HSP and Morven
Collaborate on Princeton Garden Tour . . . . . . 5
Campaign on Environmental Issues Focuses on NJ
Gubernatorial Election 9
Joint Effort Offers
Array of Activities for Witherspoon-Jackson, Princeton 11
Princeton Summer Theater Presents Frankenstein 15
After Starring in Junior Campaign for Tiger Men’s Hockey, Gorman Honed Skills in NHL Development Camp with Panthers 20
Having Guided PHS Track Program to Consistent Success, Samara Stepping Down to Focus on AfterSchool Program 22
A resolution approved by Princeton Council at its Monday, July 28 meeting could help pave the way for McCarter Theatre Center to buy a portion of the former Westminster Choir College campus, now owned by the municipality.
The theater company wants to use Bristol Chapel, the Playhouse, and other parts of the 23-acre campus to expand its community arts education programs, provide housing for actors appearing in theater productions, hold various gatherings and events, and other purposes.
McCarter’s Executive Director Martin Miller told Council that the theater company has until August 11 to apply to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for tax credits pursuant to the EDA’s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion (CAFÉ) program that would help fund preservation, remediation, and improvements for the project.
“It is a rare, one-of-a-kind opportunity to potentially bring in some meaningful outside funds to invest in our arts, culture, and education infrastructure here in Princeton,” Miller said before the vote. He thanked Council for considering the resolution, which creates a letter of intent between McCarter and the municipality — needed by McCarter order to file with the EDA — on short notice.
“We couldn’t let the chance pass to at least throw our hat in the ring,” he said.
According to the meeting agenda, the letter of intent is non-binding until “a definitive purchase-sale-agreement is executed and delivered by both parties.”
The proposal calls for the sale to McCarter of approximately 1.40 acres, for $4 million. The purchase would include Bristol Chapel and the Playhouse building. The chapel would be reconfigured to house rehearsal space, classrooms, a seminar room, practice room, lecture hall, administrative offices, and a work area, as well as production and building support. All of these could be used to host community events for a fee.
The Playhouse would also be adaptively reused, to create a performance space, production and building support. This, too, could be used to host community events for a fee.
There would be new construction at the site of the Cottage building for shortterm artist housing. Previous to the
Continued on Page 7
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that led to the detention of 16 Princeton residents last Wednesday and Thursday, July 23 and 24, have caused fear, anger, and consternation in the community. Those emotions and more surfaced at Monday’s discordant Princeton Council meeting that was attended by an overflow crowd of more than 100 people, with about 50 speaking out and demanding more action from Council.
During the meeting, which lasted for more than three hours — consisting mostly of public comment in response to the raids and to what many saw as Council’s lack of action — emotions ran high, with a wide range of speakers describing the plight of families impacted by the detention of relatives and friends and demanding that Council pass a resolution to support the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA). The ITA is a proposal currently in the state legislature that would strengthen the New Jersey Attorney General’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which helps to protect the immigrant community.
Some of the speakers represented advocacy groups, such as Resistencia en Accion NJ, and others were local residents of many different ages, perspectives, and backgrounds.
In preliminary remarks before the start of the public comment portion of the
meeting, Princeton Mayor Freda asserted the Council’s commitment to taking action on behalf of the immigrant community, and he reiterated some of the points that he and Council had made in a written statement earlier in the day.
“I am discouraged by hearing comments that we do nothing,” he told the sporadically unruly gathering. “Or that we do very little to support the immigrant community within our community.” He went on to enumerate services and
programs — medical, financial, and other public assistance — delivered through the Human Services Department.
He emphasized, “We do not collect data on immigration status. Our police do nothing in connection with ICE. We do not help them find people or grab people.” The earlier statement noted that “ICE conducted this operation [July 24] without notifying the Municipality or Princeton Police.”
Council President Mia Sacks added that the Council supports the ITA
In what is usually the most hotly contested race on the Princeton ballot, the School Board election this November will see just three candidates running for three available positions.
Dafna Kendal will be serving a fourth three-year term on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), Susan Kanter a third term, and Erica Snyder will become a new member of the Board on January 1, 2026. Debbie Bronfeld will be stepping down at the end of this year after nine years on the Board.
With a new superintendent, Mike LaSusa, in place since July 1, the PPS
seems to have entered a period of relative harmony and stability after several years marked by some turbulence and rapid administrative turnover.
“I’ve decided to run for reelection because I believe continuity is critical,” Kendal, who is currently Board president, wrote in an email. “The district is moving in the right direction, and we have a dynamic and energized administrative team under the leadership of our new superintendent, Dr. LaSusa. The Board and administration are working collaboratively, and I believe it’s important to maintain that momentum by ensuring consistent, steady leadership
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Board of Trustees announce Title Change Reflecting Strategic Growth at Center at 353 (formerly Trinity Counseling Service)
Princeton, NJ — The Board of Trustees of Center at 353 (formerly Trinity Counseling Service), a licensed mental health agency in Princeton, is proud to announce that effective immediately, Whitney Ross, PhD, EdM, now holds the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), reflecting the continued evolution of the organization under her leadership.
This change marks a significant milestone at Center at 353 as the organization enters year four of its Five-Year Strategic Plan, which includes expanding services, partnerships, and deepening its impact in the community. The title of CEO more accurately reflects the scope of work and visionary leadership that Dr. Ross provides and will continue to bring to the organization and work in the future.
“Whitney has been instrumental in positioning Center at 353 for long-term growth and sustainability,” said Monique Bombardieri, Board Chair. “Her vision, commitment, and ability to lead with strength and grace and to build meaningful partnerships have enabled us to move forward with purpose in today’s shifting landscape while navigating the ongoing complexities of the mental health field. The CEO title is not only well-deserved but also aligns with the broader leadership role she has assumed within the organization.”
Whitney Ross has served as Executive Director since 2014 leading the agency through critical initiatives including:
• oversite and execution of two strategic plans, the most recent of which included the renaming and re-branding of the organization after 57 years
• capital campaign to facilitate the purchase and complete renovation of the organization’s new and permanent space located at 353 Nassau Street
• creation and implementation of the Community Outreach Prevention and Education (COPE) Program, now in its tenth year providing mental health workshops, programming, and an annual Speaker Series
• secured funding to enable eligible 353 clinicians to be trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); there are currently 14 Center at 353 clinicians trained in EMDR
• established Center at 353’s newest initiative: designation as the Mercer County Trauma Recovery Network (MC-TRN)®, a local affiliation of EMDR Humanitarian Assistance (HAP) Programs®, established to provide accessible, evidence-based therapy and stabilization services in response to crises in the community
“This moment reflects how far we’ve come as an organization in almost six decades – working together – board, stakeholders, and staff. I’m honored to assume the role of CEO as we continue to advance evidence-informed practices, broaden our impact in the community, and engage funders in new and creative ways,” said Whitney Ross, CEO. “I look forward to this next chapter, grounded by strategy and focus, and a strong commitment to the transformative impact of our work; because mental health matters.”
