of doing research that goes beyond what is currently available.”

PPPL Director Steve Cowley expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility, as more than 50 people, including officials from DOE, Princeton University, and PPPL, gathered for the June 12 ribbon-cutting. “This is the day when we deliver FLARE to the world,” he said. “We have fulfilled our promise to design and build this one-of-a-kind device and offer it to the scientific community. I expect FLARE to produce important insights for plasma science in the coming years, and I just can’t wait.”

Ji went on to explain, “When it comes to magnetic reconnection, the conditions in FLARE match those in outer space more closely than any other device on Earth. Improving our understanding of magnetic reconnection can help predict related phenomena, such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, to better protect satellites and electric grids, and the energy released by reconnection can be used

to heat plasma for fusion purposes.”

FLARE is a DOE Office of Science Collaborative Research Facility, meaning that researchers from other institutions can request time on the machine to conduct their own experiments. Scientists from around the world can submit a research proposal and work with PPPL scientists, fostering long-term collaborations.

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

The PPPL press release pointed out, “FLARE can

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Continued from Preceding Page store and unleash a prodigious amount of energy,” allowing it to gather information that even spacecraft cannot provide. It is also more accurate than high-powered computer simulations.

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

He continued, “There is no way we can reproduce the full range of astrophysical conditions under which magnetic reconnection occurs without creating another universe. But the beauty of physics is that you don’t have to.” FLARE will allow scientists to explore the universe without leaving the lab.

DOE Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences Jean Paul Allain emphasized the importance of national laboratories like the PPPL and initiatives like FLARE. “Labs like PPPL can take big risks to build infrastructure that answers big questions,” he said. “FLARE is a perfect example.”

New Innovation Center

PPPL has also announced that it will be partnering with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the venture capital firm SOSV to create a new Strategic Innovation Center to advance plasma technologies with an eye toward commercial applications.

“Promoting industry collaboration and bringing new technologies to market,” according to a PPPL press release, the Center, NJ HAX Plasma Forge, will help launch and develop startups focused on plasma technology.

“PPPL brings world-class talent and capabilities and is uniquely positioned to drive innovation in the state and the nation,” said Cowley. “Partnering with SOSV and NJEDA will expand our scientific footprint, enabling our expertise to drive economic development and advance new technologies. This is an exciting new chapter for the Laboratory.”

The NJ HAX Plasma Forge innovation center will be located close to PPPL and will contain approximately 10,000 square feet of lab and co-working space.

NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative and the Importance of New Jersey as an innovation leader. “With the support of the NJEDA’s Strategic innovation Center initiative, entrepreneurs will be able to harness transformative advances in plasma research to create businesses that drive this exciting industry forward and further the state’s ambitious clean energy and energy resiliency goals,” he said.

—Donald Gilpin

A forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.

Question of the Week:

“What was your favorite part of the event today?”

(Asked Sunday afternoon at the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad Open House) (Photos by Sarah

Teo)

“I liked a lot. I liked the ambulance and the ice cream and the boat. And the 9-1-1 thing. You just press the dial and the phone asks you questions.”

—Alice Weber, Princeton

“My uncle works here, three 12s a week. My favorite vehicle is the Heavy Rescue truck.”

—Chris Michael, Cherry Hill

Annie: “I liked going inside the ambulance. There was a special seatbelt.”

Evan: “I liked the High Water and Storm Rescue vehicle — it’s very big and spacious.”

—Annie and Evan Yuh, Princeton

“The ice cream, obviously. I’m looking forward to going in the vehicles.”

—Rushav Kataki, Princeton

In Princeton, the initiative has informed key municipal planning decisions including the Mobility Element of the Master Plan, “which emphasizes a street design hierarchy that prioritizes walking biking, and transit over single-occupancy vehicles,” reads the press release. “Infrastructure improvements already completed — such as those on Witherspoon Street and Terhune Road — reflect Vision Zero principles, incorporating lower speed limits, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, narrowed travel lanes, and restored tree canopies.”

Cohen hopes to bring to Princeton some of the ideas and concepts he learned during the Champions Institute. Among those he remembers best was one that was focused on a bike share and scooter share program — something that has yet to take root in town and on campus. The expert on the topic was a woman who was in charge of its rollout in Washington, D.C., and is currently doing it in Pittsburgh, Pa.

“We’ve tried to do it here, with the help of the University, and it has been really tough,” said Cohen. “What she said, which made sense to me, was that you’ve got to provide bike sharing in places that are meaningful, where there are people who have a desire to get on bikes but don’t have one.”

Offering the program in a suburban community, where most residents have their own bikes, doesn’t work.

“But what about our

hotels? We’ve got the Nassau Inn and The Graduate,” Cohen said. “And there are hotels on Route 1 where, if we could provide a safe route into town, it could work. People might want to bike once they arrive to stay in town. They might come to Princeton by train instead of driving, or they might drive but want to leave their car in the garage once they get here. To me, having the bike share could really help alleviate traffic. I haven’t put a lot of effort into it yet, but that’s one of the things I really feel most excited about.”

Visit princetonnj.gov/visionzero for more information and a video about the initiative. To take the pledge, visit princetonnj.gov/1099/ Vision-Zero-Pledge.

—Anne Levin

Zero-Waste Cooking Class

From Sustainable Princeton

A plant-based zero-waste cooking party will be held on Saturday, July 26 from 4-7:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for Sustainable Princeton. The event will take place at a private home to be announced.

Shari Rilov, CEO and cofounder of the nonprofit Robin Food, will lead the “EcoExperience.” Participants are encouraged to bring spices they never use, extra vegetables, and anything else from their pantries that is at risk of being wasted. Rilov will teach how to use these items in a customizable recipe. Participants will then cook and eat together.

“EcoExperiences are Princeton’s most enjoyable way to support local sustainable action,” reads a flyer for the event. “All proceeds support Sustainable Princeton’s mission to build a healthier, more resilient community, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the local environment.”

For more information, visit sustainableprinceton.org.

membership. Breakfast is included.

On Thursday, July 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the membership luncheon at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal will focus on the AI Hub, recently created by Princeton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Microsoft, and CoreWeave. Executive Director Liat Krawczkyk is the speaker.

Business Before Business Virtual Speed Networking is via Zoom on Tuesday, July 15 from 8-10 a.m. On July 16 from 8-10 a.m., a Nonprofit Wellness Breakfast will be held at NJM Insurance in West Trenton. Next on Tuesday, July 23 from 8-10 a.m. is Business After Business at Yankee Doodle Tap Room. The final event of the month is Thursday, July 31 from 7:30-10 a.m., when the Trenton Economic Development Series presents “Sustainable Futures: The Greening of Trenton” at Cooper’s Riverview in Trenton.

For more information, visit princetonchamber.org.

Williams retired from Princeton University, where she worked for almost 20 years, spending a decade as the University’s executive vice president. Before assuming that role, she was the assistant vice president for safety and administrative planning and the director of planning and administration in the Office of the Executive Vice President, and director of the Office of Development Priorities.

philanthropy to advance the wellbeing of our communities forever. Since its founding in 1991, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $241 million in grants to nonprofits, including more than $114 million in the Greater Mercer County area. Prior to joining Princeton University, Williams served as an assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey and the southern district of New York for 12 years. She also spent three years as an attorney for a New York-based international law firm.

Williams is currently a member of the College of New Jersey Board of Trustees and a board member of the New York University School of Law. She previously served as chair of the Princeton Day School Board of Trustees and as a board member of Greater Trenton.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and a law degree from New York University.

Chamber Holds Events

Throughout July

The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber is holding gatherings this month in Princeton, Trenton, West Trenton, and via Zoom.

On Tuesday, July 8 from 8-9:30 a.m. a membership orientation will be held at Hyatt Place. The event is free for new members, new representatives of existing members, and current members who want to learn more about how to maximize their

Treby Williams Appointed to Community Foundation Board

The Princeton Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Treby Williams of Princeton to a three-year term.

“We are very fortunate to have Treby join us,” said Marygrace Billek, board chair. “She’s a dynamic individual who cares deeply about the community. She brings a wealth of executive experience to the board, and her skills will complement those of our current trustees.”

“I am honored to join the board of the Community Foundation as it begins its next chapter in advancing philanthropy to support our region and its residents so that all can thrive,” Williams said. “Inspired by my friends and mentors, Bill Burks and Jack Wallace, and their critical roles in the organization’s development, I am excited by the Community Foundation’s new leadership and to collaborate in further extending and deepening its community impact.”

The Community Foundation works with donors, nonprofits and community members to promote

Treby Williams

Affordable Housing

continued from page one that she was impressed with the variety of locations, project sizes, and approaches. She asked why the former Valley Road School was not among the sites. Lesko replied that since it is owned by the Princeton Public Schools, it cannot be part of the plan.

“I’m also very interested in that, as I look out the window every day at it,” he said. “I hope we can do something with it in the next couple of years.”

Seth Mellman of Adams Drive said he was pleasantly surprised by the balance of the plan, and how it included “outof-the-way places” as housing sites. I think everybody would have liked to see the specifics a bit sooner, but it’s been an incredible lift to get this tonight.”

Leigh Avenue resident Dosier Hammond commented that the town could do more than what the plan calls for, which amounts to about 24 units a year in the next 10 years. “And we should look for ways to get more than 20 percent inclusion,” he said.

Gene Rosenblum, who serves on the board of Princeton Community Housing, said the organization has over 1,000 households on its waiting list, including young families, people working in town, and long-term residents who can’t afford to age in place.

“The plan meets a critical need and helps meet the obligations for the fourth round,” she said. “Affordable housing is a critical need right here in Princeton, not just nationwide.”

A link to the plan is available on the Planning Board’s page of princetonnj.gov.

—Anne Levin

“Made in the Shade” At Marquand Park

On Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Marquand Park Foundation will present “Made in the Shade,” a morning of nature-themed activities for children and families. Marquand Park is at 87 Lovers Lane. The event is free and open to the public.

Tucked under the canopy of one of Princeton’s most treasured parks, “Made in the Shade” invites children to experience the magic of trees and forest life through hands-on games, crafts, and creative play. Activities include Tree Bingo, sun printing, thermometer demo, storytime, and more.

Kids will receive a free coloring book that celebrates the diversity of trees in Marquand Park, as well as light snacks to enjoy in the shade. Whether they’re matching leaves in Bingo or listening to forest stories under the branches, children will leave with a deeper appreciation of the park’s living collection. Activities are best suited for children ages 3–10, but all are welcome. Families are encouraged to bring water bottles, sun hats, and a sense of adventure.

Marquand Park and Arboretum is a 17-acre historic preserve of trees and woodlands that offers a variety of recreational and educational experiences in the center of Princeton. Originally the landscaped garden of a 19th-century estate, the park has a rich collection of native and exotic trees reflecting the interest and tastes of its previous owners and its current beneficiaries.

Some trees in the park are the largest of their kind in New Jersey.

Marquand Park includes in its collection over 140 different tree specimens, among them some rare evergreens and a Dawn Redwood, known only as a fossil until 1944 when it was discovered growing in China. In the wooded area are huge specimens of native trees such as beech, hickory, and black, white and red oaks. The park’s tree planting program ensures the continuous acquisition of new trees.

Morven Among Museums In “History Pinned” Program

Princeton’s Morven Museum & Garden is among the institutions included in History Pinned, a program of RevolutionNJ, the state’s official 250th partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution. The program encourages New Jerseyans to explore the state, discover the past, and find civic inspiration this summer.

From June 20 through October 31, five featured museums will hand out unique pins designed by local artists. Participants who collect all five pins by October 31, 2025 will win a RevolutionNJ foldable flying disc. The museums were chosen based on their connections to political history and civic engagement. In addition to Morven, the 2025 History Pinned sites are Cape May MAC, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, and Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen’s Museum.

RevolutionNJ’s History

Pinned program was developed for the fifth annual Civic Season led by Made By Us, which is a national coalition of history organizations seeking to connect America’s rising generation with their past. Civic Season unites America’s newest holiday, Juneteenth, with its oldest holiday, July 4th, and is co-designed with Gen Z students, activists, thought leaders, and historians.

Though not required to earn the prize, History Pinned will digitally connect each site with a suggested “civic inspiration” for those interested in participating in this year’s Civic Season. Cape May MAC’s civic inspiration is writing a letter of gratitude to a first responder or veteran. Tuckerton Seaport’s civic inspiration is attending a beach cleanup. Morven’s civic inspiration is signing a petition. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum’s civic inspiration is reading a local newspaper, and the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts’ civic inspiration is attending a board meeting at a local library.

“History pinned is a great way to learn more about our shared past and discover new modes of democratic participation,” said Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees the New Jersey Historical Commission in her role as Secretary of State. “By exploring these historic sites, I hope participants are inspired to further engage in civic life and delve deeper into our state’s history.”

“Often cultural programming is designed for young families and seniors but

can overlook the interests of young adults,” said Sara Cureton, executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission. “In partnership with Made By Us, we sought to create a program that focused on the rising generation by providing them with a fun way to explore New Jersey’s wonderful historic sites.”

“Participants can take a road trip with friends, listen to the History Pinned playlist, collect buttons from local artists, or hold a photoshoot in these beautiful locations, in addition to uncovering the histories that make us who we are today” said Carrie Fellows, executive director of Crossroads of the American Revolution.

“Once they’ve completed the History Pinned challenge, they’ll receive a special-edition RevolutionNJ flying disc to bring with them to their next festival, concert, or day in the park.”

Visit revnj.org/historypinned to get started.

Meals on Wheels Participates In National Day of Giving Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) is participating in #ChipInChipAway, a national day of giving on July 10. This initiative calls on donors to give whatever they can to help senior hunger. As food costs rise and economic uncertainty continues, the need for vital services like nutrition and social connection for older adults remains higher than ever. At the same time, funding for these programs is decreasing. Donors are feeling financial strains, and changes in public policy are

shrinking the safety net for vulnerable populations. Having to choose between paying for food or medication is a reality for many seniors in Mercer County. Donations made on July 10 will directly support local seniors by providing nutritious meals and daily wellness checks that many rely on. For more information, email info@mealsonwheelsmercer.org. or call (609) 695-3483.

Learning Compassion at Vacation Bible School

Families with children ages pre-K to fifth grade can enroll them in Vacation Bible School/Compassion Camp at Princeton United Methodist Church (PrincetonUMC), set for July 27, 28, and 29, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

After supper, children will participate in songs, stories, crafts, and games as they learn what it means to have compassion for ourselves, others, and the world.

“When we bring compassion into our relationships and into the world, we partner with God in bring God’s love and justice into the world,” said Brooke Foster, director of youth ministry. PrincetonUMC is located at the corner of Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue. The program, including supper, is free to all. Enroll at princetonumb.org/kids or call (609) 924-2613 for a registration form.

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July 4th

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Declaration of Independence and as New Jersey’s first Governor’s Mansion to engage the public in activities that explore and reflect on the nation’s history.

Morven, 55 Stockton Street, will hold its annual Independence Day festivities on Friday, July 4, from 12 to 3 p.m. For this event, access to festival activities at Morven, Princeton Battlefield State Park, and Clarke House is offered free of charge.

Morven requests an RSVP at morven.org/upcoming/ fourthofjuly25.

Stop by Morven any time between 12 and 3 p.m. for activities and artmaking with community partners, garden tours, face painting, music from the Vintage Vibe Tribe, food trucks, a chance to sign the Declaration of Independence, and more. The museum itself will be open with half-price admission. A short distance away, check out Princeton Battlefield State Park and the historic Clarke House. The Declaration of Independence will be read by Will Krakower, resource interpretive specialist with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and battlefield historian, at 1 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. The Clarke House is open free of charge.

On Friday July 4, Unionville Winery presents the Great American Vineyard Cookout at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes from 12 to 6 p.m. The free family celebration includes live patriotic music by the marching brass band New Orleans Renaissance, gourmet burgers and dogs by Ottoburger, and a live reading of the Declaration of Independence at 3 p.m. More information is at unionvillevineyards.com.