For more information about Center at 353 and its work, visit centerat353.org
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Trenton Collaborative Hosts
On Saturday, August 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the East Trenton Collaborative, in partnership with Isles Inc., Lead-Free NJ, Urban Promise Trenton, WE ACT, and the South Ward Environmental Alliance, will host “Environmental Justice: Storytelling for Systems Change,” a community listen and learn session designed to center environmental justice stories and create pathways for meaningful change.
The event will take place at Isles Social Profit Center, 1 North Johnston Avenue, Hamilton Township. Community members can RSVP at tinyurl.com/ ETClistenandlearn.
“Our children are our future, and we must do everything possible to ensure they
have a fair chance at success,” said Shereyl Snider, community organizer with the East Trenton Collaborative and Lead Advocate for Trenton’s Lead-FreeNJ community hub. “Exposure to lead toxins is preventable. All we need to do is be proactive instead of reactive and get the Lead Out of our soil, water, paint, and homes.”
The event aims to address the critical question: “How do we break down silos of oppressive systems?” by listening to the lived experiences from residents in environmental justice communities, and creating pathways forward for change.
The event will feature community stories, educational sessions on lead contamination in Trenton communities, insights on grassroots
organizing, policy development, and community advocacy efforts. The event specifically focuses on environmental justice communities, defined as areas composed predominantly of persons of color or substantial proportions of persons below the poverty line that are subjected to disproportionate burdens of environmental hazards and experience significantly reduced quality of life. The East Trenton Collaborative serves as one of only four Lead-FreeNJ community hubs in New Jersey, working to educate residents about lead dangers and collaborate on lead contamination removal efforts throughout the Trenton community. The event is free and open to the public.
Community Night Out: Tuesday, August 5, 5-8 p.m. at Community Park Pool. Free pool admission, food, dunk tank, kids’ activities, emergency vehicle display, and more. Princetonnj.gov.
Nominations Sought: By Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber for the annual Legacy of Leadership awards. The deadline is August 1 to nominate in the categories of Business Leader, Community Leader, Entrepreneur, and Innovator. Princetonmercer. org.
Backpack and School Supply Drive : Donors are sought for the 16th annual drive, which distributes items to children from low-income families who attend Princeton Public Schools and are entering kindergarten through 8th grade. Drop off donations by August 7 at Princeton Human Services, 1 Monument Drive.
Bathing Suit and Goggle Drive : Through August 15, donate items at Community Park Pool for children in under-resourced communities in New Jersey. Most needed are bathing suits for children sizes 5 through young adult.
Community Blood Drive : On Thursday, August 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Princetonnj.gov.
HomeFront Back to School Drive : Clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, and gift cards for the children impacted by poverty can be dropped off by August 11 at HomeFront, 1880 Princeton Avenue, Lawrence Township. For more information, visit getinvolved@homefrontnj.org.
Youth Orchestra Registration : The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra has opened registration for its upcoming season. To lock in best rates, register by August 1. Visit gpyo.org.
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 30 on the steps of Princeton University Chapel, enter on Nassau Street across from South Tulane Street.
Volunteers Needed: For the Princeton Food Task Force to deliver recovered meals, package produce, or tend to community gardens. Visit princetonnj.gov/1476/PrincetonFood-Task-Force to sign up.
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In pre-COVID-19 days, the Historical Society of Princeton’s (HSP) annual fall house tour was a way for the organization to raise funds, and an opportunity for the public to get a look inside some of the town’s
grandest homes. The popular event, which usually had a theme, went virtual during the pandemic.
like this before. And we have a garden that many people don’t know about. It’s a nice way for us to reach out to new audiences.”
It is back in person — with a partner and a different focus. The HSP is collaborating with Moven Museum & Garden on what is billed as the Princeton Garden Tour, being held Saturday, September 13, rain or shine, at seven private gardens around town. Participants begin at the HSP’s headquarters on Quaker Road and finish up at Morven on Stockton Street. The tour is self-guided, and the gardens can be visited in any order.
The Johnson Park Elementary School rain garden is described in a press release as “a vibrant example of eco-friendly gardening in action.” Guests can park at the school and take a shuttle bus to nearby Rosedale House, which was designed over a century ago by the Philadelphia architecture firm McGoodwin and Hawley, and was originally part of a 57-acre estate.
“Since 2004, the current
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Continued from Preceding Page revitalized the gardens — now spanning 6.5 acres — featuring English-style beds, meadows, and an arboretum, with original elements like the 1912 pergola and fountain still intact,” the release reads.
The gardens behind a 1905 Tudor Revival home on Library Place “unfold in quiet splendor: in front, a shade garden rests beneath an old beech while a walled English garden lies tucked behind. From the sidewalk, a reclaimed stone path draws visitors past Iris, Helleborus, Rhododendron, chrysanthemum, holly, and native wildflowers — colors for any season.”
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Asked which garden she likes best, Monroe declined to play favorites. “I will say that I am really excited to see the way people are using native species,” she said. “But one garden, in particular, is at a heritage Princeton home that has been in sort of the public imagination. To be able to see the back yard, and what owner after owner has put together and lovingly tended, is really exciting.”
The tour, which is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs either $100 (including morning refreshments at HSP, a sustainable gardening discussion with Blue Sky Green Earth, and a cocktail hour at Morven) or $75 (choose either morning refreshments or the cocktail hour), benefits both organizations. Visit morven. org or princetonhistory.org for more information.
“It’s a lovely partnership,” said DiMascio. “People get to support the local nonprofits, and we get to, hopefully, expand our audience.”
—Anne Levin
Princeton Open Space Holds Preserve BioBlitz
Join Friends of Princeton Open Space for a BioBlitz at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve on Saturday, August 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) invites the community to participate in a free event, an opportunity to explore nature, contribute to conservation efforts, and learn how to observe and record local species.
A BioBlitz is a fast-paced, hands-on event where volunteers of all ages come together to identify as many species as possible—plants, wildlife, insects, fungi, birds, and more—within a designated area and time frame. It’s a fun and interactive way to build awareness of local biodiversity while helping FOPOS land stewards protect the Preserve’s ecosystems.
The FOPOS land stewards will introduce participants to easy-to-use apps, such as iNaturalist and Merlin Bird ID, and then head out in small teams to survey different parts of the Preserve. Observations will be uploaded to an iNaturalist project, contributing to a growing database that FOPOS uses to guide ecological restoration and land management. Register for this free community science event at fopos.org/events-programs. The Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve is at 57 Mountain Avenue. Meet at the Mountain Lakes House parking lot.
McCarter continued from page one pandemic, actors appearing in plays at McCarter were housed in accommodations in town, rented by the theater. But that scenario has not been resumed. Actors have been put up in hotels on Route 1. While the resolution is non-binding, “it does create an exciting future option for both the company and the town to consider,” Miller said. “If we’re lucky enough to have tax credits awarded, we then have a year to participate in the town’s planning process for the campus and to come up with a site plan to submit for the Council’s review and public comment.”