The Declaration of Independence also will be read on Friday, July 4 at Washington Crossing Historic Park on the banks of the Delaware River in Washington Crossing, Pa., where Washington famously crossed the river and marched toward Trenton. The park welcomes families to go back in time to July 4, 1776, at the Visitor Center for Living History Day from 12 to 4 p.m. In addition to watching living historians demonstrate their crafts, and seeing a military encampment, a highlight will be the reading of the Declaration of Independence at 12:30, 1:30 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

Join historian and author David Price at 2 and 4 p.m. as he explores the iconic “Ten Crucial Days” winter campaign of 1776-77, a defining moment in the American Revolution. He will present a thematic analysis of the campaign, focusing on five key factors that shaped its outcome: leadership, geography, weather, artillery, and contingency, examining how these overlapping elements combined to thwart British plans at a critical juncture in the war, enabling Washington’s army to achieve a series of pivotal victories and turn the tide of the Revolution. He draws from his latest book, Winning the Ten Crucial Days: The Keys to Victory in

George Washington’s Legendary Winter Campaign. Tickets are $9 for adults ages 12 and over; $5 for children ages 5-11; and free for those under 5, activeduty military, and members of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park. Families with up to two adults and two children living in the same household can purchase a single Family ticket for $25. Local Harvest Pizza and Rita’s Ice will be on site. Pre-registration is recommended. Admission to Bowman’s Hill Tower is included in a ticket to Living History Day. Register at washingtoncrossingpark.org/event/ living-history-day-2025.

On Saturday, July 5, the park presents Colonial Field Day 2025, a spirited colonial-style competition from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will play popular games from the 18th century, including cup and ball, Jacob’s Ladder, hoop and stick, and more. The winning family will receive a family membership to the Friends of Washington Crossing Park. Participants will also receive a hands-on craft kit. Space is limited for this event.

To register, visit washingtoncrossingpark.org/event/ colonial-field-day-2025.

The Rebels & Redcoats Classic Car Show, which is held annually on Independence Day weekend at Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania, will be held on Sunday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rain date is July 13. The show includes cars from model years 2000 and earlier, which are from a manufacturer based in one of the primary “belligerents” of the American Revolution (U.S., Britain, Germany and France), and other models. Proceeds from this event fund educational programs and field trips hosted by Friends of Washington Crossing Park. Spectators need not register or purchase tickets.

On Monday, July 7, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., the community will virtually come together through the Princeton Public Library to read an amended version of orator and writer Frederick Douglass’ influential speech, given on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, N.Y., to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. The speech is titled “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” This year’s opening speaker is President Jonathan L. Walton of Princeton Theological Seminary. Community members who want a reading part can request one, if there is space, on the registration form, which is at princetonlibrary.libnet. info/event/13769315. The Zoom link will be sent when registered.

Organizing partners are Princeton Public Library, Nassau Presbyterian Church and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church Joint Mission Committee, Not In Our Town Princeton, Paul Robeson House of Princeton, and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton.

Community partners are African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County, Arts Council of Princeton, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Center for Modern Aging Princeton, Coalition for Peace Action, Historical

Society of Princeton, John H Pace Jr ‘39 Center for Civic Engagement at Princeton, Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Mass Incarceration Task Force, Morningstar Church of God, Morven Museum and Gardens, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, Presbytry of the Coastlands, Princeton Jewish Center, Princeton Nursery School, Princeton Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Theological Seminary, Princeton United Methodist Church, The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Princeton, Trenton First Baptist, Trenton Literacy Movement, Trenton Spoken Word, and YWCA Princeton.

The City of Trenton, with its own legacy of milestone events in 1776, holds distinctive commemorations and celebrations over Heritage Weekend, July 4 through July 8.

Trenton’s reading of the Declaration of Independence will be at noon on Tuesday, July 8, at 23 South Warren Street — at the same time and same location as its first public reading in Trenton 249 years ago.

Heritage Week events, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Trenton and the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture, begins July 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. with a Democracy Day picnic and “I Have a Dream” program at Mill Hill Park, East Front and Broad streets. Some of the events planned for Mill Hill include readings, poetry and spoken word reflections, and the Magnetic Force Smooth-Steppers Drill Team. The event concludes with a rousing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Bring chairs and tables, and cook-out materials.

Later, the skies will light up as the Trenton Thunder baseball team will play at 6 p.m., and conclude with fireworks. Tickets for the baseball game are at mlbdraftleague.com/Trenton. The fireworks are sponsored by the Mercer County Improvement Authority. The event will feature an Uncle Sam Great American Picnic.

Festivities continue in Trenton Saturday, July 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the Heritage Churches of Trenton Walking Tour, meeting at Trenton Library, 120 Academy Street; and at 3 p.m., History Chats at St. Michael’s, including “the faked Declaration of 1775 and the birth of the Jersey Devil,” at St. Michael’s Church, 140 N. Warren Street. At 4 p.m. the William Trent House, 15 Market Street, is the site of a reading of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” with songs of the period.

On Sunday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the New Jersey State Museum has free exhibits. The New Jersey State Planetarium has fee-based admission, $10 and $5 children under 12, 205 W. State Street. The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, on Parkside Avenue in Cadwalader Park, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. with a free exhibit, Trenton’s Treasures. More information is at ellarslie.org. The William Trent House, 15 Market Street, is presenting “George Washington Takes Command — the Journey

FESTIVE FACE PAINTING: Morven Museum & Garden is offering face printing and other activities at its annual Fourth of July Festival, a free public event at Morven, and at nearby Battlefield State Park. It iwill be held from 12 to 3 p.m. at Morven and includes art activities, music, and more. The Battlefield site will offer a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1 and 3:30 p.m.. For more information and registration, visit morven.org. Pictured is an activity from 2024.

Through Jersey — 1775, at 2 p.m., a free presentation by historian Paul Soltis.

Free New Jersey State House tours, 145 West State Street, will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, July 7 (reservations are required at njstatehousetours.org).

Heritage Weekend concludes on Tuesday, July 8, with the Declaration of Independence “annual proclamation” at noon, at 23 South Warren Street—where it was first read. At 1:30 p.m., a repeat of the Heritage Churches of Trenton Walking Tour, is planned, meeting at St. Michaels.

For more old fashioned fun, a decorated bicycle parade highlights Doylestown, Pa.’s, historic Fonthill Castle’s annual July 4 program from 12 to 4 p.m.at 52 East Court Street. The afternoon of food, games, crafts, entertainment and live music includes a decorated bike parade, wheelbarrow and sack races, live musicians, and food trucks. Antique bicycles, historic town ball (a precursor to baseball), and other activities await, for $7 adult/$5 youth (6-17)/$3 child (5 and under). Tickets are available at mercermuseum.org/event/fonthillcastle-4th-of-july-3.

In addition to the fireworks at Trenton’s ballpark, area municipalities are also lighting up the sky. Although some municipalities celebrated earlier, among the upcoming celebrations are East Windsor, at dusk on Saturday, July 5 at Etra Lake Park, Disbrow Hill Road, which will include music from about 6 p.m. Rain date is July 12.

In Cranbury, fireworks are on Saturday, July 5, at dusk, in Village Park, with a rain date of Sunday, July 6.

In Ewing, fireworks are Thursday, July 3, at The College of New Jersey Green Lane Fields, with pre-fireworks activities beginning at 6:30 p.m.

In New Hope, Pa., fireworks are Friday, July 11 at dusk, with a drone show over the Delaware River, seen from Stockton Avenue.

Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road in Yardley, Pa., presents a program with fireworks on Saturday, July 5. Tickets are required for the “unWINED” concert and fireworks at shadybrookfarm.com/products/ summer-unwined-concertsaturday-july-5-2025-fireworks.

Philadelphia, where the Declaration was debated and signed, has its own fireworks on Friday, July 4th around 9:30 p.m. on Ben Franklin Parkway at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, following the Wawa Welcome America Concert. Visitors to Philadelphia can check out the National Constitution Center and Museum of the American Revolution. Details are at visitphilly.com.

—Wendy Greenberg

(Photo by Sean Zujkowski)

NJTL of Trenton Celebrates Five Decades of Teaching Tennis and More to Trenton Youth

Every summer since 1975, National Junior Tennis & Learning of Trenton (NJTLT) coaches local youth in the fine points of the sport on its courts at Cadwalader and Villa parks. But teaching the young participants how to ace a serve and unload a winner shot over the net is just part of the story.

The goal of the organization, originally set by late tennis great Arthur Ashe, is to introduce the sport to under-resourced kids while also offering educational opportunities.

“Tennis is a vehicle. It gets them involved and interested, and that transfers to things like tutoring and trips to college campuses,” said NJTLT Executive Director Chris Liverman. “Many of the students in our program are the first generation in their families to go to college.”

Today one of 250 chapters across the nation, NJTLT is marking its 50th anniversary this season. The summer program that started with 30 children and three volunteers on old clay courts now hosts 350 youngsters aged 5-18. The program delivers comprehensive tennis and education services year-round to children from Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton, and Lawrence at a facility that includes two full-sized courts with blended lines, three 10-and-under courts, and a pavilion.

As part of the celebration, alumni from the program will return to play in tournaments on July 12. Later in the season on September

21, NJTLT’s annual gala fundraiser will feature fourtime Grand Slam Champion Kim Clijsters in a day of events at the Mercer County Indoor Tennis Center at Mercer County Park, culminating in a dinner at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake.

Alumni are regular participants in the summer programs. Fourteen of them are serving as part-time coaches this season, assisting fulltime staff.

“They all use the words ‘family’ and ‘community.’ They’re a part of something,” said Liverman. “This is a second home for them to come back to. And that’s a tribute to our coaches and volunteers. They focus on building the whole child from the ground up — character, volunteering, and giving back. Because when you help others, there is so much that comes back to you.”

NJTLT has been promoting the anniversary on social media since January, featuring accomplishments of alumni. A recent Facebook post focused on former student and current coach Joseph Wong, who is currently studying computer science at Mercer County Community College.

“I started with NJTLT of Trenton back in sixth grade,” Wong wrote. “My family heard about the program through a friend, and I’ve been part of it ever since.”

Another post is about Kallah Masudi, who joined NJTLT “as a quiet 10-yearold looking for an afterschool activity and found a community that helped her

grow into a confident leader.” After becoming a junior coach, she gave a powerful speech at one of the organization’s annual galas while still in high school, and later spoke on opening night of the U.S. Open.

“With NJTLT’s help, Kallah navigated college applications, scholarships, and commuting to RutgersNewark, where she studied Korean and spent a year abroad in Seoul,” the post reads. “After graduating in 2020, she worked in clinical research and eventually earned TESOL [Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages] certification to teach English in South Korea. From Trenton courts to classrooms in Korea — Kallah is proof that opportunity, support, and determination can take you anywhere.”

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is NJTLT’s parent organization, providing some of the funding and educational opportunities. Additional support comes from the annual gala, and corporate sponsors such as New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, which will be honored at the September gala.

Last weekend, 20 NJTLT kids aged 8-18 joined four other chapters of NJTL in an invitational tournament in Lancaster, Pa. The Trenton players took part in a friendly exhibition, winning 20 out of 25 matches.

“Tennis is a great model for under-resourced kids,” said Liverman. “They learn how to problem-solve. They learn about geometry. And they learn to work as a team.”

For more information, visit njtloftrenton.org.

—Anne Levin

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Students’ Research Efforts Recognized by Historians

The Lambertville Historical Society (LHS) awarded scholarships to seven South Hunterdon Regional High School students from grades 9-12 for researching and reporting on longtime residents’ first jobs. Senior Iris Li was awarded $1,000 for outstanding achievement.

Thomas Donlon, Landon Katz, Heber Mendoza, Liam Sirak, Caitlin Webb, and Catellina Weiland were each awarded $100 for excellence.

“We easily recall our first jobs — the establishments, our bosses and colleagues, tasks and earnings, and lessons learned,” said LHS President Michael Menche. “These vivid memories serve as gateways to local history.”

For the scholarship activity, LHS paired a student with a longtime resident for an interview about his/her first job. The student was asked to summarize the interview and encouraged to research the establishment and job, discuss how it fit into Lambertville life and the economy, and add any suitable commentary about its relevance to the job market or personal experience today.

The student articles can be read at lambertville historicalsociety.org.

Douglass’ Speech

Read at Trent House

The Trent House Association will hold a free program of reading and song on Saturday, July 5 at 4 p.m. Selections from Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” will be introduced and read by James Peeples. The program will be held in the William Trent House Museum Visitor Center at 15 Market Street in Trenton, across from the Hughes Justice Complex. Free parking and the museum entrance are at the rear of the property off William Trent Place.

Audience members can join Laranah Phipps in singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a Union Army marching song during the Civil War, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written during the post-Reconstruction period after the war.

After escaping from enslavement in Maryland,

Frederick Douglass became a leading abolitionist renowned for his eloquent oratory and anti-slavery writings. He gave this speech on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, N.Y. In his speech, Douglass referred to the Declaration of Independence as establishing a nation committed to providing opportunity for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to all its citizens. In less than a decade, that nation was embroiled in a civil war about the legitimacy of the enslavement of people of African descent.

The words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” were written by Julia Ward Howe, an active white abolitionist, in 1861, which was sung as a marching song by Union troops. In 1900 Black civil rights activist and NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson and his brother John Rosamond Johnson wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” This was in a period when Jim Crow laws in the southern states enforced racial segregation and de facto segregation and discrimination was practiced in the north. The lyrics subtly protest racism and recount both the struggles and triumphs of African Americans.

Peeples is a trustee of the Trent House Association and an active member of Trenton’s arts and culture community. Phipps is a singer, songwriter, Influencer, and producer, performing in multiple genres including jazz, funk, and Afrofuturism.

The William Trent House Museum is a National Historic Landmark in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area and on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail and on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail.

Visit williamtrenthouse. org for more information.

Attend and Exhibit

At Mercer 4-H Fair

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and Mercer County 4-H invite residents to showcase their creative talents and skills at the 106th Annual Mercer County 4-H Fair, being held Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township.

The Fair is a community

event celebrating agriculture, innovation, and the talent of Mercer County residents. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. Admission and parking are free.

“Each year our 4-H Fair provides an astounding showcase for the talents of our youth, while drawing families from across Mercer County and beyond for a weekend of wholesome family fun,” said Benson. “If you’re an artist, craftsperson, or gardener, I hope you’ll consider submitting your latest work at the show.”

There are many Open Division categories, open to public entries from both youth and adults. Entrants do not need to be 4-H members to exhibit. Any project created in the past year can be entered into the fair, including arts and crafts, photography, gardening, clothing, baking, woodworking, and more. Visit mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair to find full details about exhibiting, as well as a complete schedule of the fair.

Projects will be received from the general public for entry in the fair on Thursday, July 24, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Howell Living History Farm. In addition to judging by experts, the fairgoers will vote on their favorite exhibits in each category on Saturday, July 26. Those receiving the most votes will be recognized on Sunday, July 27.

Both days will include animal shows, live music, farm tours, exhibits, children’s activities, hayrides, magic shows, and pony rides. Plenty of food and drink, including homemade ice cream, will be available for purchase. The opening ceremony for the fair will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the show tent. A country dance with a string band and a caller is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Mercer County 4-H is a youth development program operated by Rutgers Cooperative Extension which provides researchbased, hands-on learning experiences for youth across Mercer. Howell Living History Farm is a facility of the Mercer County Park Commission. It is located at 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: South Hunterdon Regional High School students awarded scholarships by the Lambertville Historical Society (LHS) are, form left: Landon Katz, Heber Mendoza, Liam Sirak, LHS President Michael Menche, Catellina Weiland, Caitlin Webb, Tom Donlon, and Iris Li.

Grant to Library Enhances Resources

For Voices of Princeton Program

A grant awarded to Princeton Public Library will bring more voices to an oral history initiative, enhancing it with remote capabilities, equipment, classes, and a podcast. The grant will also help Voices of Princeton to explore the relationship between the upcoming 2026 Semiquincentennial and the 1976 Bicentennial.

Voices of Princeton is a collaborative oral history program created by Princeton Public Library, the Historical Society of Princeton, the Arts Council of Princeton, and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society with the goal of collecting, sharing, and archiving the stories and recollections of those who have lived and worked in Princeton.

Princeton Public Library is among only 21 libraries in the state to have received such a grant, $19,500 from the New Jersey State Library.

Not only will more people be able to record their stories and recollections, but more can listen. In addition to a listening station at the library where visitors can hear recorded stories, Voices of Princeton listening stations will be installed for the Historical Society of Princeton, the Arts Council of Princeton and Morven Museum & Garden.

The Voices of Princeton archive has commentaries from residents recalling growing up in Princeton, trolley lines and riding a bike around town, a few on meeting Albert Einstein, the COVID-19 pandemic, gender discrimination, the

history of the WitherspoonJackson neighborhood, Princeton’s Jewish community, and much more. The archive contains about 60 available recorded stories, and some 18 in progress, the oldest recorded in 2018.

“They are all interesting in their own way,” said Cliff Robinson, the library’s public humanities specialist who administers the Voices of Princeton project at the library.

“We are trying to make them more accessible and find ways to highlight them.”

To help residents tell their stories, the library plans to offer a series of classes on designing an oral history project, and on using recording equipment and processing digital content, as a result of the grant. The grant will also fund professional equipment for the creation of a Voices of Princeton podcast to be released in June, 2026.

“These enhancements will increase engagement with and support the curation of oral histories which community members have entrusted to the library and its partners,” said Robinson.

Robinson believes that oral history is a valuable method for preserving historical information. The spoken word, he said, “can register perspectives that may not come through in print. But oral history doesn›t just offer a breadth of perspectives,” he note d. “Oral history is distinctive for its attention to the individual voice and its expressive qualities. Hearing someone’s voice, perhaps especially

without the distractions of video, adds texture and personality to historical narration.”

The grant also will allow the purchase of improved recording equipment to ensure high quality recordings of stories. Storytelling kits will also be made available through the library’s Library of Things for patrons to use to record and save their stories outside the library.

The grant is part of the New Jersey State Library’s Rev25O (Revolution 250): Examining the Semiquincentennial through a Jersey Lens, and as such is “an opportunity for public libraries to celebrate New Jersey’s contribution and place in history,” according to the library announcement.

The connection between the U.S. Semiquincentennial and the Bicentennial will invite community members to share memories of the Bicentennial celebration in Princeton, and to comment on what has since changed, and to share visions for the country’s future. Robinson said that this project would compare the two moments in time, “revealing what reflection on two landmark dates can teach us.” Younger persons are also invited to participate by reflecting on “unfinished revolutions, and how the promises of the American Revolution have not been universally applied,” said Robinson. “That struck us as particularly timely.”

Those who want to learn more about Voices of Princeton, share their stories, and listen to the archived stories, can go to voicesofprinceton. org.

—Wendy Greenberg

Tour of Hopewell Gardens Supports Hopewell Library

The Hopewell Public Library invites community members, friends and neighbors to the 2025 “Glorious Gardens of Hopewell Valley” garden tour on Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 pm, rain or shine. Nine local gardens will be open, all to support the Hopewell Public Library’s programming.

This year’s self-guided tour celebrates one garden in Hopewell Township, five in the borough, one in Pennington, and two in Titusville. One of the gardens, My Backyard at Nectars in Titusville, doubles as a garden center. The garden focuses on native plants, offering a diverse array of not just New Jersey natives, but also pollinator friendly plants, trees, shrubs and vines.

accreditation — a highly prized recognition of public safety excellence — a Compliance Services Manager (CSM) for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will conduct an annual web-based assessment from July 4 – July 12 to examine all aspects of the Princeton University Department of Public Safety’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Assistant Vice President for Public Safety Kenneth E. Strother, Jr. announced last week.

where the author will offer his books for purchase with personalized signature. Novice kayakers are welcome to this beginner level trip that includes the kayak and all equipment, safety guides, educators and commentary on the water by the author.

Van Noy is also the author of A Natural Sense of Wonder and Sudden Spring , which made him a finalist in the 2022 Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment book awards.

Borne by the River, follows him and his dog Sully as they float 200 miles down the Delaware River to his childhood home in Titusville. The two experience adventures as he unravels the historical, cultural, and environmental importance of the Delaware River.

Ticket holders who shop on the day of the tour will receive 10 percent off their purchase, be entered into a raffle to win $100 worth of plants, and help support the library. Ten percent of each purchase will be donated to the Hopewell Public Library.

The tour begins at the Hopewell Train Station, located at 2 Railroad Place, Hopewell, where brochures and tickets can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The gardens will close at 3 p.m. Water and snacks will also be available for purchase. Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased at redlibrary.org. On the day of the tour, if tickets are available, they will be $35, payable by cash, check, or Venmo only.

Visit redlibrary.org for tickets and information.

Public Portal Open On Accreditation

As part of a voluntary process to maintain

As part of the assessment, campus community members, employees, and members of the public are invited to offer comments by visiting the Accreditation Public Comment Portal, which can be found on the Princeton University Public Safety website at publicsafety.princeton.edu/about-us/ more-information#calea.

The purpose of this public portal is to provide an opportunity to offer comments, commendations, and other information regarding the agency’s quality of service or other information relevant to the accreditation process directly to CALEA.

Guided Kayak Trip Along Blacks Creek

D&R Greenway Land Trust invites the public to register for a guided kayak trip on Blacks Creek in Bordentown with special guest Rick Van Noy, author of Borne by the River, a book about the author’s experiences on the Delaware River, published in 2024. The July 5, 11 a.m. event is part of D&R Greenway’s 2025 Kayak Naturalist series.

The two-hour kayak trip will launch from Bordentown Beach, followed by a tour of the Discovery Center at Point Breeze in Bordentown

“ Borne by the River is an inspiring story of selfdiscovery and healing along the Delaware River, where our nation was born,” said Linda Mead, President and CEO of D&R Greenway Land Trust. “This is a perfect trip for celebration of the fourth of July weekend. Experiences like this along our shared lands and waterways are important to helping us reconnect with the world around us.”

In the first chapter of his new book, Van Noy speaks about the common thread that ties together his three books.

“All three projects relate to the sense of place, the specific conditions of topography and climate and culture that make places unique, worthy of attention. And for the way they reach deep inside us. Places and rivers remain, and even if changed, or altered, are what is immortal.”

Pre-registration required, $50 per person. Visit drgreenway. org. For inquiries call (609) 578-7470.

SUMMER GREENERY: One of nine expanses on the “Glorious Gardens of Hopewell Valley” Garden Tour, being held next month.

Let’s Find a Development Proposal That Offers a Better Path Forward

To the Editor: Princeton stands at a critical decision point regarding how it grows and who gets to be part of that future. A revised proposal for a scaled-down residential development that prioritizes affordable housing deserves the full support of the town Council — one that addresses infrastructure constraints and supports the institutions that draw families here.

Large-scale development without meaningful infrastructure upgrades poses serious risks. Hundreds of new residents and vehicles will overwhelm local roads, utilities, schools, and parking. Princeton’s streets already experience traffic congestion during peak hours, and the downtown parking is consistently strained. Without corresponding investment in transportation and utilities, additional population growth will compound these issues, eroding quality of life for both newcomers and longtime residents. By reducing the project’s size, this allows growth to proceed in a way that Princeton can accommodate. It reflects a commitment to smart planning, ensuring development works with, rather than against, the town’s infrastructure and environmental goals. Fewer housing units mean less vehicle traffic, reduced demand on public services, and more manageable change.

Equally important is the emphasis on affordable housing. As prices continue to climb, many essential workers — teachers, fire fighters, nurses, municipal employees — find themselves priced out of the community they serve. Affordable housing is not only a social good; it is a practical investment in Princeton’s long-term health and sustainability. Creating space for people across income levels enhances economic diversity and keeps the town vibrant, inclusive, and equitable.

The revised proposal also creates an opportunity to revisit the terms of the developer’s Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement. PILOT arrangements often leave public schools underfunded, even as student populations increase due to new housing. This is particularly concerning in Princeton, where excellent public education is a key reason families choose to move here. While the town council rightfully received praise for recently earmarking a portion of AvalonBay Thanet PILOT to our schools, there is no permanent requirement or incentive to do so in the future and certainly is not guaranteed for this current development plan. The town Council should vote to require a portion of all PILOT funds received in the future to be directly allocated to the school district as was done in the AvalonBay Thanet project. This would ease many concerns in Princeton and would help preserve the high standards and resources that make Princeton’s schools a cornerstone of the community.

In sum, let’s find a development proposal that offers a better path forward: growth with guardrails, equity with intention, and progress without compromising what makes Princeton special.

The town Council now has a chance to demonstrate vision and accountability. Supporting a revised plan and permanently enshrining the use of PILOT funds for schools sends a clear message — that Princeton will grow on its own terms, with thoughtful attention to housing, infrastructure, and education. This is not only a practical choice, but a principled one, aligned with the values that define the town.

COLLEEN POTTS Poe Road

Thanking the Municipality of Princeton and Engineering Department for New Bike Lanes

To the Editor:

Walk Bike Princeton thanks the municipality of Princeton and the Engineering Department for the installation of new bike lanes, most recently on Valley Road between Princeton Shopping Center and the municipal complex (just in time for the summer swimming season!), as well as on Hodge Road earlier this year.

We applaud that people on two wheels have a dedicated space where they can travel safely on these streets. The bike lanes convey that bicycle riders have a right to travel our streets safely, and we invite our neighbors to enjoy them often. We look forward to further implementations of the town’s Bicycle Mobility Plan.

Walk Bike Princeton (walkbikeprinceton.com) is a local group of residents who aim to foster a community that achieves a healthier, safer, and less car-centric lifestyle.

TINEKE THIO Dempsey Avenue

PALLAVI NUKA Leabrook Lane

ANDREA MALCOLM Mount Lucas Road

SAM BUNTING Dempsey Avenue for Walk Bike Princeton

Now is Time to Reckon with New Jersey’s And Princeton’s Legacies of Racial injustice

To the Editor:

The New Jersey Reparations Council’s report “For Such a Time as This: The Nowness of Reparations for Black People in New Jersey,” released on Juneteenth this year, offers a clear reckoning with our state’s overlooked history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racial discrimination, and a bold blueprint for transformative change. The result of two years of research by experts in several fields, the report details 96 policy proposals to address the state’s ongoing racial discrepancies in wealth, maternal health, education, and more.

As members of Not in Our Town Princeton’s Truth & Transformation, we celebrate its vision and urge the implementation of its policy proposals. (The report is available at njisj. org.)

The report shows a $643,000 racial wealth gap between

Black and white families in New Jersey. In Princeton, the impact is seen in lower Black homeownership and educational gaps, among others. We need place-based policies: economic investments, housing reparations, scholarships, and restorative justice. These targeted actions can begin closing gaps rooted in centuries of injustice.

We must know our city’s history: Enslaved African Americans provided the labor for many aspects of Princeton institutions and enterprises. Further, Princeton benefited from the labor and wealth derived from slavery in the south, impacting the infrastructure and development of the area. Too many of us are unaware of this legacy. We invite everyone to explore archives, attend community forums, and listen to Princeton’s Black elders. Not In Our Town Princeton (NIOT) started community conversations about reparations in 2017. A few Princeton institutions are doing their own reckoning. In January of this year, NIOT co-sponsored a panel with representatives from major Princeton institutions that have made efforts to examine their role in sustaining slavery - Morven, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton University, and Nassau Presbyterian Church.

This is our moment to continue to educate ourselves and move towards accountability and justice. We call on all residents, groups, and leaders to learn about New Jersey Reparations, read and share the report available at njisj. org; advocate for a Princeton Reparations Task Force; and work with local partners on projects to repair the harm. Even small steps will build momentum toward lasting repair. Together, we can create a new era of equity and flourishing for all residents.

LINDA OPPENHEIM South Harrison Street

SALLY KORNEGAY Leigh Avenue

SHIRLEY SATTERFIELD Quarry Street

Approved by Not In Our Town Princeton Board

It is incumbent on All of Us to Protect Our Common Heritage for Future Generations

To the Editor:

After a lifetime on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, we moved to Princeton five years ago, to take care of my aging mother and her historic home on Mercer Street. In the years since, we have watched with shock and dismay as this lovely, historic town is overrun with development, construction, and traffic. West 110th Street (our former home) was not nearly as congested as Mercer Street. We write today in support of the “Defend Historic Princeton” campaign, but our alarm extends far beyond the absurdly out-of-scale, proposed development on Stockton. It seems that both the University and the town are hell-bent on expanding no matter what the cost. All concerns for proportion, architectural beauty, and our natural environment have been wantonly jettisoned in favor of more, more, more.

America has precious few towns like Princeton. Once lost, they are gone forever. What a tragedy that would be for our own community, and for the nation. It is incumbent on all of us to protect our common heritage for future generations. KARI JENSON GOLD AND LUCKY GOLD Mercer Street

Hats Off to PSE&G and All Who

Worked on Repaving Town Roads

To the Editor:

I never thought I could get emotional about asphalt. We are talking about the road surface. What’s to get emotional about? But when my road was repaved, I experienced a surge of raw feelings. Love at first sight; delight, exuberance, elevated spirit.

My road may have been the worst in Princeton. It was so rutted and potholed that when the gas line replacement work was finished and they patched our road, the patch became the best part of the whole road. We had potholes that had their own potholes.We had ruts where long ago utility work left a sunken surface that had evolved its own potholes. We had underlayer rock that scattered around on the bits of good pavement. The word in our family was, “Don’t try to drink coffee on this road. Same with Nassau Street.” The whole neighborhood was a mess. How many patches could one road take?

Then it came. In a burst of overnight noise and rumbling and the old roadway was gone, and a new road surface was there instead. Smooth as a baby’s bottom. Flat and perfect and slick. One could play marbles on its smooth surface. One could drive the car without spilling a cup of coffee.

I was so tickled. My heart took a leap. My sense of good closure got good closure. My Japanese sense of “Wa” was restored. I felt inner calm. I was so smitten by my smooth road that I drove all around town just to enjoy the difference. Lumpy Linden Lane is now Linen Linden. Pothole Pine is now Placid Pine. Wonderful Walnut, and Half of Hamilton is smooth while the other half is…? And what happened on Harrison where we got one lane paved and the rest is — same old same old. Please somebody do something about Harrison from Hamilton to Nassau Street. And exactly what is happening on Nassau Street? The gas line work made a mess of the town side of Nassau Street and they repaved all the mess they made from Harrison to Palmer Square, but what about the other side? Is the side of Nassau Street that faces the University not decrepit enough to repave?? Are we going to have Nassau Street half smooth and half ruts? Whatever. My road is smooth as silk and the worst of the ruts are gone all over town. Hats off to all the folks at PSE&G and everyone who worked on the repaving of our roads. It really makes a difference, and it is really appreciated. Smooth driving to all.

ALEX RANDALL Queenston Place

Urging Town Planners to Consider Concerns Of Their Constituents and Deliberate Cautiously

To the Editor:

I am deeply concerned about the potential impact of the proposed 243-unit apartment complex on the vacant Stockton Street site. When we relocated to Princeton several years ago, the appearance and character of this special community remained largely unchanged compared to the 1960s when I spent the summer here with my family. However, we were struck by the significant increase in traffic through town, primarily due to the rapid growth in the surrounding townships and the Route 1 corridor.

I fear that town planners here are repeating the mistake made in my previous home in North Carolina, where overdevelopment damaged several historic neighborhoods. The sheer scale of the proposed complex is excessive and would cause irreparable damage to this delicate and historic site. Our two-lane roads are already congested, leading to more frequent accidents, and the town’s infrastructure cannot handle much more traffic.

I urge town planners to consider the concerns of their constituents and deliberate cautiously. While growth can be beneficial, once a beautiful and special area is compromised, there is no turning back.

JOHN ALEXANDER Mercer Street

Letters to the Editor Policy

Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition. Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

At least a month’s time must pass before another letter from the same writer can be considered for publication.

Letters are welcome with views about actions, policies, ordinances, events, performances, buildings, etc. However, we will not publish letters that include content that is, or may be perceived as, negative towards local figures, politicians, or political candidates as individuals.

When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there. Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.

Books

Author Claire Messud in Conversation

With Amy Jo Burns at Summer Soirée

Author Claire Messud will discuss her book, This Strange Eventful History: A Novel, at the annual summer gathering of book lovers on Wednesday, July 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street. Registration for this free event, sponsored by the Princeton Public Library in partnership with Morven and Labyrinth Books, is requested as space is limited to 125 participants.

A popular library tradition since 2016, the annual Summer Reading Soirée features sparkling beverages, sorbet, and other sweets as well as door prizes and giveaways. Attendees can mingle with library staff and other area book lovers, share what they have been reading,

and discover titles they may want to read this summer. Attendees will also have the opportunity to stroll around Morven’s grounds.

This Strange Eventful History (W.W. Norton & Company, $29.99) is told with historical sweep, and is above all a family story: of patriarch Gaston Cassar and his wife Lucienne, whose myth of perfect love sustains them and stifles their children; of devoted siblings connected by their family’s strangeness; and of Chloe, a descendant, who believes that telling these buried stories will bring them all peace.

“Over seven decades, from 1940 to 2010, the piedsnoirs Cassars live in an itinerant state — separated in the chaos of World War II, running from a complicated colonial homeland, and, after Algerian independence, without a homeland at all,” according to the publisher.

Longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize, Winner of the 2024 Deborah Pease Prize, and a 2024 New York Times Best Historical Fiction Book , This Strange Eventful History has won numerous other awards as well.

Princeton author Yiyun Li noted in a review: “Inspired in part by long-ago stories from her own family’s history, Claire Messud animates her characters’ rich interior

Messud is the author of six works of fiction. A recipient of Guggenheim and Rad

cliffe Fellowships and the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she teaches at Harvard University and lives in Cambridge, Mass. Burns is the author of the memoir Cinderland, and the novel Shiner, which was a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick and an NPR Best Book of the year. Her latest novel, Mercury, is a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, a Book of the Month Pick, a People Magazine Book of the Week, and an Editor’s Choice selection in The New York Times. Burns’ next novel, Wait for Me , will be released March 3, 2026.

TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.

“Chaplinesque”

But it was quite difficult for me to be mean with Philippe Marlaud, who plays François, because he was a particularly sweet and kind young man.... He never got to see the finished film.

—Marie Rivière

Have we seen Rohmer’s The Aviator’s Wife ?” my wife wants to know. “I don’t think so,” I say, not particularly interested until she says “Marie Rivière’s in it,” knowing how I feel about Marie Rivière. In the closing moment of Le rayon vert (1986), released as Summer in the U.S., when Rivière’s benighted Delphine sees the line of green flash on the horizon and knows that after suffering confusion and heartache she’s finally at one with her feelings and the world, so am I. It sounds hopelessly banal: a Parisian stenographer who can’t seem to fit in, looking for love on her summer vacation only to be disappointed and discomfited at every turn. After Éric Rohmer’s previous film, Full Moon in Paris (1984). I was in danger of associating his work with the tedium of watching photogenic young things frolic in and out of pointless affairs. Not so in Summer, thanks to Rohmer’s wiser self, and, most of all, thanks to Rivière’s unforgettable performance, most if not all of which was improvised (she shares screenplay credit).

The Blue Hour

While Rohmer was waiting to shoot Delphine’s special moment, he began filming Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle (1987), a transition that can be explained by the title of the first adventure, “The Blue Hour,” a short period of night just before sunrise when “the day birds aren’t up yet and the night birds are already asleep.” The country girl Reinette (Joëlle Miquel), a talented painter, wants to share the purity of that moment with her Parisian friend Mirabelle (Jessica Forde), an ethnology student. When the perfect silence is spoiled by the sound of a passing car, Reinette is reduced to tears, which is what happens more than once to Delphine during her emotional quest to see the green ray.

An Unlikely Protagonist

Five years before she played Delphine, Rivière’s first major role was as Anne in The Aviator’s Wife (1981). although she

— Art and Life in Rohmer’s Paris

appears only at the beginning and the end. A minute into her first scene, where the man she loves (the aviator) tells her it’s all over, that he’s marrying someone else who’s carrying his child, Anne handles the news well enough, but, like Delphine before her, she’s out of synch with the world; when her 20-year-old boyfriend (she’s 25) keeps calling her office, she’s too rattled to talk to him and tells her assistant to make excuses and finally “Just hang up.”

The boyfriend is François (played by the late Philippe Marlaud), a sleepdeprived law student with a night job sorting mail at the post office. On his way to give Anne a piece of trivial information (the phone number of a plumber), he sees Anne and the aviator emerging from her building, jealously assumes the worst, and eventually finds himself trailing the man and a mysterious blonde all over Paris. The film comes to life when he’s joined in his stalking mission by Lucie, a bewitching 15-year-old played by AnneLaure Meury, who steals the film as soon as she decides she and François are going to play detective. Even so, our sympathies are with Rohmer’s unlikely male protagonist, who has a way of falling asleep in cafes, on busses, and park benches. For one thing, Marlaud has boyish good looks in contrast to the usual well-turned-out Rohmer males like the tall, suave aviator. Rivière is at her conflictedly emotional best in the film’s penultimate scene, confessing her woes to Marlaud’s gently caring François. Asked in a Metrograph

interview about the “cathartic” 20-minute scene, she said, “Although Éric liked his actors to move naturally, we had to block that scene very precisely before the shoot since the room was especially small. Éric asked me to express myself through gestures so that the audience wouldn’t be too bored when I spoke in bed. That allowed me to unleash emotions, and I might have made more gestures than necessary because I tried to breathe life into the rather demanding dialogue. Éric also wanted to make sure I could cry on demand since this was my first big role. So he made me rehearse a lot, and he was relieved to see that I cried at the same exact moment every time.”

“Chaplinesque”

step, and know / Recesses for it from the fury of the street.” The poem ends with the poet hearing “through all sound of gaiety and quest...a kitten in the wilderness.”

The Heart of Paris Rohmer’s Paris would seem to be a long way from kittens in the wilderness and the fury of the street and yet Eric Rohmer’s song “Paris m’a seduit,” which plays over the final sequence and closing credits of The Aviator’s Wife (1981), refers to “the hardships of life ... in the city so vast and wide constantly buffeted by wind and tide ... a struggle for survival renewed each day with cruel destiny refusing to point the way” and “the dark and malevolent night” that “drives all ease from anguished sight.” The song and the film end as “muffled roars still prowl the street, for the heart of Paris never ceases to beat.”

As it happened, my wife and I watched The Aviator’s Wife on Friday, June 26, the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush . For Chaplin, whose cinematic vision has certain climactic sunrise and sunset qualities in common with Rohmer’s, the operative term is “Chaplinesque,” which is usually boringly defined as reminiscent of the “English comic actor and director of the silent fim era.” My response to Rohmer’s engaging take on the Parisian human comedy and the Philippe Marlaud character’s pathetic, ultimately unproductive quest has been haunted by Chaplin’s spirit, particularly as expressed in Hart Crane’s poem “Chaplinesque,” where a kitten becomes, in his words, the “symbol” of Chaplin’s “social sympathies.” The second stanza begins: “For we can still love the world, who find / A famished kitten on the

Arielle Dombasle’s singing of “Paris m’a seduit” begins as François goes through the last pathetic motions of posting a card to Lucie revealing that the blonde woman with the aviator was neither his lover nor wife but his sister. In effect, the film’s title is a red herring (call it a shaggy aviator story), the sort that Raymond Chandler himself might have used. No longer a poor man’s private eye, François becomes another passer-by waiting in line to buy a stamp for the card, looking for a place to post it, and then disappearing into the crowd.

Art and Life

It’s hard to keep life and death from intruding on art when you know that Philippe Marlaud died in a fire two months later. As Marie Rivière says in her Metrograph interview, “his tent burned down because he forgot to blow out a candle before going to sleep, and he never got to see the finished film.”

—Stuart Mitchner

Note: I caught the Raymond Chandler connection only after noticing the way the actor’s name Philippe Marlaud exactly echoes that of Chandler’s famous private eye Philip Marlowe. Finally, I want to mention the Films in Print version of Rohmer’s breakthrough film My Night at Maud’s (Rutgers Press 1993) and C.G. Crisp’s Eric Rohmer: Realist and Moralist (Indiana University Press 1988).

Marie Rivière and Philippe Marlaud in The Aviator’s Wife. (Les Films du Losange)

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts Presents Transformational String Quartet

Founded a mere eight years ago, the Ivalas Quartet has dedicated its young history to enhancing the classical music world with “voices less known and sometimes unheard.” Through innovative programming, violinists Reuben Kebede and Tiani Butts, violist Marcus Stevenson, and cellist Pedro Sánchez seek to “bring all kinds of audience members together in musical celebration.” The Ivalas Quartet brought both the familiar and a bit of the new to Richardson Auditorium last Thursday night as the opening event of the Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts series. Presenting works of Franz Joseph Haydn and Maurice Ravel, as well as a commissioned piece, the Ivalas musicians demonstrated a refreshing and youthful performing style.

The Ivalas players established an immediate rapport with the Richardson audience with a work from Haydn’s last set of string quartets. Composed at a transitional time after the death of Mozart and as Beethoven was emerging as a force with which to be reckoned, Haydn’s String Quartet in G Major, Op. 77, No. 1 drew from both composers. The Ivalas Quartet emphasized the fun in Haydn’s four-movement work, with light and saucy playing and a great deal of contrasts in dynamics while not shying away from virtuosic demands. Highlighting the extensive conversation among the instruments, the four players jelled well together, often led by first violinist Kebede’s lyrical solo lines.

The second movement “Andante” was marked by a reverent harmonization of the opening theme, with the rich lower cello playing of Sánchez contrasting with Kebede’s heavily ornamented violin passages. Violist Stevenson continually maintained solid communication with the others, and the Quartet closed Haydn’s work in dramatic fashion.

Commissioned from American composer Derrick Skye, the one-movement Deliverance was a “transcultural” string quartet, blending Persian classical melodic material with rhythmic elements from West and North Africa. Skye made particular use of the Persian musical “koron” — a quarter-tone device which gave the music a distinctive flavor.

Skye’s Deliverance began with violinists

Kebede and Butts playing the Persianinspired lines with a very dry tone, later warming up the sound with vibrato. The piece eventually took off with a number of musical surprises, including the players providing their own percussion accompaniment using their instruments. Sections of varied meters flowed seamlessly together, with an effective ebb and flow of tension. Second violinist Butts provided a reverent melody in tranquil sections. Violist Stevenson and cellist Sánchez also played rich passages, adding to the character of a work fusing the uniqueness of Persia with counterpoint inspired by Palestrina and Bach.

Early 20th-century French composer Maurice Ravel claimed his music to be “complexe mais pas compliqué” —complex but not complicated. Known for his rich and colorful orchestral writing, Ravel only composed one string quartet, while as a student at the Paris Conservatory. The four-movement String Quartet in F Major was uncomplicated in its classical structure, but complex in its counterpoint and impressionistic harmonies. The Ivalas Quartet opened Ravel’s work with clarity as homophonic measures led to elegant viola and cello phrases. Fast and furious pizzicato playing dominated the second movement, with solid adherence to Ravel’s marking of trés rythmé . An introspective middle section in this movement featured offbeat rhythms and a lyrical solo from first violinist Kebede. Stevenson carried the third movement with a flowing viola line, answered by first violin. As throughout the Quartet , the players were noticeably responsive to one another. The Ivalas musicians focused on the agité character of the movement, trading melodies among the instruments and bringing out the storminess of Ravel’s writing.

Now in its 58th season, Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts has long provided highquality chamber music at no cost to listeners. Introducing the Ivalas Quartet to Princeton not only met this mission, but also gave audiences a look at an ensemble sure to have a significant impact in the future.

—Nancy Plum

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts continues on Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium with a performance by the Bennewitz Quartet. This concert will feature music of Haydn, Janácek, and Dvorák. Tickets are free to the public and are available starting a week ahead of the concert from the University ticketing website at tickets.princeton.edu.

Performing Arts

THE SUMMER SEASON: Jimmy Bosch, the

as “El

series at Pettoranello

CREATIVE TEAM: Composer/lyricist Ari Afsar, playwright Lauren Gunderson, and McCarter Theatre Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen are among the artists — all women — behind “I & You: The Musical,” which comes to McCarter September 13 - October 12. Rasmussen directs.

World Premiere Musical Coming to McCarter McCarter Theatre Center announces the all-woman creative team behind the world premiere of I & You: The Musical . Inspired by Lauren Gunderson’s play I and You , this new musical reunites Gunderson with director Sarah Rasmussen, who directed the play’s world premiere in 2013.

Commissioned by McCarter with support from the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, the production runs September 13 through October 12and is a co-production with Olney Theatre Center.

Rasmussen returns to the story in her role as McCarter artistic director, joined by composer and lyricist Ari Afsar. Movement director

Steph Paul, music director Sujin Kim-Ramsey, and dramaturg Julie Felise Dubiner complete the team. Commissioned by McCarter with support from the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, the production runs September 13 through October 12, 2025, and is a co-production with Olney Theatre Center.

“This production

REFRAMING THE WORLD: A CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF CREATION with WILLIE JAMES JENNINGS response from HANNA REICHEL, TINK TINKER, AND NORMAN WIRZBA

Join esteemed theologian Willie James Jennings and guests for an insightful exploration of creation through a Christian lens, drawing from his latest book. This event invites participants to rethink the relationship between God, the world, and humanity, offering fresh perspectives on faith, belonging, and the divine act of creation.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 2025

4-5:30 PM

For the complete schedule and ticket options, go to PTSEM.EDU/FARMINARY10TH

represents the best of what McCarter stands for — fearless new work, storytelling that resonates deeply, and a celebration of women’s creative leadership propelling the future of American theater,” said Rasmussen.

“Opening our season with a world premiere led by this extraordinary group of women is both a privilege and a powerful artistic statement. I’m incredibly proud of this team and the new light we’re bringing to Lauren Gunderson’s poignant story.”

Seventeen-year-olds Caroline — stuck at home with an illness — and Anthony — an earnest overachiever toting Walt Whitman and waffle fries — are classmates pulling an unexpected all-nighter. What starts as a reluctant school assignment soon sets both their worlds spinning into a soul-searching exploration of fate, friendship, and the fragile wonder of being alive.

Casting and the full production team will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets and subscription packages are now on sale. Visit mccarter.org to learn more.

Blue Curtain Concerts Open with Salsa Evening

Blue Curtain returns to Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater July 12 at 8 p.m. with the first of a threeconcert series. Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Bosch, also known as “El Trombon Criollo,” is the featured artist in this free concert.

A jazz and salsa powerhouse with deep Puerto Rican roots and New Jersey

origins, Bosch has performed with some of the legends of the genre, including Rubén Blades, Marc Anthony, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, and Ray Barretto. Backed by his Salsa Masters, Bosch brings the full energy of New York Latin jazz to Princeton.

Blue Curtain’s 2025 season continues on July 19 with Puerto Rican cuatro virtuosa Fabiola Méndez, bringing her mix of AfroCaribbean roots, jazz and classical influences into a blend of Latin and world music. The season concludes on July 26 with Elida Almeida, a singer from Cape Verde known for her fusion of Afrobeat, morna, and pop. Almeida’s songs tell stories of resilience, migration and identity.

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. and take place at Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater, located in Community Park North at Route 206 and Mountain Avenue. Admission is free, and audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. In case of rain or extreme heat, concerts will be moved indoors to the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, located at Franklin Avenue and Walnut Lane.

Blue Curtain, co-sponsored by the Princeton Recreation Department, is a New Jersey nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting the highest quality of culturally diverse music to audiences in the Princeton area.

Galvin Cello Quartet

Performs at Richardson

The Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts’

58th Season continues with the Galvin Cello Quartet in Richardson Auditorium on the campus on Friday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. The program will consist of works by Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Paganini, and others.

Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet won the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The ensemble takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music where three of its members — Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli — met as students in the studio of Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group’s mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.

The last concert of the season will be on Monday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. with a clarinet, viola, piano trio from the Manhattan Chamber Players. Visit princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org for more information. a Princeton tradition!

OPENING

trombonist/composer/bandleader who is also known

Trombon Criollo,” is the first attraction of this summer’s Blue Curtain Concerts

Gardens. (Photo by Andrea Kane)

FOUR CELLISTS: The Galvin Cello Quartet, at Richardson Auditorium July 11, explores the possibilities of music for cello ensemble.

Straight No Chaser at State Theatre New Jersey

State Theatre New Jersey presents Straight No Chaser

– SUMMER: The 90’s Part 2 on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Featuring their twist on’90’s classics like Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You),” “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys, “Linger” from The Cranberries, and Santana’s “Maria Maria,” Straight No Chaser brings audiences of all ages back to the days of bright neons, loud prints, and cool boy bands.

“The ’90s were a time when music impacted people in a way that only nostalgia can recreate,” said Straight No Chaser member Seggie Isho. “We felt that connection with audiences last summer. Our fans are ready for more of that throwback magic, and we’re ready to bring it. It’s not just about the songs, though; it’s about reliving the energy, the vibe, and those unforgettable moments. Plus, we’ve got new’90s-inspired fits, new music, and even more hair gel (for some of us). Get ready to party.”

Initially formed at Indiana University, the a cappella group Straight No Chaser emerged at the forefront of the modern-day a cappella movement, and has since sold more than three million albums worldwide, garnered over a billion streams on Pandora alone, and sold more than 1.5 million concert tickets worldwide. In the fall of 2022, the group performed in more than 60 cities across the U.S. with multiple sold-out shows, including their 26th consecutive sell-out in Indianapolis. State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit stnj. org for tickets, which range from $40 to $86.