The former Westminster campus, a part of Rider University since 1992, was purchased from Rider for $42 million by the municipality in the fall of 2024.
—Anne Levin 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
if you stop by our office at 4428C Route 27 in Kingston.
Saturday evening, September 6.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) invites cyclists and walkers to experience the magic of Mercer Meadows Park under September’s full moon during the 10th Full Moon Bike Ride on September 6. This milestone event introduces the first-ever Full Moon Walk, inviting walkers on their own adventure, as cyclists enjoy the six-mile loop that has become a signature community celebration.
The nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail and the Mercer County Park Commission present this event, which goes far beyond a typical bike ride. In 2024, over 500 riders participated, some from as far away as Florida and Texas.
Registration opens at 7 p.m. on September 6 at the Rosedale Lake section of Mercer Meadows Park in Hopewell, along with a campfire and a DJ. The Full Moon Bike Ride begins
at 7:30 p.m. and is open to adults and children aged 12 and above. Participants are welcome to arrive early to enjoy the pre-ride festivities.
New this year, and in response to demand, walking enthusiasts can join the Full Moon Walk, a one-mile moonlight stroll along the scenic Stony Brook.
“After nine previous Full Moon Rides, we’re thrilled to expand this beloved tradition with our first Full Moon Walk,” said David Sandahl, board chair of the LHT Corporation. “Whether you’re cycling the full loop or taking a peaceful moonlit stroll, this event captures the magic that makes the LHT so special to so many.”
Both the six-mile bike loop and walking route feature fanciful lighting along the way, with DJ entertainment, food trucks, and a campfire with s’mores awaiting participants back at Rosedale Lake.
Registration costs $25 for adults (18 and over) and
$15 for youth (12 to 17). Adult registration increases to $30 on the day of the event. T-shirts are available for advance purchase through the website. Helmets are required by law for riders under 18, although the Lawrence Hopewell Trail encourages all riders to wear helmets. Front and rear bike lights are highly recommended, as moonlight alone will not adequately illuminate wooded trail sections. Bikes with narrow road tires are not suitable for this route, as some sections feature stone dust surfaces.
Participants should use the park entrance on Federal City Road between Blackwell Road and Old Mill Road in Hopewell Township. Carpooling is encouraged. The rain date is Sunday, September 7, but if weather forces the change, the program will be limited to the bike ride only.
The Full Moon Ride serves as a fundraiser for
the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation, which works with public and private landowners to build, program and expand this popular Mercer County amenity that now hosts over 100,000 user visits annually. The nonprofit has worked for over 20 years with governments and companies, schools, land trusts, and residents to develop and program the popular 20-mile multi-use trail in Hopewell and Lawrence Townships. Only four short segments totaling about two miles remain to be built.
The LHT is a key member of the Circuit Trails Coalition, an 800-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting people to jobs, communities, and parks in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corp. relies on grants and donations to fund operating expenses and community events such as the Saturday Morning Walking Club, bike rides, and the popular Full Moon Bike Ride. Learn more about the LHT at LHTrail.org.
resolution and plans to deliver a resolution to the state legislature “at a time that is most effective.”
The July 28 statement from mayor and Council stated that municipal staff and officials have been attempting to find out the identity of the individuals detained, and that one impacted family is known and is being assisted with legal and financial resources.
“We are deeply troubled by this event, and by similar incidents occurring throughout New Jersey and across the country,” the statement notes. “We stand in solidarity with those affected and their families, sharing in their pain and uncertainty.”
It continues, “Some of the individuals detained Thursday attend our houses of worship, raise families in Princeton, and all contribute to our community in immeasurable ways. As expressed in our statement from February of this year, we want to assure all our residents that you are, first and foremost, members of our community, and we remain steadfast in our mission to serve and support you.”
The statement goes on to express the intention to formally support passage of the ITA in the future at the most appropriate time, reiterates that ICE’s authority supersedes local law enforcement in the matter of immigration law, and that “Princeton Police will neither participate in nor obstruct ICE operations.”
Municipal officials have suggested that a resolution supporting the ITA is likely
to be passed in the fall, and though it is not clear that such a resolution would have great impact, there are many who want to see it passed. They also want Council to take stronger, immediate action in support of the detainees and the immigrant community and in countering aggressive operations by ICE.
In a comment at the end of Monday’s meeting, Councilwoman Leticia Fraga provided the perspective of a Council member and a resident Princeton immigrant. “I’ve been advocating for the ITA and other legislation,” she said. “Don’t assume that you know how we think and what we do. I have two grandchildren who for at least 10 years have been living without their dad, who was deported. I know the pain and how traumatic it is for children especially to be separated from their parents.”
She continued, “I don’t do this work for validation or recognition. I feel that I know what my community needs. I’m doing the work along with my colleagues. You may not see it, but it’s being done.”
In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Fraga pointed out concerns that passing a resolution in support of ITA would “put a bullseye on our community,” but she emphasized that passing a resolution would “let our community know that we have their best interests at heart” and would help to persuade other towns in the state to show their support of the resolution.
She expressed optimism that the Council might be
able to move the resolution forward soon after receiving feedback from the Municipality’s CARES committee (Committee on Affordable Housing, Racial, Economic, Social Equity and Services), which will be meeting on July 31. “I don’t think there’s a need to wait,” she said. “We can do it now and encourage others to follow.”
In an additional statement issued on Tuesday, Fraga reiterated Council’s commitment to providing information and support to the community. “We recognize the importance of empowering our community through access to clear, accurate, and timely information,” she wrote. “We will continue working to ensure that all residents are well informed about their rights, available resources, and any legislative developments that may affect them. Together we can build a stronger, more resilient, and compassionate community for everyone.”
—Donald Gilpin
READING IN THE GARDEN: Send Hunger Packing Princeton (SHUPP) is hosting longtime Princeton activist Joanne Parker’s reading initiative at SHUPP’s Sensory Garden, located in the YMCA parking lot. This weekly event, intended for children in grades K-2, is held Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. A variety of “local luminaries” have volunteered to read to the children, who sit on a parachute spread on the ground. The first reading featured Shirley Satterfield. The second reading, shown here, featured Lenora Keel. All children and parents are welcome to attend this free event.
HomeFront Back to School Drive Seeks Supplies for 1,500 Children
More than 1,500 local children facing homelessness and poverty can start the new school year with a backpack in their favorite color, shoes that fit just right, and supplies picked out just for them, because of HomeFront’s Back to School Drive.
Community members can participate through August 11 by sponsoring a child, organizing a supply drive, or making a donation to HomeFront’s Back to School Fund.
HomeFront emphasizes that its Back to School Drive is not only about the supplies and clothes themselves, but also about providing individualized care and attention for every child. Volunteers shop from detailed wish lists to ensure that every child receives clothing and supplies that reflect their unique personality.