Teens Can Audition

For Halloween Playfest

The West Windsor Branch of the Mercer County Library System Youth Services Department will be holding open auditions for teens ages 12-18 for four original plays written by librarian Michael Kerr for the Halloween Playfest. Titles are The Student of the Year, The House of Haunted, Andrew, and Anna Logg.

The auditions will take place on Saturdays July 26 and August 2 from 2-4:30 p.m., and Wednesdays July 30 and August 6 from 6-8:15 p.m. Auditions will consist of readings from the scripts. Scripts will be available for inspection at the reference desk or can be sent by e-mail. Online registration

at mcl.org for auditions is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Auditions will take place at the West Windsor Branch, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction. Rehearsals will begin in early September. The performances will take place from October 17-19. Also welcome is help with makeup, costumes, and set construction. Contact West Windsor Branch Youth Services Staff at (609) 7990462 or westprogs@mcl. org for more information.

Workshop of New Play At Philips’ Mill Drama

The Phillips’ Mill Community Association’s Drama Committee will present a workshop production of Morphology , a new play written by award-winning playwright Jillian Blevins and directed by Griffin Horn for its annual Premiere Showcase Series on July 2427 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.

The production marks a homecoming for the locally born Blevins who returns with this family drama about Claudia, a mother who must make decisions about the future of her nonverbal autistic teenage son, Nico. Although Nico may not speak to her in words, the two have developed an intuitive understanding of each other, deeper perhaps even than any other connections in Claudia’s life, whether that’s the customers Claudia attends to in her job at a bank, or her mother, Arlene, who is encouraging her to send Nico to an institution. But would an institution be able to understand Nico’s world the way that she does?

In 2024, Blevins’s play Mere Waters received the Golden Prize at the Clauder Competition, Best Script at the SheNYC Festival, an Honorable Mention for the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award, and was named a Semi-Finalist for the O’Neill Playwrights’ Conference. Currently in rehearsal, Morphology will feature artists making their debut at the Mill, as well as return

ing veterans. This workshop production is directed by Griffin Horn, who previously directed Premiere Showcase productions of Voices by Joy Nash, The Half of It by Domenick Scuedera, and Promises to Keep: A Yuletide Ceremony , all at the Mill.

Performances are July 24, 25, and 26 at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday, July 27 at 3 pm. The July 25 show will be a Relaxed Performance, with modified production elements that will provide better access for audience members with sensory differences.

Tickets are $25 and $30. Visit phillipsmill.org.

Summer Music Series

At Nassau Park Pavilion

West Windsor Arts is holding another season of free, family-friendly entertainment with the return of its Summer Music and More concert series on July 12. This year’s series features local talent, diverse musical genres, and art activities for all ages.

All performances will take place at Nassau Park Pavilion (behind Panera Bread), starting at 5 p.m., with an opening set by modern cellist Dan Kassel and friends. Known for his multi-layered soundscapes and live-looping, Kassel will be joined by different musicians at the start of each concert, followed by the evening’s featured headliner at 6 p.m.

“We are really excited to bring this beloved series back again this summer,” said Aylin Green, executive director of West Windsor Arts. “Summer is a great time to relax with friends and family and enjoy live music outdoors. Our Summer Music and More series offers something for everyone — great music, creative activities and a fun, welcoming atmosphere. It’s what summer is all about.”

The July 12 concert (rain

Rider Furniture

date July 13) features Channel Collective. Led by multiinstrumentalist Jon Thompson and drummer Justin Leigh, the group captures the beauty of spontaneity through a fusion of improvised and composed music.

On July 26 (rain date July 27), Andy B.AND SoulFolk will perform. The group is the latest project from Andy Bernstein (Andy B), longtime frontman of Indie Roots Rockers, The VooDudes. The group combines soul, folk, blues and rock influences.

The final concert on August 9 (rain date August 10) features Swara, the Indian American band that blends Indian film music, classical structures and contemporary genres such as jazz, rock and R&B. Swara performs in multiple languages including English, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

In addition to live music,

free art activities will be available at each event, with hands-on projects designed for both adults and children. Families are encouraged to bring picnics.

For more details and updates, visit westwindsorarts. org/events.

Sound Studio Series

Debuts in September

State Theatre New Jersey of New Brunswick has announced a new Sound Studio Series, described as “an immersive musical experience that places you in the heart of the performance.”

The 3 p.m. concerts on September 28, October 12 and November 23 take place in the theater’s Studio space.

On September 28, pianist Julian Jenson and soprano Susana Leiva perform works by often overlooked women composers from the last two centuries, with a special focus on France and beyond.

On October 12, violinist Eric Tsai and pianist Lohan Park play works by Ysaye, Mozart, Debussy, and ShihChing Ju.

The final concert in the series on November 23 features pianist Enriqueta Somarriba and soprano Maria Brea in “Verses in Song.” The program revolves around the theme of music and poetry in four different languages with music by such composers as Liszt, Debussy, Florence Price, Copland, and Hugo Wolf.

Visit stnj.org for tickets. The theater is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.

well loved and well read since 1946

LAW OFFICE

TUNES FROM THE NINETIES: Straight No Chaser brings a cappella music to State Theatre New Jersey on July 16.

Jillian Blevins

NEW SERIES: At the first performance in the Sound Studio Series at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on September 28, pianist Julian Jenson and soprano Susan Leiva will explore the legacy of vocal music by 19th- and-20th century women composers.

SUMMER STRINGS: The Bennewitz Quartet performs music by Haydn, Janacek, and Dvorak on Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium. Violinists Jakub Fisher and Stepan Jezek, violist Jiri Pinkas, and cellist Stepan Dolezal are among the attractions this summer of Princeton University’s Summer Chamber Concert series. Free tickets are available at tickets. princeton.edu.

“FREE”: “See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” will be on view at West Windsor Arts July 15 through August 8 and will benefit the scholarship fund established in her name.

Exhibition, Workshops

At West Windsor Arts

West Windsor Arts will host a special art exhibition this summer celebrating the life and legacy of late Princeton artist Priscilla Snow Algava.

The show, “See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” will be on view at West Windsor Arts July 15 through August 8 and will benefit the scholarship fund established in her name. An opening reception is on Saturday, July 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.

“Priscilla’s daughters, Alisa and Carin Algava, and her grandson, Drew Algava, came to us with the idea for this show, which will feature a selection of Priscilla’s artwork that together, we personally curated from her warehouse,” said Aylin Green, executive director of West Windsor Arts.

All proceeds from the sale of artwork from the show will go directly to the Priscilla Snow Algava Scholarship (westwindsorarts.org/ support#scholarships), established in 2018 to enable people of all ages who wish to pursue art classes at West Windsor Arts to do so despite any financial obstacles.

The show also celebrates what would have been Algava’s 85th birthday and inspired two healing art workshops that will take place at the arts center this summer. Both the show and the workshops keep Algava’s message of hope and love alive and were sparked by an idea Drew Algava had when he was only 11 years old.

“After my grandmother passed away in 2019, I thought that it would be fitting to have an art show that honored her life and legacy,” said Drew Algava. A few years later, he put his dream into action and applied for and received a $3,000 Moses Brown grant to fund this special exhibition and sale.

“When Mom died, Drew made a list of things that were beautiful to him and started the ‘See Beauty Everywhere’ movement in her honor,” Carin Algava said. “He raised more than $7,500 for cancer research in her name for his Bar Mitzvah project.” This art show and sale is a continuation of that mission.

“The mission of the ‘See Beauty Everywhere’ movement is not only to share my grandmother’s message but also to get her artwork into the world,” Drew added. “Grandma Silla made friends wherever she went and made everyone feel better just from being around her.She loved creating art. It is magical to see what she was able to do.”

The exhibition will feature a selection of Priscilla’s joyful, expressive works — art that, as her family said, continues to bring healing, light and inspiration to those who see it.

The healing power of art became especially important to Algava during her cancer treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She would often go into their art therapy studio and create, finding solace and strength through the hospital’s art therapy program.

at Contemporary Art Center

“She saw that art therapy room as her support group,” added Alisa Algava. “She felt connected to herself, the art therapist and the other participants. It was an incredibly powerful experience.”

In partnership with Debbie Rice, the same Memorial Sloan Kettering art therapist who worked with Priscilla Algava, West Windsor Arts will host two free workshops during the exhibition for individuals impacted by cancer or chronic illness.

Guided Workshops include Beyond Words I: Pearls of Wisdom (westwindsorarts. org/event/beyond-words1-pearls-of-wisdom) on Saturday, July 26, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and Beyond Words II: Collage Open Studio (westwindsorarts. org/event/beyond-words2-collage-open-studio) on Saturday, August 2, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

According to West Windsor Arts, “See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” will celebrate not only the artist’s extraordinary work but also the enduring love and inspiration she left behind.

For more information about the exhibit, to register for the workshops, or to contribute to the scholarship fund, visit:westwindsorarts. org/exhibitions.

For more about West Windsor Arts call (609) 716-931 or visit visit westwindsorarts.org.

The Center for Contemporary Art (“The Center”) in Bedminster has announced its Members’ Juried Exhibition, an opportunity for members to showcase their artwork in any and all media. The variety and range of entries is a testament to the diversity and creativity of The Center’s community of artists. There are 75 works of art by members in painting, printmaking, charcoal, ink, graphite, pastel, fiber, photography, mixed media, ceramics, and more.

The juror for this year’s exhibition is Helen Marie Farrant. Farrant said in her juror statement, “I reviewed all submissions with a focus on art history influences, presentation of a story, interpretive viewpoint, and of course, mastery of media and artistic execution. Ultimately I chose 75 works of art in a variety of media. When you visit the gallery, I encourage you to take time. Linger over each piece. Look for the stories. And most importantly, Enjoy!” Farrant is an award-winning artist and color consultant. She has been playing with clay for 40 years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions nationwide. Most recently, her ceramic sculpture was featured at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton. Additionally, she won first place for a painting at The Tewksbury Historical Society Art Show in Oldwick. Farrant is a founding member of the Red Barn Artisans. She currently teaches at A Maker’s Circle, Potterville, as well as workshops at private studios. She also was a longtime ceramics teaching artist at The Center for Contemporary Art. She holds a degree in Art and Design from Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

The Best of Show Award was presented to Annalena Bohach (Somerville) for her paper collage, Pixie Dust; the Solo Exhibition Award went to Oxana Kovalchuk (Fort Lee) for her glass collages, Wish Tree and Roots Additional Honorable Mentions were received by Vimala Arunachalam (Hillsborough), Steven Epstein (Edison), Sandra Kosinski (New Providence), Elizabether Oberman (Flemington, and Larry Potter (Pittstown).

The exhibition will be on view through September 14. The Center is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster. For further information, call (908) 234-2345 or visit ccabedminster.org.

Call for Artisans:

WWA Artisan Market

West Windsor Arts (WWA) is seeking handmade, whimsical, and functional objects for their newly created yearround, consignment-style Artisan Market, opening in the art center lobby this fall.

The Artisan Market will offer designed and crafted products aligned with their reputation of creating a welcoming and personal shopping experience for the community.

The deadline to enter is July 31. For more information, visit westwindsorarts. org/call-for-art/artisan-market-2025-2026.

hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Mirrored Hues” and “Places Near and Far” through July 19. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “Scott Hoerl: Still Life Photos +,” Jill Mudge: Narratives in Nature,” and “Barbara Warren: Imaginary Landscapes” through July 20. Gallery14.org.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Peace and Tranquility” through July 30. An opening reception is on July 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. Cranburyartscouncil.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.

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.

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Roberto Lugo: Orange and Black” through July 6. Artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Celebrating Color and Light” through July 6. Gallery

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Faculty and Student Show” through July 12. Westwindsorarts.org.

from

“PIXIE DUST”: This paper collage by Annalena Bohach was awarded Best in Show at the “Members’ Juried Exhibition” in Bedminster. It will be on view through September 14. Members’ Exhibition

Wednesday, July 2

9-11 a.m.: Land Stewardship Volunteer Session at Friends of Princeton Open Space, Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Help with invasive species removal. Register at fopos.org.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one discussions about issues affecting Princeton at the bus stop in front of the playground at the Avalon Bay complex on Witherspoon Street.

7:30 p.m.: The Bennewitz String Quartet performs works by Haydn, Janacek, and Dvorak at Richardson Auditorium. Free. Tickets.princeton.edu.

Thursday, July 3

6:30 p.m.: The Southside Wanderers perform at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Patriotic anthems and summer classics. Free. Registration requested. Mcl.org.

Friday, July 4

12-3 p.m.: Fourth of July Jubilee at Morven, 55 Stockton Street.

Town Topics

Mark Your Calendar

Artmaking, garden tours, face painting, live music, food trucks and more. Morven.org.

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 Terhuneorchards.com.

12-6 p.m.: The Great American Vineyard Cookout at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. Live patriotic music, burgers and dogs by Ottoburger, live reading of the Declaration of Independence, sparklers, wine. Free. Unionvillevineyards.com.

1 and 3:30 p.m.: Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Will Krakower at the Clarke House, Princeton Battlefield State Park, Mercer Street. Free.

Saturday, July 5

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.

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 Jeff P Terhuneorchards.com.

4 p.m.: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Free reading of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech at the Trent House, 15 Market Street, Trenton. Williamtrenthouse.org.

5-8 p.m.: Evening Blacksmithing at Howell Living History Farm , 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Free. Howellfarm.org.

Sunday, July 6

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 Briz Terhuneorchards.com.

2 p.m.: “George Washington Takes Command: The Journey Through Jersey, 1775,” talk by Paul Soltis at the Trent House Museum, 15 Market Street, Trenton. Free. With display of “Oh Freedom” banners. Williamtrenthouse.org.

Monday, July 7

7:30 p.m.: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July ?”, community members read an amended version of Frederick Douglass’ influential speech, via Zoom. Register at princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, July 8

9:30 and 11 a.m.:

Read & Pick: Blueberries, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Handson farm activity followed by stories. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.

Wednesday, July 9

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one discussions about issues affecting Princeton under the trees on Nassau Street across from South Tulane Street.

1-3 p.m.: Land Stewardship Volunteer Session at Friends of Princeton Open Space, Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Help with invasive species removal. Register at fopos.org.

6-7:30 p.m.: Evening Yoga in the Gardens with Gratitude Yoga at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. 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. Sue Gola with Princeton Pickup Band. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

Thursday, July 10

10:30 a.m.: Speed Reads in the Newsroom at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Read a sample of an advance reader’s copy of a recent or soon-to-be-released book and discuss with the group. Princetonlibrary.org.

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: “The NJ AI Hub: Building a World-Class AI Innovation Ecosystem,” topic of the July Membership Luncheon of Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber. Liat Krawczyk, inaugural executive director of the Hub, is speaker. At Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Road East. Princetonchamber.org.

JULY

7:15 p.m.: Black Voices Book Group discusses Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance by Zora Neale Hurston. On Google Meet. See calendar events at princetonlibrary. org for link.

Friday, July 11

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 Jerry Steele Terhuneorchards.com.

6:30 p.m.: Formerly of Chicago The Players perform at Mercer County Park, West Windsor. Gates open at 5 p.m. $5 ($25 for full season pass). Mercercounty.org.

7:30 p.m.: The Galvin Cello Quartet performs works by Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Paganini, and others at Richardson Auditorium. Free. Tickets.princeton.edu.

Saturday, July 12

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.

9-11 a.m. and 12-2 p.m.: Land Stewardship Volunteer Session at Friends of Princeton Open Space, Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Help with invasive species removal. Register at fopos.org.

9:30 a.m.: Free walk along the Lawrence Hopewell Trail . For meeting point and route, visit lhtrail.org.

10 a.m.-12 p.m .: Foraging as Stewardship: Wineberries, held by Friends of Princeton Open Space at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Fopos.org.

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: “Made in the Shade” naturethemed activities for children and families at Marquand Park, Lovers Lane. Hands-on games, crafts, and creative play. Free. Snacks and free coloring books. Marquandpark.org.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick your own, stroll the farm; also puppet theater, bubbles, food, games, pony rides, and music from 12-5 p.m by Joah Blume. Terhuneorchards.com.

10 a.m.: The Goonies is screened at the Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, as part of the $5 Family Matinees program. Gardentheatre.org/family.

11 a.m.: Nature Photography with Your Phone , workshop led by Kirstin Ohrt at Mountain Lakes House, 30 Mountain Avenue. Register through princetonlibrary.org

5 p.m.: Evening Animal Chores at Howell Living History Farm , 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Free. Help feed and water the animals, collect eggs, bring in sheep from the pasture, grind corn in the barn, and more. Howellfarm.org.