“These thoughtful details help children feel seen, valued, and excited for a fresh start,” according to a HomeFront press release.
rent. HomeFront also helps families with limited resources to acquire food, diapers, furniture, furnishings, and clothing.
“Where quality still matters.”
Mon-Fri 10-6; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5
“For a child experiencing homelessness or poverty, receiving brand-new, personalized items goes a long way to give them that extra care and attention they need,” said HomeFront Brand and Communications Specialist Catherine Cozzi. “It also brings peace of mind to parents who face impossible choices for their family budget.”
“Receiving brand-new, personalized items is more than just practical, it’s empowering. This builds confidence and joy as they walk into a new school year.”
HomeFront reports that the cost of school supplies is rising rapidly this year, making community support even more critical. Because of the Back to School Drive, HomeFront families are able to direct their resources toward fixed costs such as
“When the school year rolls around, I worry less about how I am going to get supplies for my son, thanks to HomeFront said Iasia C., a HomeFront client who has received Back to School supplies for her son. “I am appreciative of the small act of kindness, and I hope that HomeFront can continue to help me as well as many other families with the Back to School Drive.”
To sign up to participate in HomeFront’s Back to School Drive by sponsoring a child or by hosting your own school supply drive, contact HomeFront at (609) 9899417 x112 or getinvolved@ homefrontnj.org. Individuals can also purchase supplies online at bit.ly/hfschool25 and can make financial contributions at homefrontnj. org/Back-to-School-Drive.
Defend Historic Princeton is a coalition of residents and concerned citizens who oppose overdevelopment at the expense of Princeton’s multifaceted historic character, across the entire town.
We are currently opposing a massive luxury apartment complex slated for construction along Stockton Street in the heart of Princeton’s oldest historic neighborhood.
Our campaign is picking up steam.
We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the troubled history of the Stockton Street development and its future impact on traffic, the environment, and Princeton’s unique historic character.
your own sign by contacting
When the next governor of New Jersey is elected this November, he or she will be facing a growing need for climate action due to worsening floods, extreme heat, and other environmental issues. A public education campaign known as “Enviro Fix in ’26” is geared toward making the successful candidate aware and ready to take action.
On July 23, a group of environmental, health, faith, and community advocates met in Newark at an event organized by the nonprofit New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Education Fund to demand bold leadership on these issues from the next administration. The next stops on the tour are Camden on August 6, followed by Trenton on August 21.
“We are at a crossroads in New Jersey. The next governor will either continue down a path of pollution and rising climate risks or step up to lead us into a cleaner, healthier future for every resident — regardless of their zip code,” said Luke Pavlov, campaign manager, New Jersey LCV, in a press release. “Our ‘Enviro Fix in ’26’ platform is a clear roadmap for candidates to follow, and we’re calling on the candidates to commit to real environmental solutions that put people first.”
The campaign is centered around a policy guide that was developed by a coalition of 25 organizations from across the environmental, public health, and social justice sectors including the Watershed Institute, Duke Farms, the New Jersey chapter of the American College of Physicians, and Isles. The agenda advocates transitioning to 100 percent clean electricity, protecting drinking water and open space, lowering energy costs for working families, building community resilience to heat and flooding, and environmental justice for historically overburdened communities.
“We are in a critical era of change in our environment, and it’s urgent that we address the environmental difficulties plaguing underserved, industrialized communities,” said Tobias A. Fox, managing director of Newark Science and Sustainability Inc., in the release. “There is an immediate necessity to launch community-based green development initiatives. Such programs must fuse sustainable agriculture, green technology, and ecological infrastructure to tackle pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges at the local and state level.”
Also quoted on the campaign is Nicole Miller, vice chair of the New Jersey Progressive Equitable Energy Coalition (NJEEC).
“As we look ahead to New Jersey’s next governor, it’s critical that environmental justice isn’t treated as an afterthought, but as the foundation of our clean energy future,” she said. “For too long, overburdened communities have suffered the worst impacts of pollution while receiving the fewest benefits from energy investments. That must change. Clean energy must be affordable, accessible, and designed with frontline communities at the center. Whether it’s through reducing energy bills with programs like community solar, ensuring access to electric transportation, or prioritizing clean energy job creation in historically excluded neighborhoods, New Jersey’s next leader must commit to building a just energy transition that lifts everyone.”
The campaign event on August 6 is at 1729 Ferry Avenue in Camden. The Trenton session on August 21 is at 1 North Johnston Avenue. Both events are held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit njlcvef.org for more information and to download the policy guide.
—Anne Levin
Upcoming Programs at Bowman’s Hill Preserve
A variety of events are being held throughout the summer at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve on River Road in Bucks County, Pa. Some are presented virtually.
The Thursday Night Nature series of webinars, held via Zoom, are held form 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is $15 per lecture (members $12).
On July 31, Kevin Shoemaker discusses “What happens when a critical conservation decision is based on a flawed model?” Next, on August 7, Patrick Emblidge tackles “The Mojave Desert Seed Bank: supporting a diverse ecosystem into the future.” John Kartesz discusses “Digital Floristics: Assessing Floral Information with the help of AI” on August 14. The final program in the series is “Permaculture for Homeowners: Designing a Sustainable Perennial Garden” with Brent Deisher, on August 21.
On Friday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Nature Therapy Walk: A Shinrinyoku Experience” will be led by Sharon Lohse and Patty Kleiner. Nature therapy walks are a unique, immersive, slowpaced experience with proven health benefits. Inspired by the Japanese practice of forest bathing and led by a certified nature and forest therapy guide, participants will explore the land of the Preserve and awaken their senses to its sounds, beings, textures
and beauty. The emphasis is on unplugging, calming the mind and engaging with the natural world. Many studies have shown that this type of experience in nature reduces stress, lowers cortisol levels and blood pressure, increases energy, enhances sleep, increases natural killer diseasefighting cells and provides an overall sense of well-being.
Admission is $35 (members $28).
Guided Interpretive Naturalist Walks continue every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., depending on the availability of naturalists. Admission is $5 (free for members). For more information, visit bhwp.org.
BOE
continued from page one to support the great work happening in our schools.”
Kendal serves on the Board’s Equity, Personnel, and Student Achievement committees.
Kanter, the BOE vice president, echoed Kendal’s sentiments. She went on to point out some of her priorities in the coming term. “I am excited and invigorated to continue my work as I seek my third term working on the Princeton Board of Education,” she said. “The next three years will provide unique opportunities and challenges for our district. In serving on the Board, students have always been and will continue to be my prime focus, both in terms of meeting educational expectations and emotional needs. I look forward to supporting our new superintendent in meeting these goals.”