5-7:30 p.m.: Summer Music and More: Channel Collective , concert at Nassau Park Pavilion, 510 Nassau Park Boulevard, West Windsor. Hands-on art activities for all ages. Free. Westwindsorarts.org.

7:30-10:30 p.m.: Princeton Country Dancers presents an English dance at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Tanya Rotenberg with Alias. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

8 p.m.: Trombonist/ bandleader Jimmy Bosch performs a free concert of jazz/salsa at Pettoranello Gardens Ampitheater, Community Park North, Route 206 and Mountain Avenue. In the event of rain, the event moves to Princeton High School Performing Arts Center. Part of the Blue Curtain music series. Info@bluecurtain.org.

Sunday, July 13 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick your own, stroll the farm, also puppet theater, bubbles, food, games, pony rides, and music from 12-5 p.m by the Mike & Laura Band . Terhuneorchards.com.

4-5:15 p.m.: New Yacht City performs at the Listen Local series on Hinds Plaza (or inside Princeton Public Library’s Community Room if it rains). Princetonlibrary.org.

Monday, July 14 Recycling

2 p.m.: Oranges and Sunshine , about the social worker who uncovered the scandal of deportation of impoverished British children to Australia, is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street .

7:30 p.m.: The Manhattan Chamber Players perform works by Mozart, R. Schumann, Enescu, and others at Richardson Auditorium. Free. Tickets.princeton.edu.

Wednesday, July 16

8-10 a.m.: Nonprofit Wellness Breakfast at NJM Insurance Group, 301 Sullivan Way, West Trenton, sponsored by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber. Princetonchamber.org.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one discussions about issues affecting Princeton inside the area of the clock tower at Princeton Shopping Center.

6 p.m.: The Board of Trustees of Princeton Public Library meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Lymphatic and Digestive System Treatments Are Focus of The Tox Princeton Studio

DeAnna Minus-Vincent wants to help you look and feel better!

Owner with her husband Daryl Minus-Vincent, of The Tox Princeton, she is a strong advocate of The Tox Technique, which helps to stimulate the lymphatic and digestive systems, as well as providing non-invasive body sculpting.

IT’S NEW To Us

A national franchise, founded in 2019 by Courtney Yeager, The Tox is now available in 40 locations across the country. The Tox Princeton is the first in New Jersey.

Born and brought up in Trenton, DeAnna Minus-Vincent has had an impressive career in business. She has served as executive vice president and the inaugural chief social justice and accountability officer for RWJBarnabas Health, the

largest health system in New Jersey.

Executive VP

Prior to that position, she was the chief engagement officer at Benefits Data Trust, a national social change organization. She currently serves as executive vice president of Black Women’s Health Imperative, the only national organization solely focused on the health of Black women and girls. Having earned a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University, she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in business administration, with a concentration in leadership and innovation.

What led Minus-Vincent to head in a seemingly new entrepreneurial direction, focusing on self-care and a private studio?

“I actually saw this as a natural extension of my lifelong work, helping organizations grow and expand,” she explains. “I never dreamt of owning a bricks and mortar wellness studio, but sometimes you have to let

go and see where your next adventure takes you. Now, in addition to helping organizations be their best, I am helping individuals be their best.”

The steps that are a part of this journey, and led to opening The Tox are unique to Minus-Vincent’s story. A self-described high achiever (“I am a Type A-Plus”!), she was involved in many projects, multi-tasking and balancing numerous issues, without any real downtime. Suddenly, her life changed, when, within the span of a few months, she lost her mother, and suffered a heart attack.

“I realized I needed to take care of myself and focus on my health,” she says. “I looked into several self-care programs and various health practices, including yoga and acupuncture, among others.”

New Opportunity

She came upon The Tox through her daughter’s suggestion, and had her first introduction at a New York City location. It was a very

positive experience, which opened up an unexpected new opportunity.

“I felt better immediately. I felt lighter, had more energy, and was more relaxed. After just one visit! I was looking for solutions, and I was lucky to find this solution.”

Investigating franchise opportunities, she discovered The Tox Technique, and a new adventure presented itself.

After receiving training in the Tox methods, MinusVincent organized a staff of licensed massage therapists, all trained in the Tox Technique, and Tox Princeton opened at 23-A Witherspoon Street (in the adjacent Tulane parking lot) in February.

While the digestive system is self-explanatory, the lymphatic system may not be as well-known to people. As Minus-Vincent points out, it is necessary for the functioning of a healthy body.

“It is important for filtering waste, toxins, and excess fluids from the body, and is essential in supporting immunity, stabilizing metabolism, boosting energy

levels, and overall vitality. It needs to move freely.

Specialized System

“But when the lymphatic system becomes sluggish or over-loaded, it can lead to water retention, inflammation, fatigue, and a general heaviness. It may also cause skin breakouts.”

The Tox Technique is a specialized system that blends lymphatic drainage with sculpting methods to detoxify, support digestion, and de-bloat, and contour the body.

“The Tox Technique involves a series of hand movements, which are designed to stimulate both the lymphatic and digestive systems,” explains MinusVincent. “Our expert technicians will determine the most appropriate technique for each individual client.”

The technician employs non-invasive body sculpting treatments. These can be an effective way to contour and define the body without the risk and discomfort associated with surgery.

The Tox offers a selection of different treatments to accommodate individual clients’ needs. Among them is the 60-minute Master Tox, a body sculpting treatment designed to contour, boost metabolism, and flush out excess water retention. There is also a 90-minute version that targets the waistline, hips, and lower back with deeper focus and added time for maximum detox.

Others include a full body Master Tox + Sculpting Facial, also Sculpting Facial, and a Pregnancy Master Tox + Sculpting Facial. All of these treatments are available in single sessions or in packages, which offer cost savings.

Regular Visits

Regular visits are

recommended for the best results, emphasizes MinusVincent. “In the beginning, we suggest that a client come once a week for three weeks, then every three weeks, and then establish a maintenance program.”

She is pleased that even in the short time The Tox Princeton has been open, many regular clients are participating in the program. They are both men and women, and typically in the age range from their 20s to 70s.

“They are coming from Princeton and the area, but also from Jersey City, and even Delaware,” says MinusVincent. “There has been great word-of-mouth, and people are also finding us on social media.”

In addition to the treatments, a variety of products are available for sale. Ranging from special teas to dry brushes for defoliation, they are designed to support the treatments and maintain wellness between sessions.

DeAnna Minus-Vincent is enthusiastic about this new venture and its very successful beginning. She looks forward to its becoming an important part of people’s self-care focus and an inspiration to them to prioritize their health.

“Opening The Tox is a continuation of my journey,” she explains. “I enjoy meeting people, and I felt I had to share my experience and what I had found. It made a big difference in my life, and now I want to help others in this way.”

The Tox Princeton is open six days, closed on Wednesday. For further information, including appointment times, call (609) 770-5507. Visit the website thetoxtechnique. com.

—Jean Stratton

THE BEST OF HEALTH: “It is important to get the word out to people who may not know about The Tox Technique and its great benefit in helping stimulate the lymphatic and digestive systems,” explain DeAnna and Daryl Minus-Vincent, owners of The Tox Princeton. “The Tox Technique can make a big difference in people’s health and wellbeing — and their lives.”

S ports

Coming Off a Banner Season for PU Women’s Golf, Rao Primed for U.S. Women’s Amateur Tournament

Catherine Rao started taking golf lessons as a grade schooler but she didn’t take to the game right away.

“I started golf when I was like around seven,” said Rao, a native of Camarillo, Calif. “I had lessons up until I was in middle school. I hated it at first.”

But when Rao played her first tournament as a middle schooler, her attitude toward golf changed dramatically.

“I was like, oh, it is really fun beating other people,” said Rao. “I love the competition, that is what really got me into it for sure. For me, the biggest interest came from I am not playing a one-hour game, I had five hours to do something.”

After producing a key early breakthrough, Roa got hooked on competitive golf.

“I won my first AGJA (American Junior Golf Association) event in the summer after 8th grade, that is pretty much how I started committing to it,” said Rao. “I always joke that I just kind of accidentally got good at golf. After I won my first AJGA, I started getting invited to big AGJA invitationals. I kept gradually improving and I think that was the point that I knew I am actually good. I played in the final group with Rose Zhang (former Stanford NCAA champion and current LGPA player) in the Rolex girls’ championship in my junior year of high school. I was like, ‘Oh I am playing with Rose. OK, I can actually hit a golf ball. Oh cool.’”

During her high school years, Rao produced a number of cool moments in her rise up the golf ladder, placing fourth at the 2020 Rolex Girls Invitational, third at the 2020 PING Invitational, sixth at the 2021 PING Invitational, tying for ninth at the 2021 PGA Girls Championship, and playing in the 2021 Junior Solheim Cup with Team USA.

When it came time to play in college, Rao, the valedictorian at Oaks Christian, decided to come east to attend Princeton University and join its women’s golf program. “I just didn’t want to go to a golf powerhouse,” said Rao, who is majoring in the demanding Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) program at Princeton. “It didn’t make sense knowing that I could do so much with academics and then completely ignore that to pursue golf. I just didn’t want to go to a golf powerhouse. Because I was so young, I just wanted to give myself every opportunity that I could to succeed. So from there that is basically how I decided to go to Princeton.”

Rao succeeded right away for the Tigers, taking second in the Ivy League Championships, earning first-team All-Ivy honors and getting named as the Ivy Rookie of the Year. She posted three top-two finishes in the last four events of the spring, tying for medalist honors at the Columbia Classic and finishing runner-up at the

Harvard Invitational ahead of the Ivy tournament.

After being sidelined by a nagging shoulder injury as a sophomore, Rao returned with a bang in the 2024-25 campaign. She started the season by earning medalist honors at the Nittany Lion Invitational in September to pace the Tigers to the overall team title. This February, Rao placed first in the Columbia Classic. She went on to take third at the Ivy League Championships in May to help the Tigers take first in the team standings. In recognition of her stellar campaign, Rao was named the 2025 Ivy League Player of the Year and as an honorable mention All-American by Golfweek magazine.

Rao started this summer by placing 73rd in the stroke play portion of the British Women’s Amateur in Nairn, Scotland. Next month, Rao will be competing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur from August 4-10 at the Bandon Dunes Golf resort in Bandon, Ore. She has made the quarterfinals in the last three years at that prestigious event.

In reflecting on her Princeton career, Rao was a bit disappointed by her freshman year despite the accolades she received.

“I felt like I was not playing my best,” said Rao, who played through her shoulder injury that season. “In my mind, this semester is what I expected my freshman season to be. Coming to Princeton was a little bit of a tough transition for me. It was now I am the one who is supposed to be winning. I haven’t won a tournament since eighth grade. I have been top-tenning everything since eighth grade in big events but I haven’t won one in a long time. The first win is always the hardest one.”

While Rao was sidelined from competition during her sophomore year, she gained a greater appreciation for the game by playing recreationally with members of the Princeton men’s hockey team at the Springdale Golf Club.

“They are obsessed with golf; they were like you play golf, let’s play golf,” said Rao, who keeps busy in the winter by working with the men’s hockey team as a marketing and social media assistant for Princeton Athletic Communications.

“Guys like Ian Murphy, Adam Robbins, and Nick Carabin were let’s go golf every single day. Their season ended and I was like do you guys want to go on the senior tour, you practice more than collegiate golfers. They helped me realize that

there is lot more to golf than competition, they made it really, really fun.”

Rao returned to competition in her junior year on a roll, starting by taking first in the Penn State event.

“It was really fun individually to get the win straight off the bat,” said Rao. “It was the tournament where it was the first time your team was playing together. That was when coach and I were talking saying this is going to be a good year.”

A major highlight this year for Rao came when she competed this April in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at the famed Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters Tournament.

“Augusta was an amazing experience, I don’t even know how to describe it,” said Rao, who shot a fourover 148 to miss the cut. “It was literally like a dream come true. It is the only cut I have ever missed where the day after I wasn’t in my bedroom crying. It was one of those things where I still had so much fun. I am playing holes that I have watched on TV. It was really cool for me to get that opportunity as a girl. We grew up watching the Masters and we never thought we would have a tournament there.”

Winning the Ivy championship was a fun moment for Rao and her teammates.

“That was so great,” said Rao. “Ivies is so much more fun when you win it. The ride back to campus so much less depressing than my freshman year.”

While Princeton went on the finish ninth at the NCAA Charlottesville Regional to end its season, Rao enjoyed the ride.

“That was fun, it was one of those things where we were supposed to play it,” said Rao, who was the top Tiger finisher at the event, taking ninth with a twoover total of 215 for the three-round competition.

“I personally feel that I did not play well. I know a lot of my teammates feel like we didn’t not give our best performance. I think it’s just one of those things where we are not used to playing super long seasons like the other schools so a little bit of the burnout hit for sure. It was a good learning experience in terms of scheduling and everything that we have now figured out for next year.”

Playing at the British Women’s Amateur event last month was another good learning experience for Rao.

“European golf is like a nightmare feeling,” said Rao, who carded a six-over

PLAY: Princeton University women’s golf

competed for the Tigers in the NCAA Charlottesville

was recently named as an honorable mention All-American by Golfweek

was the 2025 Ivy League Player of the Year, will be competing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur from August 4-10 at the Bandon Dunes Golf resort in Bandon, Ore. (Photo

150 in failing to qualify for the match play portion of the event. “I have played practice rounds and I am thinking I am literally not going to break 100 out here but I really like playing over there. I think this year was a little bit of a mistake because I was so tired from the season. In general, it is a great experience. You are all of a sudden dealing with 40 mph wind, rain, everything. This links course was a little bit different though. This was a lot tighter, there were trees, there was elevation. Typically links courses don’t have any trees or any elevation.”

Looking ahead to the U.S. Women’s Amateur this

August, Rao is hoping to el evate her game.

“I love links golf and I am really excited for Bandon,” said Rao. “I have always wanted to play Bandon. The U.S. Women’s Am is my favorite event of the year by far. Hopefully it is one of those things where I feel that for so long I have been so upset that I can’t get past quarterfinals that I am at this point where it is unreasonable to think that you are going to reach the quarterfinals every year. I am going to do what I can do. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. In my mind, I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone else.”

Heading into her senior campaign at Princeton,

Rao is looking to prove that she belongs among the elite of women’s college golf.

“It is the same thing every year, I try to keep my goals pretty consistent - three, four tournament wins, make it to NCAA finals,” said Rao, who is planning to play a fifth college season as a grad transfer as she has an extra year of eligibility after being sidelined as a sophomore. “Hopefully we make it as a team. There is only so much I can control as a team at the end of the day, there are three other scores that count. I am going to do what I can do.”

—Bill Alden

star Catherine Rao displays her form as she

Regional this May. Rising senior Rao, who

magazine and

provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

PU Sports Roundup

Men’s Hoops Star Hicke Makes U.S. 3x3 Team for World Games

Princeton University men’s basketball rising junior Jackson Hicke has been selected to represent Team USA in a 3x3 competition at the World University Games in Bochum, Germany, in July.

Joining Hicke on the US team will be Avery Brown (Columbia), Chandler Pigg é (Harvard), and Nick Townsend (Yale). Games will be played from July 1720 at the Jahrhunderthalle. The team will hold a training camp in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 12 before traveling to Germany on July 15. An Opening Ceremony will be held on July 16 prior to competition.

Hicke appeared in all 30 games for the Tigers in the 2024-25 season, making eight starts. In 17.2 minutesper-game, Hicke averaged 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

PU Fencers Medal

In Pan Am Event

Several Princeton University fencers — current, former and soon-to-be — medaled at the Pan American

Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last week.

In the women’s é p é e, Princeton fencers earned three medals, with incoming freshman Ruien (Angel) Xiao finishing second, rising junior Hadley Husisian taking third, and Kasia Nixon ’21 also taking third as three of the four semifinalists were Tigers. Argentine Isabel Di Tella defeated American Husisian 15-8 in one semi while Xiao, fencing for Canada, getting a touch past U.S. fencer Nixon 15-14. Di Tella was a touch in front of Xiao 13-12 in the final.

Tristan Szapary ’24 defeated Venezuelan fencer Ruben Limardo Gascon 15-7 to win the men’s é p é e title, and Maia Chamberlain ’22 defeated Mexico’s Natalia Botello 15-12 to win the women’s saber title. Rising junior Alexandra Lee finished 14th in the women’s saber competition.

In the team events, Szapary helped the U.S. squad take silver in men’s épée. Szapary got 14 touches in a 45-33 quarterfinal win over Panama, 17 touches in a 45-35 semifinal win over Colombia, and nine touches in a 45-32 final loss to Venezuela.

In women’s saber, the U.S. team earned gold. Chamberlain had 15 touches in a 45-29 quarterfinal win

over Mexico, Chamberlain and Lee combined for 30 touches in a 45-23 semifinal win over Colombia, and the Tiger pair combined for 30 touches again in a 45-28 final win over Argentina.

Rising sophomore Leehi Machulsky joined the Princeton medal list in helping the U.S. win gold in the women’s é p é e team competition. In the quarterfinals, Husisian and Nixon combined for 25 of Team USA’s 38 touches in a 38-27 win over Venezuela before Husisian, Nixon, and Machulsky combined for 30 touches in a 45-15 win over Colombia. In the final, the Princeton fencers accounted for all 41 of the U.S. touches in a 41-25 win over Canada. Xiao had nine touches for the Canadians as she earned a silver medal.

3 Tiger Men’s Rowers Make Australia U-23 Team

Three members of the Princeton University heavyweight rowing team, Ed Nutt , Dan Cashman , and Matt Cashman , have been selected to compete for the Under 23 Australian National Team.

The trio will race at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poznan, Poland, from July 23-27 in the eight.

Sprints and set a Lake Carnegie best time of 5:20.8 over the 2,000-meter course in a win over No. 4 Brown on May 3. He also helped the 1V defeat Yale, Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Navy, La Salle and Temple in 2025. Nutt rowed for Australia at the 2024 U23 World Championships in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, and helped the green and gold win bronze in the men’s eight.

Matt Cashman had an impressive freshman season for Princeton this spring. He helped the second varsity eight win silver at Eastern Sprints and the Petite Final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Associate (IRA) National Championships. He was on the 1V that won the Carnegie Cup against Yale and Cornell and led the 2V to wins over Navy, Temple, La Salle and Georgetown.

“I’m incredibly proud of Ed, Dan, and Matt for earning the opportunity to represent their country,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes. “Ed has been there before, but this will be the first time Matt and Dan have competed on this stage. They model what it means to be a Princeton rower through their work ethic, professionalism and teamfirst attitudes. I can’t wait to see what they do in Poland this July.”

Rising junior Nutt is coming off a 2025 season where he helped the varsity eight win bronze at Eastern

Dan Cashman was also on the second varsity eight that won silver at Eastern Sprints, and the varsity eight that finished fourth in the Grand Final at IRAs. He was also on the varsity eight that defeated Navy, Georgetown, La Salle and Temple along with the second varsity eight that defeated Yale, Cornell, and Columbia. PU Women’s Track Stars Excel in U23 British Meet Princeton University women’s track stars Georgina Scoot ’26, Mena Scatchard ’25, and Olivia Martin ’27 excelled as they competed at the U23 British Trials from June 28-29 at the Cardiff International Sports Campus in Cardiff, Wales.

Scoot placed first in the triple jump with a best leap of 13.08 meters and fourth in the long jump with a top mark of 6.11. Scatchard placed second in the 1,500 meters in 4:28.64 while Martin finished second in the 800 in 2:05.29.

SWISS WATCH: Parker Hill looks to pass in a 2023 game during her junior season with Princeton University women’s basketball team. Last week, the recently graduated Hill signed a professional contract with Helios Basket of the SB Women’s League in Switzerland. Hill is the sixth Princeton alumna to be playing professionally this year, joining Blake Dietrick ’15 (3x3 Basketball Association), Carlie Littlefield ’21 (3x3 Basketball Association), Abby Meyers ’22 (Maccabi Bnot Ashdod - Israel), Grace Stone ’23 (Perry Lakes Hawks – Australia) and Kaitlyn Chen ’24 (Golden State Valkyries – WNBA). Last winter, Hill earned Honorable Mention All-Ivy League, Academic All-Ivy and CSC Academic All-District, setting new career highs in points (7.3), rebounds (4.7), assists (2.3), and blocks (1.0) while shooting 62.6 percent from the floor. (Photo by

Frank Wojciechowski)

Former PHS Standout Petrone Saved Her Best for Last, Enjoying Stellar Final Season for Fairfield Women’s Lax

Eva Petrone’s college lacrosse career was nearly derailed before it even started.

In the summer of 2020 before Petrone, a former Princeton High standout who was heading to Fairfield University to join its women’s lax team that fall, was injured in a serous car accident.

“In June, I was on Route 1; I was in my little Toyota Takoma and was in the jug handle going over into West Windsor at Fisher Place,” said Petrone. “This 18-wheeler ran three red lights and t-boned me. I hurt my back really bad and hurt my hand a bit at my wrist.”

Petrone recovered enough to participate in Fairfield’s fall ball season but ended up taking a redshirt that year. Back at full speed for the 2021-22 school year, Petrone got on the field that spring.

“It was my first time playing in competitive games since junior year in high school,” said Petrone. “You have to get the shakes out, you feel young when you are playing with all of these older girls. I ended up getting most of my playing time in the conference semifinals and championship that year. Your adrenaline goes so high, you feel like a little kid again. You just feel that you legs can’t stop and your brain is going a million miles an hour.”

Petrone helped the Stags win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament that season and ended up falling to Syracuse in the NCAA tournament in a game played at Princeton University. As a junior in 2023, defensive midfielder Petrone got into a handful of games as Fairfield won another MAAC title. Last year, Petrone made 12 appearances off the bench and got 10 ground balls, six caused turnovers and nine draw controls.

This spring, playing as a grad student while she got a MBA, Petrone started all 19 games, getting 13 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers and 26 draw controls to help the Stags win the MAAC tournament and go 11-8.

Heading into this spring, Petrone was determined to get the most out of her final campaign.

“I was definitely not satisfied, I wasn’t fulfilled,” said

Petrone. “I am competitive, I needed to end on a high note and I just felt like this was the perfect chance for me when the fifth year came along. I just knew I wanted to leave it all out on the field.”

As a battle-tested veteran, Petrone was looking to assume a bigger leadership role this spring.

“We had lost so many of the upperclassmen from last year,” said Petrone. “We had a big senior class and a big fifth year class last year so I was one of the oldest on the field and oldest on the team. I had to step up into a big leadership position, I think I did OK. I started every game, it was my time. There was definitely a lot more pressure on me to compete and win games.”

In that role, two younger players that Petrone looked to help were former Princeton Day School stars Paige Gardner and Tessa Caputo.

“It was really special playing with Paige and Tessa,” said Petrone. “We are from rivalry high schools but once you get to college, it really all fades out. It is cool to share the same roots. We always joke around about that.”

Petrone took special pride in her work on the draw circle.

“I started on the circle,” said Petrone, noting that Brynn Donnelly on the draw and star midfielder Haley Burns were other key members of that unit. “The draw is a big component of the game. That was my thing, I loved that being in on that and getting possession. I was on the defensive side. It is a very intense position.”

A 10-7 loss to Mount St. Mary’s in early April helped ratchet up the intensity for the Stags as they responded to that setback by going on a six-game winning streak.

“That was a little bit of a wakeup call for us; if we wanted to win the championship, we were going to need to be better than that and more consistent with our play,” said Petrone. “We fought hard, we practiced hard. Everyone was really fully invested. I felt like a very strong connection with this team; of all the teams I have been on, this one was probably the closest.”

Rolling into the MAAC tournament semi against

Siena, Petrone had one draw control as Fairfield pulled out a 16-12 win.

“I was face-guarding their star attacker, just locking her off; it was on and off face gaurd to just playing defense,” said Petrone. “I was really revved up for that game. I felt pretty confident the whole time. It is never enough goals, you always want to get more of a lead. Everyone was fired up too. Watching our attackers move the ball, work the offense and put the ball in the back of the net was a great feeling.”

The Stags produced a superb defensive effort in the conference final as they defeated Iona 12-7.

“It was really exciting, our goalie (Keira Furey) played really well,” said Petrone. “Our defense really brought it all together, we were jelling. We play in a zone defense so we all have to be on the same page and moving the same way. We were confident with the ball in transition. You just have to want it more in those kind of games and we did.”

For Petrone, that triumph put the ups and downs she has experienced in perspective.

“After that final whistle blew and we had won, it was like everything just paid off,” said Petrone. “In my fifth year, it just felt like everything came full circle. After losing the championship my senior year, that win meant more than I could ever put into words, It was like all of the work that I put in, not just that season but my whole life finally paid off. I felt complete in a way. Like I achieved what I have always dreamed of — being a champion.”

Although Petrone’s lax career ended with a 16-7 loss to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament, she relished getting that opportunity.

“In the beginning of the fall, my goal was get to the NCAA tournament,” said Petrone, noting that she has been buoyed over the years by the support of her family.

“Obviously with our record, we weren’t going to have a great first round matchup. It was cool to be in Maryland, the home of lacrosse and play one last game with my best friends. It was a good time. We lost by nine points

but it was a heartwarming moment saying hi to my parents after the game. It was emotional, it was the end of an era.”

Reflecting on that era, Petrone believes it changed her life. “I think playing lacrosse at Fairfield and at the Division I level was just a dream come true,” said Petrone, who is now working in sales for TTI, a company

that produces power tools, equipment and appliances. “It flew by. My final year made me realize how much the sport shaped me as an athlete but more importantly as a person all around. I will definitely miss the competition. You make a lot of relationships and I will miss the relationships with my teammates and coaches.”

—Bill Alden

FIELD OF DREAMS: Eva Petrone brings the ball upfield for the Fairfield University women’s lacrosse team as it battled Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament this May. Former Princeton High standout Petrone had three draw controls in the game as Fairfield fell 16-7. Defensive midfielder Petrone piled up 13 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers, and 26 draw controls on the season to help the Stags win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament and go 11-8.

(Photo provided by Eva Petrone)

Needling for Knee Arthritis

Redcord Neurac

Princeton Little League Battles Hard to Final Out

As it Falls to Lawrence in District 12 50/70 Final

As the Princeton Little League (PLL) team hosted the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament last week at Farmview Fields, it provided plenty of drama.

In its opener of the doubleelimination competition on June 22, Princeton trailed Lawrence 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning and scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth and two in the seventh to earn a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Two days later, needing a win to earn the title, Princeton fell behind Lawrence

5-0 in the top of the first but chipped away to draw within 7-6. PLL, though, was unable to push across another run as it fell by that score.

Last Wednesday evening in the “if-necessary” decisive contest, PLL jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first only to yield five runs to Lawrence in the bottom of the frame. Lawrence extended its lead to 10-5 heading into the seventh but Princeton kept battling, scoring four runs but couldn’t add any more as it

fell 10-9 to end its quest for the District 12 title.

PLL manager Brett Shaver credited his players with fighting to the final out.

“We battled back in the seventh inning, they had us down to our last strike three times and we kept putting it in play,” said Shaver.

“The boys were taking a strike and being patient. To play three close games, it was like a college World Series thing. It was crazy. It was back and forth. We were one or two pitches away from winning.”

Celebrating Independence Day

Shaver’s son, Michael, and Reggie Wright helped power the PLL batting attack as Shaver went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, two runs and two RBIs on Wednesday and Wright blasted a homer in the 7-6 loss a day earlier.

“This is Michael’s last Little League game in Princeton, he has been here since T-ball,” said Shaver. “This was the most dialed in he has been at the plate. That might have been his first home run on any of these fields over the fence in a game. Reggie is an unbelievable athlete, we timed the kids and Reggie ran a 6.6 60 as a seventh grader. Our 13-year-olds hit well. It was nice to see Michael

and Reggie get home runs in this.”

PLL got some gutsy mound efforts as Brady Goldsmith and Kameron Padgett handled the pitching duties in the 7-6 loss while Conan Odell and Ewan Dunn took the ball on Wednesday.

“Brady came out and threw as well as he can throw,” said Shaver, noting that Goldsmith went five innings and didn’t give up any runs after the first. “He held it together and came back and pitched great. Kam came in and pitched awesome. Conan maybe didn’t have his best stuff today but he battled through it. He got better throughout the game. Then Ewan came in, it was

the first time he has pitched in one of these tournaments and he was one or two feet away of getting out of there with no runs.”

After it was over, the Lawrence fans and parents showed their appreciation for PLL’s fighting spirit, giving the Princeton players an extended ovation as they received their silver medals.

“We walk away with heads up and really happy with the way they battled, that is the message,” said Shaver. “Some of the boys on these teams play with each other and against each other; it was very competitive, but high class the whole time.”

Est. 1967

—Bill Alden

CLOSE SHAVE: Princeton Little League (PLL) player Michael Shaver rounds the bases after hitting a homer against Lawrence in the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament final last Wednesday at Farmview Fields. Shaver went 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a double in addition to the homer on the day but it wasn’t enough as Lawrence prevailed 10-9 to win the title.

(Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

GOLD STANDARD: Princeton Little League (PLL) player Brady Goldsmith takes a swing in the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament final last Wednesday against Lawrence at Farmview Fields. Goldsmith provided some clutch hitting for Princeton in the contest, going 1-for-2 with one run and one RBI as PLL fell 10-9. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

With Young Making Clutch Plays Down the Stretch, YSU

Rallies to Edge Princeton Supply in Summer Hoops

With YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) bringing a 3-1 record into its clash last Monday night against Princeton Supply in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Freddie Young Jr. sensed that the YSU squad was primed for a battle.

“We have a group of young men ready to fight every night,” said Young. “I am excited for the season, I feel confident in our team. We have only gotten more mature over the years.”

It became an uphill fight for YSU which found itself trailing two-time defending league champion Princeton Supply 32-22 at halftime.

“We just wanted to cut down on the little mistakes that we have no business making in the beginning,” said Young. “Then we ended up making those same mistakes in the second half.”

Trailing 52-41 with 6:05 left in the second half in the game played in the Princeton High gym, YSU reeled off an 18-6 run to pull out a 59-58 win.

“We fell behind again but we are a family and we are going to fight for each other,” said Young. “Five people together is always better than five people who aren’t

together. We want to fight together as a family.”

Young, for his part, made a key steal in the waning seconds of the contest and then drained two free throws to give YSU the margin of victory.

“That was big-time; I was reading his eyes and it looked like he was about to give the ball up,” said Young, a 6’3 guard, reflecting on his steal which came in an in-bounds play. “I took the opportunity and converted it into two points. I am grateful for it.”

As Young stood at the free throw line, he invoked a higher authority.

“I gave all of the praise to God,” said Young. “In that moment, I said thank you God and shot the shot.”

With YSU improving to 4-1, Young believes the team is headed in the right direction.

“Every win is a confidence builder,” said Young. “Every win and every loss, you learn something from it regardless. Today was definitely a good step forward.”

Young, who scored 14 points in the win, is determined to keep YSU moving forward.

“My role this year, like

always, is that I am a leader,” said Young, who starred at PDS and Trenton Catholic before going on to play at the college level for Lincoln University. “My role is lead everyone as best I can and all while I have to stay emotionally in control myself, and physically healthy. I have to check all of the boxes all the way down.”

The pair of Wesley Robinson and Jordan Poole helped YSU stay in the game as Robinson scored 17 points and Poole added 13.

“Wesley and Jordan are Burlington Township guys, they are very good,” said Young. “Everybody on this team played YSU at some point. Wesley just graduated from Manhattan College, he is a great player. Jordan is carrying the load just as well.”

The bonds the YSU players have developed over the years bodes well for the squad as it heads into the homestretch of the summer league.

“Everybody who you see on the team, whether it be this year or previous years has been in some form family to YSU,” said Young. They have been in a program or mentorship and we continue to build them.”

Local Sports

Bailey Basketball Academy Offering 2nd Summer Camp

The Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA) is offering a second week-long basketball camp this summer along with other specialty hoops programs.

BBA is led by former Princeton Day School girls’ hoops coach and Philadelphia 76ers camp director and clinician Kamau Bailey.

The upcoming camp is slated for July 21-25 at the Princeton Middle School.

There is a full day camp for ages 9-14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and half day camps from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

In addition, there will be First Hoops options for ages 5-8 (9-11:45 a.m.).

BBA will also offer Shot Doctor shooting instruction and small group player development daily sessions from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting June 24 and running through August 15 (excluding camp dates) for players getting ready for middle school, high school, or club participation. The daily workouts will be held at the newly-built BBA outdoor basketball courts at 3752 Highway 27 in Princeton.

All players will be required to bring their own water, snacks and/or lunch for the applicable programs.

For more information, contact Kamau Bailey at (917) 626-5785 or at kamau. bailey@gmail.com.

Stuart Sports Camps Still Have Openings

The Stuart Country Day School is holding three sports camps on its campus at 2100 Stuart Road in Princeton in July and there are still openings for the programs.