She continued, “I do not want to minimize the challenges this district will face as we navigate Princeton’s expected growth and other potential changes to our financial model. In my first two terms I served as cochair of the Operations Committee, as well as a member and co-chair of the LongTerm Planning Committee. I hope to continue to use this experience to focus on both long-term and short-term financial planning, implementing referenda with fidelity, as well as supporting building maintenance and technology needs. I believe my experience and enthusiasm on these committees as well as my current post-
ings on Policy and Student Achievement, and the year I have spent as vice president of the Board, will allow me to effectively meet the demands our district will face in the coming years.”
Snyder, a former high school teacher, K-12 professional development coach and instructional technology specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in education, was the first runner up in last year’s BOE election, placing a close fourth in a six-person race for three seats.
She wrote in an email that she “is looking forward to bringing her knowledge and experience to the Board to help tackle: the intentional use of technology across the district to improve student outcomes and create engaging learning experiences; the need for all students to have access to an appropriately rigorous curriculum that provides a more advanced and deeper dive into a subject without specifically teaching to a test; and the smooth transition of new staff, including the superintendent, as well as helping the schools and families navigate the upcoming challenges of construction and growth.”
Snyder went on to say that she “is also committed to continuing to build better communication and cooperation between the Board and the town, the schools, and the wider community.”
—Donald Gilpin
Bordentown Passes Resolution Supporting Green Amendment
On Monday, July 21, the Bordentown Township Committee unanimously passed Resolution #2025-151 in support of the New Jersey Green Amendment (SCR43/ ACR119).
If passed through the legislature and a majority vote of the people, the amendment would enshrine New Jerseyans’ rights to clean air, pure water, a stable climate, and healthy ecosystems in the Bill of Rights section of the State constitution. This Bill of Rights placement would give environmental rights the same recognition and protection as other fundamental freedoms like free speech and freedom of religion.
The Bordentown Resolution comes following a ‘Town Hall’ public engagement and education campaign organized by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Green Amendments For The Generations, two leading members of a New Jersey Green Amendment Coalition focused on educating and engaging New Jersey communities on the values of Green Amendment protections for the state. Over 50 community members attended the NJ Green Amendment Town Hall held in April at the Pineland Preservation Alliance headquarters. Town Hall participants shared their experiences living with environmental degradation, its impact on their livelihoods, and the want for a stronger foundation of environmental protections. Several elected officials and candidates attended the meeting to hear the thoughts
of their constituents, including Mayor of Bordentown Township, Eric Holliday. After hearing impassioned testimony from the community, Holliday promised on the spot that he would work to get a resolution of support passed in Bordentown Township. Just a few months later, the Township unanimously passed a resolution in support of the New Jersey Green Amendment.
“Clean water, breathable air, thriving ecosystems, and beautiful natural spaces are part of what makes our community special,” Holliday said. “Protecting our environment isn’t optional…it’s essential.”
On July 22, at 5:05 p.m., an individual reported that between 7:50 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,an unknown actor(s) stole his bicycle, valued at $479.98 that was locked on Nassau Street. There are no suspects currently.
On July 20, at 3:12 a.m., after a motor vehicle stop for driving without lights being activated, the driver/ sole occupant, a 60-yearold Princeton male, was arrested after he was found to be operating his vehicle while intoxicated. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed, and charged with driving while intoxicated, unregistered vehicle, lamps required, failure to possess insurance card, no liability insurance, and reckless driving. He was later released on his own recognizance.
On July 20, at 3:04 p.m., the store manager of a Nassau Street business reported that an unidentified male used a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase two articles of clothing, totaling $86. The suspect then received $14 in change, resulting in a total financial loss of $100 to the store. In a separate transaction, the male also purchased a store membership and provided an email address. Video footage captured the suspect exiting the store and entering a white Tesla with an unknown registration. This investigation is ongoing.
On July 19, at 11:16 p.m., after a motor vehicle stop for speeding and failure to keep right, the driver of the
vehicle, a 59-year-old male from Princeton, was placed under arrest for operating his vehicle while intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged with driving while intoxicated, speeding, failure to keep right, failure to inspect vehicle, and reckless driving. After processing, the driver was released to a sober adult.
On July 18, at 11:53 p.m., after a motor vehicle stop for failure to keep right and failure to properly signal a turn at the intersection of Nassau
and Stockton streets, the driver, a 25-year-old Lawrenceville male, was placed under arrest for operating his vehicle while intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to keep right, failure to properly signal turn, careless driving, open container of an alcoholic beverage, and reckless driving. After processing, he was released to a sober adult. Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released.
“Hot Topics”— a community discussion on DEI, the “Defend Historic Princeton” controversy, and more — are on the schedule for high profile sessions next week, but the Friday, August 1 at 5 p.m. Joint Effort Witherspoon-Jackson Community Princeton Safe Streets kickoff reception at Studio Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street, has its own agenda.
The annual opening event of the nine-day celebration will feature a welcome for two new Princeton Public Schools (PPS) leaders; remarks from the Princeton mayor, the Mercer County executive and other public officials; presentation of four community service awards; and “Reflections” from 40 years in business by J. Robert Hillier — architect, managing principal of Studio Hillier, and Town Topics’ publisher.
New PPS Superintendent Michael LaSusa and new Johnson Park Elementary School Principal Stacy Young will be in attendance, meeting and greeting the public. The Rev. Gregory Scott Smith, pastor of Fisk Chapel AME Church, will present a poem for the occasion. Mayor Mark Freda, County Executive Dan Benson, Princeton Council President Mia Sacks, and Council Members Leighton Newlin and Michelle Pirone Lambros will deliver remarks. Witherspoon Media Group (Town Topics, Princeton Magazine), the Dorothea van Dyke McLane Association (Dorothea’s House), the Arts Council of Princeton, and writer/editor Pam Hersh will receive Mildred Trotman Service Awards.
Highlights in the following days will include a “Hoops and History Legend Salute” on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., following a 1 p.m. fish fry at the Elks Lodge at 124 Birch Avenue, and on Sunday at 5 p.m. a Gospel Music Festival and Recognition of Princeton Black Churches and Black Families at the First Baptist Church of Princeton at 30 Green Street.
At Saturday’s event Marvin Trotman Sr. will be honored as “The Greatest Witherspoon- Jackson Basketball player of All Time,” Pete Young Sr. will be acclaimed “All-Time Greatest Coach,” and an array of allstar players from the past will be recognized.
At Sunday’s gospel festival at 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, First Baptist Pastor Maureen Gerald and Board Chair Deacon Lamont Fletcher, Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church Interim Pastor the Rev. Kenneth Ngwa, Mount Pisgah AME Church Pastor the Rev. Natalie Mitchem, and Not In Our Town Princeton (NIOT) Board Chair Caroline Clark will receive the Jim Floyd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Sunday celebrations will also include a dance presentation by the First Baptist Church Revelation Praise Dance Ministry, a Black Family Legacy Presentation honoring 12 families, and musical selections by the First Baptist Church Choir, Karen Yvette Jones, Jennifer Bell, and Sam Frisby and Friends.
“The churches and NIOT are the social justice centers and advocates,” said Joint Effort Founder and Organizer John Bailey. “This is the Robesonian dynamic. It’s about social justice and opportunity and the fact that we’re dealing with Paul Robeson’s birth as an annual state holiday. That’s big. Legislators, including our own Andrew Zwicker pushed that legislation through.”
Later next week will see a full evening of events on Wednesday, August 6 at the Arts Council of Princeton, presentations, exhibits, and discussions honoring Princeton native Robeson and celebrating the state’s passing of a Joint Resolution to designate April 9 of each year as Paul Robeson Day in the Garden State.
The political issues will arise starting on Monday, August 4, with a discussion on “DEI: the National Pushback and the Impact on Local Communities” at the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church. John Harmon, CEO, president, and founder of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the Rev. Charles Boyer, founder and executive director of Salvation and Social Justice, will lead a fireside chat with an array of distinguished panelists.
“This theme comes at a critical moment, as DEI initiatives face growing national and local pushback,” said panelist and Princeton Councilman Leighton
Newlin. “The fear, alienation, and erasure of undocumented communities, the ongoing gentrification of neighborhoods, and the persistent barriers to affordable housing are just a few of the urgent issues on the table. These issues are not abstract — they are personal, historical, and generational.”
The “Defend Historic Princeton (Racism, Elitism, or Fundamental Public Policy Disagreement)” conversation will take place as part of the Saturday, August 9 “What’s Going On in Princeton Updates,” with subtopics, discussions, and expert panelists speaking on “A Vision for the Town, Princeton Schools, the Princeton Municipality,” and a Candidate Forum.
Noting the proliferation of “Defend Historic Princeton” signs around town, Bailey has challenged all sides to join the discussion on August 9 at the First Baptist Church of Princeton.
“Part of what I’m trying to do is create an opportunity for some authentic conversation,” he said. “If you have folks who are willing to engage, then you can have a good conversation. When it’s in the community, that conversation can be positive because conflict takes us to a higher level of understanding.”
Looking forward to the nine days of Joint Effort Witherspoon-Jackson Community Princeton Safe Streets, Newlin noted, “This is a time when our churches, our streets, and the Arts Council of Princeton are all activated to host community-wide conversations about race, identity, belonging, and justice. To all those who still believe that civic engagement is the heartbeat of a functioning democracy and that it starts at the neighborhood level, come out and get into some Good Trouble.”
—Donald Gilpin
33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd Ellsworth’s Center (Near Train Station)
Tues-Fri: 10am-6pm; Sat 8:30am-3:30pm
BOOMER AND THE BARRACKS: The Trenton Thunder’s mascot will be on hand on Friday, August 22, Old Barracks Baseball Night, for the game at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
On Friday, August 22, friends and supporters of the Old Barracks Museum will gather at the picnic section of Trenton Thunder Ballpark for an all-you-can-eat buffet and baseball game, in which the Thunder will play as the Trenton Pork Roll against the Williamsport Crosscutters. The stadium will be celebrating Capital City Night, and the first 1,000 fans on hand will receive a free “Slice” bobblehead.
The Old Barracks Museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from the Battles of Trenton reenactments during Patriots Week to special programs such as the baseball night.
Originally built in 1758 to house British soldiers during the French and Indian War, the Old Barracks bore witness to the Battles of Trenton and was later used as a Revolutionary War army hospital.
Gates open at 6 p.m.;
the first pitch is at 7 p.m.
The buffet ends at 8. Visit barracks.org for more information.
JFCS Pilots Program
For Food Insecure
JFCS of Greater Mercer County, a leading nonprofit organization offering social services to thousands of area people of all ages and backgrounds, is piloting a grocery delivery program for food insecure individuals discharged from area hospitals.
Funded primarily by the Mercer County Office of Food Security with additional funds from the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the JFCS pilot initiative partners with the area hospitals: Capital Health (Trenton and Hopewell locations), Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Hamilton. Patients identified as food-insecure through the respective hospitals’ intake and screening for Social Determinants of Health will be referred to
the JFCS program to receive direct delivery of groceries in the weeks following their discharge.
The program capitalizes on JFCS infrastructure, including an existing grocery delivery through DoorDash. Launched in April 2023 with funding by the United Way of Greater Mercer County, the existing JFCS DoorDash service targets homebound or disabled individuals who cannot otherwise access available pantry services.
“We know that accessibility is key when addressing food security,” said JFCS Executive Director Michelle Schwalbe. “We have made the fresh, nutritious food of our pantry more accessible through our mobile pantry program, launched in 2019, and in recent years through our DoorDash program. Partnering with area hospitals is a great next step, reaching food insecure individuals when they are in an even more vulnerable and precarious position following a hospital stay.”
The pilot program will begin accepting referrals directly from area hospitals in August.
“We unfortunately see significant challenges in obtaining healthy food for many of our patients being discharged,” said Dr. Eric Schwartz, executive director, Capital Health – Institute for Urban Care, VP, Community Health & Transformation. “The opportunity to provide healthy food for patients being discharged, will go a long way to improving the overall health outcomes of our community.”
For more information, visit jfcsonline.org.
What’s Included:
Join us for an exclusive afternoon of tequila and bites, featuring three exceptional expressions from Mijenta — Blanco, Reposado, and Reposado Cristalino. Hosted by Sean Nelson, Mijenta’s East Coast Sales Manager, this intimate tasting will explore the depth, character, and craftsmanship behind each pour.
Small bites: guacamole, salsa & chips, chilled corn soup, and mini tacos
Guided tequila tasting of 3 expressions
Two craft margarita samples with Classic Watermelon and an Eno Terra specialty.
PLUS a bottle purchase = entry to our exclusive raffle! Tickets are very limited (only 20 seats!) — reserve yours now.
tickets: enoterra.com/store/event
The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.
To the Editor:
Fifty-four years ago, Congress ratified the 26th amendment, lowering the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. The logic was simple but powerful: If young Americans were old enough to be drafted to war, they were old enough to have a say in government.
I am a 16-year-old at Princeton High School. I started working a part-time job when I was 14. I have my learner’s permit and can get my driver’s license in less than a month. If I’m entrusted with “adult” responsibilities—to drive a car, hold a job, and pay taxes—shouldn’t I have a voice in the decisions that heavily impact my education?
The Board of Education allocates budgets and funding, hires administration, and decides what content can be taught in classrooms. The School Board shapes students’ educational foundation and future opportunities. And yet, the people most directly impacted by these decisions are denied direct representation.
Princeton Public Schools students are required to take Civics in 8th grade, and U.S. History in our 9th and 10th grade years. They spend years studying how efficacious the Great Experiment of democracy has been for the United States. But we fall short of letting those students directly apply that knowledge into the very system they’re taught so much about.
If our civic education is meant to prepare students to be informed and engaged citizens, then the most meaningful lesson is allowing them to vote in the decisions that most affect their daily lives: school board elections. This teaching
becomes infinitely more effective when students are given a personal stake in it.