There will be a field hockey camp for players in grades 3-9 being held July 14 -18 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., a girls’ tennis camp for players in grades 5-9 being held from June 30-July 4 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and a girls’ basketball camp for players in grades 5-9 being held July 7-11 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The camps are geared for beginners as well as experienced players.

One can log onto stuartschool.org and go the Menu section in the upper right of the home page and hit the “Sports Camps for Girls” link under the Athletics section for more information about the camps.

—Bill Alden

YSU

Sorry. It Happens, even with a plastic bag. We can’t control the weather, but we can offer you a free, fresh and dry replacement paper

WET PAPER IN THE DRIVEWAY? if you stop by

YOUNG AT HEART: Freddie Young Jr. of YSU dribbles the ball against Princeton Supply last Monday night in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Young tallied 14 points and made a key late steal to help YSU rally to a 59-58 win over Princeton Supply. Wesley Robinson scored 17 points in the win with Jordan Poole adding

improved to 4-1. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

HEADS UP: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Anders Hedin takes a cut in recent action. Heiden has been swinging a hot bat over the last few weeks for Post 218. Last Saturday, rising Princeton High senior Hedin went 3 for 5 with one run as Post 218 got edged 9-8 by Broad Street Post 313. Princeton, now 2-9, hosts Lawrence Post 414 on July 2, plays at Hamilton Post 31 on July 5, and hosts North Hamilton on July 7. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

Dr. Genuino Nazzaro

1923-2025

Dr. Genuino Nazzaro, of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully at home, just shy of his 102nd birthday, surrounded by his devoted family.

Born on September 9, 1923, in Chiusano di San Domenico, Avellino, Italy, Genuino was the eldest of nine children. He attended boarding school, where he excelled in mathematics, science, and languages, graduating at the top of his class. He went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Modena in 1951.

Returning to southern Italy to begin his medical career, Genuino reconnected with Geraldine, a young Italian American woman visiting her relatives. Their courtship blossomed, and they married in 1953. Later that year, the couple embarked on a transatlantic journey aboard the Andrea Doria and began their life together in Brooklyn, New York. They ultimately settled in Princeton in 1964.

Dr. Nazzaro launched his medical career in Internal Medicine in America as Chief Resident at The Norwegian Hospital in Brooklyn. In 1959, he became Board Certified in Medicine and Surgery in New Jersey and joined the medical staff at The Medical Center at Princeton. He was appointed to the Senior Attending Medical Staff in 1987 and remained a member of the Honorary Medical Staff from 1959 to 1996. For nearly four decades, he provided compassionate, expert care to patients throughout Mercer and Middlesex Counties, earning a reputation for clinical excellence and deep human connection. Former patients continued to visit him well into his later years—a reflection of his lasting impact. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Nazzaro served as a Clinical Instructor at Rutgers Medical School, mentoring countless medical students and residents who remained in contact with him for decades.

Known affectionately as “Nonno” or “Gino,” Dr. Naz zaro was a strong father-fig ure to countless people and will be remembered for his resilience, intellect, and un wavering devotion to family and friends. He embraced life’s simple pleasures with zest and vitality, and his presence will be deeply missed.

children: Blaze (Juliana), Luke (Rebecca), Matteo, Dylan, Andrew (Priscilla), Alex, Francesca, Madeleine, Nicholas, Gianluca, Russell, and Anabella. The family is especially grateful to his devoted caregiver, Josephine “Giuseppina” (Scott), whose presence brought comfort, joy, and dignity to his final years.

A Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Trinity Church, Princeton, on Friday, June 27th, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Princeton Abbey and Cemetery and a celebration of his life. Arrangements are under the care of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dr. Nazzaro’s memory to the American Heart Association.

of Air & Space magazine for the Smithsonian Institution.

A historian for over 50 years, he wrote many books about Bucks County, Pennsylvania — Guide to the Delaware Canal, William Penn and the Lenape Indians, Old Stonework, Early Taverns — along with histories of Lumberville, Cuttalossa, Center Bridge, Phillips Mill, and New Hope. He produced Old Mills of New Hope-Solebury and copublished Barns of Bucks County with Jeffrey L. Marshall.

In 1998, Will became the first chairman of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Commission and produced the popular guidebook to the Corridor. For half a century, he was active with the Friends of the Delaware Canal, for which he received citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives.

Willis M. Rivinus

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years, Geraldine Nazzaro. He is survived by his five children: Emma (Peter), Sandra (Luciano), Carl, Lilly (John), and Silvana (John); and twelve grand -

Willis M. Rivinus died peacefully in his sleep at his home on June 18, 2025. Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was 96 years of age. During his long and productive career, he was recognized as an entrepreneur, management consultant, fundraiser, historian, and author.

A graduate of Princeton University, Will’s early professional life was in the formative years of electronic data processing in New York City. This led to more than 20 years of management consulting, primarily in computing, long-range planning, and direct marketing.

Later, Will returned to Princeton as a fundraiser for the University’s eating clubs, for whom he published three histories. He subsequently raised funds for the renovation of Princeton University’s rowing programs’ boathouse and then compiled a 650-page history of rowing at Princeton.

In magazine publishing, Will founded his own (American Antiques), which was followed by consulting for two magazine startups for Rodale Press and the launch

Will was a founder of the New Hope Automobile Show and a collector of antique cars for many years. He was also an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, where he produced and distributed thousands of copies of BUCKS COOKS I & II.

He sang bass for 25 years with the Trinity Episcopal Solebury church choir and with the Peddler’s Pack, a local four-part close harmony group, as well as singing with half a dozen other groups in Princeton and New York. He performed in three concert tours in Europe.

Will’s sporting life included rowing, beagling, and hiking. He started the annual 60-mile Canal Walks along the Delaware Canal towpath, and he was an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman.

Will’s home of 72 years, Lindencroft, was the site of gatherings for the Solebury Township Historical Society and the Bucks County Audubon Barn Tour. He gave many historical talks for these, Trinity Episcopal Solebury, and for the Mercer and Michener Museums.

Will is predeceased by his wife of 30 years, Anne Gaither Rivinus. He is survived by his daughter, Betsy (John), son, Jonathan (Traci), and grandchildren Anne, John, and Josephine Denny, and Emily, and Perri Rivinus. Will’s children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends mourn the loss of their beloved storyteller but take great comfort in their wonderful memories of him.

A celebration of his life will be held at noon on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Solebury (6587 Upper York Road; Solebury, PA 18938).

Contributions in celebration of Will’s life may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Solebury, PA.

Jennifer E. Slinn

Jennifer E. Slinn, 70, passed away on June 19, 2025.

Predeceased by her parents, Ronald J. and E. Jean (Watts) Slinn, and her brothers, Ronald Peter and Peter Geoffrey Slinn. Jennifer is survived by her son, George Slinn, and his partner, Chelsea Barich; as well as her sisters and their husbands, Barbara and John Costas and Margaret and Paul Potter; her nieces, Jacquelyn Costas and Taylor Anne Crane; and her nephews, Peter Costas and Jason Potter.

Born in Canberra, Australia, on April 30, 1955, Jennifer moved with her family to Durham, NC, at the age of 12, where her father continued his education at Duke University. The family later relocated to Princeton, NJ, where Jennifer graduated from Princeton High School in 1972. She attended Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and met her best friend, Susan Randall, along with other lifelong friends.

After graduation, she worked for the School of Engineering for several years before returning to the Princeton area, eventually settling in Plainsboro Township in 1986. In 1991, Jennifer began working for Creative Business Decisions, Inc., where she wore many hats over her 12-year career there. She served as the primary client liaison, oversaw corporate advertising and personnel hiring, and managed client projects in line with the company’s goal of risk management consulting. She worked her way up to Vice President of the company before pursuing a new profession that allowed her to care for and spend more time with her then 7-year-old son, George. Jennifer’s next career ambition was to become a realtor. She completed her licensing and joined the Weidel Realtors team in 2006, selling her first property in the Windsor Mill Condominiums of East Windsor in 2007. She remained with Weidel for three years, later holding licenses with Long & Foster Companies for five years and Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate for one year. One of Jennifer’s most beloved roles came through West Windsor Tae Kwon Do Academy, where George was a student from 2003 to 2010. In 2006, Jennifer began working part time as the do-it-all secretary for the

business owner and good friend, Master Steven Phillips. Jennifer was always big on interpersonal connections, which made her the perfect fit. She quickly became a friendly face, greeting and assisting parents and students in all aspects of the business, and donned the title, “Miss Jenn.” She helped revolutionize the business, spearheading countless projects including the Academy’s website, movie nights, student card sign-ins, award ceremonies, and more. Miss Jenn loved getting to know the many families of West Windsor and kept in touch with them after leaving the business in 2015.

Jennifer was the “family historian” and photographer, with a particular passion for her ancestry and for Australia. She was always looking for any reason to travel back to Australia to see her many cousins and take in the Gold Coast. She traveled there with George three times between the years 1997 and 2001. She returned a few more times on her own to visit and spend time with family and friends. While living in New Jersey, Jennifer spent many late nights on the phone with family from Australia, her Aussie accent always eager to return as they shared stories and stayed up to date on the latest celebrations. She took it upon herself to record the extensive family tree through Ancestry. com. Jennifer authored a book about her paternal uncle, Flying Officer Geoffrey Herbert Brandon Slinn, detailing his experience in the Royal Australian Air Force in WWII. At family events, Aunt Jenn always had her camera with her, ready to take more photos for her family scrapbooks and digital libraries. In addition to photography, Jennifer had a variety of hobbies. She loved sci-fi movies like Star Wars and Star Trek , enjoyed astrology, gardening, and knitting, and was an avid reader. Jennifer loved putting her knitting skills to good use, making hats, mittens, and scarves for new babies in the family. She would always let the family know when her mother’s peonies came into bloom and shared the beautiful pictures from her gardens. Jennifer maintained her 2005 stick shift Camry for 20 years, the same car she taught George to drive in. She kept just part of her expansive CD collection in her car, often listening to Queen’s Greatest Hits and The Essential Simon & Garfunkel. She was passionate about local and national politics and enjoyed volunteering in her community. Jenn adored her cats Titan and Sooty, and the many others that she cared for throughout her life. She was an amazing and loving mother, doing anything and everything in her capacity to give George the best life. She was a longtime and devoted caretaker to her parents and loved her family dearly.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, West Windsor, NJ on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.

The family encourages memorial donations be made to Planned Parenthood, Parents without Partners, and Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church.

Donald Edward MacQueen, Sr. Donald MacQueen, 95, died on June 29, 2025. Donald was the oldest of five children of Grace and George MacQueen. He grew up in South Plainfield, NJ, and graduated from North Plainfield High School, where he was active on the track team. He attended Rutgers University for one semester to study business, but at the age of 18 he left his studies to be mentored by Horace Kipe at Kipe Offset Printing in New York City. The printing business turned out to be a good fit for him. After many successful years in printing, primarily in sales, he eventually became a partner at Fenn & Fenn Lithographers in New York City, where he worked until his retirement in 1986.

On October 11, 1952, Don married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Kissam, daughter of Gladys and Edward Kissam, at the Grant Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, NJ. Don and Betty lived in North Plainfield, NJ, and had three children there before the family moved to Bridgewater, NJ.

As their children grew up, Don was involved in their many activities, and he enjoyed working with children in the community. He coached Little League baseball for many years, recognized as an inspiration by team members decades after he coached them.

A lifelong sportsman, Don was a member of Ducks Unlimited and Advertising Sportsmen of New York. He excelled at trap and skeet shooting and loved duck hunting in Delaware and fishing at Culver Lake in New Jersey. He enjoyed running 5K races and playing tennis and basketball, shooting baskets with his grandsons in his 80s. He also enjoyed hiking and walking, and he played golf even in his 90s.

Family was always Don’s highest priority, and he was a devoted husband and father all his adult life. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s high school and college athletic events, including Princeton rugby and Johns Hopkins and Yale football games. He was extremely proud of all of his grandchildren’s education and life achievements and enthusiastically followed the activities of his many great-grandchildren.

After more than 50 years in Bridgewater, Don moved in June 2018 to Stonebridge at Montgomery, where he made new friends, met people from his high school, and was active in many activities, including bocce and pizza parties.

Don is survived by his children Sara Oderwald (William) of Skillman, NJ; Donald, Jr. (Gay) of

Princeton, NJ; Andrew (Sherry) of Jacksonville, FL; former daughter-in-law

Patricia MacQueen of Wildwood Crest, NJ; very special friend Marianne Shimomura of Skillman, NJ; grandchildren Edward (Barbara), Ian (Danielle), Grant (Jessica), Henry (Catherine), and Abigale; seventeen greatchildren; his brother Warren of Tomball, TX; sister Doris Paino (Eugene) of Clearwater, FL, sister-inlaw Margie MacQueen of Lee’s Summit, MO; as well as many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Betty in 2013, his brother David in 2011, and his sister Grace Kammerer in 2024.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on July 14, 2025, at Stonebridge at Montgomery, 100 Hollinshead Springs Road, Skillman, NJ.

David Serxner

David Serxner passed away on Sunday, June 22. He was born in Glen Ridge, NJ, and raised in Merion, PA. David graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1991 with a BS in Chemistry and completed his PhD in Chemical Physics at Yale University in 1996.

David was many things throughout his life — a scientist, a consultant, a COO, a gardener. A son, a brother, a husband, and a father. He is survived by his loving parents, Allan and Eileen Serxner, sister Allyson Stollenwerck, as well as his wife of nearly 29 years, Carter LaPrade Serxner. He also leaves behind four proud children; Sam, Carter, Jack, and Casey.

Most importantly, David was a good man. Fair, strong, and fiercely protective of his family, his sheer will was something to behold. He never pretended to be anything, or anyone, that he was not because he was comfortable with himself. More, even — he knew himself. Perhaps that is the task of life. If it is, he lived his with sprezzatura. He will be missed everyday by his family.

Memorial contributions, in his memory, to The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, 80 Main Street, Suite 380, West Orange, NJ 07052 or online at jfr.org are appreciated.

Dorothy Anna Ragany

Dorothy Anna Ragany, 97, a cherished lifelong resident of Little Rocky Hill, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 26, 2025, surrounded by her devoted family. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Dorothy’s life was deeply rooted in the community she loved, embodying the spirit of service and family that defined her nearly century-long journey.

A proud graduate of Princeton High School’s Class of 1946, Dorothy carried the values of her hometown into every facet of her life. On June 6, 1953, she married her beloved husband, John S. Ragany, in New Brunswick, NJ, beginning a partnership filled with love and shared commitment to family and community. Though predeceased by John, her love for him remained a guiding light.

Dorothy’s work ethic was legendary. She retired at age 80 from The Annex Restaurant in Princeton, a local institution where her warmth and dedication left a lasting impression. Undeterred by retirement, she continued to work alongside her daughter Jane at Schwarz Gardens for an additional 16 years, nurturing both plants and community ties with her characteristic good humor, energy, and care.

A pillar of Little Rocky Hill, Dorothy was the last surviving charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Little Rocky Hill Fire Company, founded in 1948 by her mother, Rheinhilda Schwarz. Her lifelong commitment to this organization reflected her deep sense of duty to her neighbors and her pride in her family’s legacy of service.

Dorothy found joy in life’s simple pleasures: tending her garden, bowling with friends, and, above all, spending time with her family. Her home was a gathering place for laughter, stories, and love, creating memories treasured by generations.

The daughter of the late Henry George and

Rheinhilda Anna (Gibson) Schwarz, Dorothy was also predeceased by her brothers, Henry G. Schwarz and William D. Schwarz, and her husband, John S. Ragany. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Joan and Keith Rasmussen, Jean and Martin Mandell, and Jane and Gary Eisenmann; eight grandchildren, Kate Rasmussen, Trey Rasmussen, Leif Rasmussen, Dana Mandell, John and Morgan Mandell, Kimberly and David Reed, Veronica and Nick DeSisto, and Jaclyn Eisenmann; three great-grandchildren, Kailey, Courtney, and Zachary Reed; four sisters-inlaw; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom will carry forward her legacy of kindness and strength.

A funeral service was held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, Monmouth Junction, followed by burial at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

The family kindly requests memorial contributions be made to the Little Rocky Hill Fire Company, 4348 Route 27, Princeton, NJ 08540, honoring Dorothy’s lifelong dedication to her community.

Dorothy’s life was a testament to the power of family, service, and love for Little Rocky Hill. Her memory will forever bloom in the hearts of those who knew her.

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