School teaches us more than academics — it teaches us critical thinking and reasoning skills. We can consider multiple perspectives and analyze data and outcomes. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are old enough to form their own informed opinions on local politics, and they’re old enough to exercise their voice for them.
Voting is a habitual practice, meaning that if you vote once, you are more likely to do so in the future. 89 million Americans did not vote in the 2024 federal election — that’s 36 percent of eligible adult voters who did not participate. If students can vote at the age of 16, while they have resources and support from their schools and families, they are more likely to continue the habit, increasing voter turnout in state and federal elections.
But our need for local civic rights comes down to more than promoting voter engagement. The students at Princeton High School are driven, responsible, and passionate about the issues that they believe in. We organize community-wide forest restoration projects, contributing hundreds of hours to protecting wildlife. We volunteer at hospitals and elderly care centers. We speak out about racism, misogyny, and homophobia because we care deeply about protecting our community.
We deserve to have a voice in our education, not just because we are the future of politics, but because we are the present, too.
ASH NIEMAN
Princeton High School ’26 Mount Lucas Road
To the Editor: I read with interest and appreciation about the Liverman family and their generous donation enabling Trenton schoolchildren to attend a performance at McCarter Theatre [“An Introduction to Live Theater from Longtime McCarter Fan,” July 16, page 8].
It might be of interest to note that, many years ago when I served on the School Board, I had the pleasure of accompanying the 8th graders of the then JW Middle School on a trip to Manhattan to hear a live performance at the Metropolitan Opera. Tom Procaccino, a graduate of the Princeton School system himself, and then a police officer with our local police department, started a fund which enabled every single graduate of JW to attend a live performance at the Met. For many years, this was a highlight associated with graduating from JW, and for many students, their first exposure to live opera. What a wonderful gift Tom gave to our school district!
ROBIN L. WALLACK Prince William Court
To the Editor: I read with pleasure the proposal to have McCarter purchase and use part of the Westminster Choir College buildings. It’s a logical use of existing facilities and should prove a great community asset.
On that theme, it seems to me logical to have an extension of the Princeton Public Library at the existing Talbot Library on the college site as well. It would become a gathering place and resource for the students at the middle and high schools as the proximity makes this an obvious resource for the schools with no major investment in bricks and mortar. And the location would also make it a significant benefit to the surrounding neighborhoods. I encourage the library board to look into the future and find a way to use this existing resource to the benefit of Princeton’s students and the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods.
DAVID
H. MILLER, PH.D. Hawthorne Avenue
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.
Artist and healing art instructor Jane Zamost has released her first book, What Does Love Look Like?, an illustrated children’s book for youngsters aged 2 and up that explores love — what it looks, feels and sounds like. At the end of the book, the author asks children to think about what love looks like to them too.
While listening to a newscaster ask what we can do to make our world a better one, Zamost decided to advocate for a more loving world. “I believe that if we define what love is for the young, we help build their desire for more love in their hearts and in our collective world,” she said in a press release.
Her special project began as a book for her two young granddaughters. After receiv-
ing the first copy, she decided her message deserved a wider audience.
Written and illustrated by Zamost, the book features words and pictures all about love — from an ice cream cone piled high with whipped cream to her own British grandmother baking cookies first thing in the morning.
Zamost, of the Hopewell Valley area, graduated Rutgers University’s Rutgers College and Mason Gross School of the Arts and studied in London at the Sir John Cass School of Art and the London Polytechnic.
A hard copy book can be purchased on her website, janezamost.com. She can be reached through the website, and on Instagram, at JaneZamostAlways EvolvingArt.
The Madness of Ivy Basketball takes the reader through the epic 2023-24 and 202425 basketball seasons, Ivy madness, and the NCAA Tournament, with a spotlight on Princeton University. Originally published last summer, it has been updated to include this past season.
The Madness of Ivy Basketball (IUniverse, $16.99 softcover) focuses on all the teams of the Ancient Eight, Xavian Lee, Caden Pierce, and Bez Mbeng.
Much is said about the internal turmoil in the Ivy League regarding topics which are impacted by the changing landscape of college athletics. Kent is a sports lawyer in Westport, Conn., who has announced Yale games on the radio and has written Roger Federer: Back on Top, Big East Confidential, The Racket, Inside the US Open, Inside Women’s College Basketball and some books on legal topics.
On July 29, 1965, 60 years ago this Tuesday, I was in London, walking through Soho surrounded by smiling faces. Thousands had gathered in Piccadilly Circus to watch the Beatles arrive for the World Premiere of their second film Help and I’d landed there at the exact moment the limousine pulled up and the four of them tumbled out and loped into the London Pavilion, mop tops bouncing. There’s a blend of wonder and mindless amusement in the Beatles-are-here smiles that can also be seen in the faces of the crowds when the Fab Four landed in New York on February 7, 1964.
Faces in the Crowd
Now it’s late July 2025 and I’m seeing handheld camera shots of faces on New York streets, some smiling, some curious, some fascinated, all ages, as if a Beatleslevel legend-in-the-making were passing by when in fact it’s the “Prince of Darkness” in a video filmed for John Lennon’s 70th birthday, October 9, 2010. That’s John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, shaggy and shambling in his long black coat, more Chaplinesque than Black Sabbath satanic, with a telltale glimmer of John Lennon in the shades he’s wearing, a pair of granny glasses with dark blue lenses. And there’s more than a touch of Lennon in “How?” the song Ozzy’s singing on the soundtrack, though it takes a while to recognize this understandably neglected track from Imagine , an album exalted by the title track but marred by “How Do You Sleep,” John’s crude, petty put down of Paul McCartney.
“How?”
It’s no coincidence that this nakedly vulnerable, deeply personal song directly follows the nasty dig at McCartney on Imagine, and it makes beautiful sense that the lifelong Lennon fan who died last week is the black-clad messenger bringing “How” back from the dead. Humbly submitting himself to the spirit of the lyric, facing the camera looking profoundly puzzled, one hand grasping his chin, Ozzy haltingly puts John’s words together in a lean and hungry voice with a half-hidden hint of Lennon you can hear as he bends and draws out the words “turn” and “of” in the lines “How can I go forward when I don’t know which way to turn? ... How can I go forward into something I’m not sure of?”
“Oh no....”
That the man in the long back coat knows where he’s going becomes evident as soon as he emerges from a midtown florist shop holding a bouquet. Passing through the neighborhood where the crowds gathered to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo wave from the windows of the Plaza Hotel that long-ago February day, he heads for Central Park. At one point, the crowd seems to be following him, the Pied Piper of Birmingham. But he’s on his own as he enters the park, the song rounding back to the first verse as he approaches his goal, giving that Lennonesque turn to the last word of the last question:
“How can I go forward into something I’m not sure of?” — a simplified version of Hamlet’s “what dreams may come must give us pause.” Then, as he lays the bouquet of purple flowers next to the word IMAGINE in the center of the Strawberry Fields mosaic, the voice on the soundtrack, his voice, echoing John’s, saying-singing the mysterious, ominous, lost last words that follow each verse, “oh no.... oh no....”
with a melodic line, the life of a thought expressed in “Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see,” then “It’s getting hard to be someone, but it all works out, it doesn’t matter much to me.” Which in turn reminds me of “Help,” the song John wrote for that hastily titled movie, and which I had doubts about at first; it was months before I appreciated how brilliantly the musical energy matched conversational lines like “When I was younger, so much younger than today,” and “now those days are gone I’m not so self-assured,” and especially, the lift into the chorus with “Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the door.”
Here’s where my emotions surprised me, not with a sob so much as a laugh at my own folly, since it was not only as if Ozzy and John together had bestowed the flowers, both now inhabiting Shakespeare’s “undiscovered country,” it was the absurd fact that I’d stumbled on that stunning moment unprepared, having forgotten the existence of the Central Park memorial (“a living landscape that changes and grows over time”) and of the massive mosaic donated by the city of Naples and installed on John Lennon’s birthday, October 9, 1985.
John Speaking
In “Strawberry Fields Forever” John first consciously merged spoken conversation
Years later John made it clear: “Most people think it’s just a fast rock-’n’-roll song. I didn’t realize it at the time — I really was crying out for help. I was fat and depressed, and I was crying out for help.”
John Osbourne
It’s been a long, strange trip, from Ringo to Brian to Ozzy in a six-week span of columns. Five issues ago I’m quoting from I Am Brian Wilson, now it’s I Am Ozzy (Grand Central 2011), with its Dickensian opening: “My father always said I would do something big one day. ‘I’ve got a feeling about you, John Osbourne,’ he’d tell me. ‘You’re either going to do something very special, or you’re going to go to prison.’ And he was right, my old man.”
In describing his absurd history as a “crap burglar,” Ozzy becomes his own slapstick foil, “nicking a 24-inch telly” that’s too heavy for him to carry, “and when I was climbing over the back wall it fell on my chest and I couldn’t move for about an hour. I was just lying there in this ditch full of nettles, feeling like a twat.”
Ozzy and Randy
A few weeks ago I started a column about
the late Alfred Brendel, who died at 93 on June 17, after spending the better part of an hour face to face with him as he played and talked about Franz Schubert’s posthumous C-Minor piano sonata. As happens in this date-driven fandango, Henry James and J.D. Salinger, then Raymond Chandler and Philip Marlowe, crashed that party. Now it’s Ozzy Osbourne, John Lennon, along with a guitar virtuoso who died too young.
Reading an online sample of Ozzy’s memoir, I was struck by the dedication page, first to his fans, but more important, to “one special guy who meant so much to me, Mr. Randy Rhoads, R.I.P. I will never forget you and I hope we meet again somewhere, somehow.” I discovered this incredible musician thanks to my son, who, after a brief fling with Black Sabbath, enjoyed a more sustained relationship with Ozzy’s solo albums, Diary of a Madman and Blizzard of Oz . Based on my limited knowledge of Ozzy as a singer, he’s at his very best on songs like “Over the Mountain,” “Mr. Crowley,” and, especially, “Revelation,” where the incredible cadenzas of the 25-year-old guitarist who always seems to enter in mid-flight only to soar higher, transcending himself time and again — until March 19, 1982 when he was killed in a plane flown by a pilot who had promised “no stunts” buzzed the tour bus where Ozzy was sleeping, breaking one wing in half and crashing in flames. A July 26 article in themirror.com, quotes an interview in which Osbourne said, “Randy was very instrumental in bringing me out of me. The first two Ozzy albums are by far the greatest things I’ve ever done.” Finding Purpose
After referring to the way Ozzy’s “How?” video coincided with “his late hero’s 70th birthday,” plus raising funds for Amnesty International USA, a July 24 article in Guitar Player quotes a 2017 interview in which Ozzy says that when he heard the Beatles’ “She Loves You,” he suddenly found purpose: “ I remember exactly where I was. I was walking down a road called Whitten Road in Aston. I had a blue transistor radio, and when it came on, I knew from then on what I wanted to do in my life.”
—Stuart Mitchner
laywright Nick Dear’s Frankenstein arguably is imprecisely titled. A more accurate title might be Frankenstein’s Creature , because in this version the Creature, not the titular scientist, clearly is the protagonist.
Based on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), Dear’s play premiered in 2011 at the Royal National Theatre. It is one of several literary adaptations by the playwright, who also has created a stage version of The Turn of the Screw, and a screenplay of Persuasion
Dear’s passion for literature is palpable in Frankenstein. Various authors are quoted (notably Milton, from Paradise Lost ). While the concept and plot elements obviously borrow from Shelly, thematically there also are traces of Notre-Dame de Paris and The Ugly Duckling
Princeton Summer Theater (PST) is concluding its season with Frankenstein. Alex Conboy directs a superb production in which fine acting and design consistently complement Dear’s clever, poetic script.
That the Creature is the protagonist is obvious from the first scene. Dear opens with the Creature’s animation, which does not happen in the novel until the fifth chapter.
Part of what makes Dear’s script so stageworthy is that it clearly is written with the intention of letting acting and production design carry plenty of weight in conveying the story. Additionally, while Dear is capable of writing dialogue that is by turns elegant and pithy, he also knows the power of wordless movement.
Before the performance begins we see part of Jeff Van Velsor’s set. Silver metallic scaffolding, which introduces a theme of human construction work, flanks a plain white curtain. The choice of the color white suggests both innocence and a blank sheet on which to draw.
Sound Designer Colin Lansky opens the play with a simple heartbeat. A new life exists.
Conboy filters our view of the Creature’s animation; we see him behind the curtain, in silhouette. This evokes a chicken moving in its shell right before it hatches. Like any newborn child, the Creature (given a consistently outstanding portrayal by Lana Gaige, in what may be their finest performance) is disoriented and unskilled in his motions. Lighting Designer Florencia Curchitser enhances the sense of disorientation by making the spotlights uncomfortably bright; we get a sense of how things must look to a newborn baby.
Costume Designer Jimmy Weinstein (assisted by Susan McLernon) supports and develops the key ideas established by Van Velsor’s set. The Creature usually is outfitted in a simple cloak that echoes
the white curtain. His robotic left arm resembles the scaffolding, reminding us that both the scaffolding and the Creature are mechanical inventions. Unlike the scaffolding, however, the Creature is sentient, with an ability to learn; his light beige tunic reinforces the “blank paper” motif. Conboy and Gaige have a wonderful sense of how the Creature should move. Gaige’s motions are artfully jerky and unpredictable. The Creature makes repeated attempts to stand and walk properly; he falls several times before he finally succeeds.
Exploring his surroundings, the Creature is fascinated by everything, including birdsong. He attempts to express himself via a serious of cries and grunts, before he later learns how to use words.
If the pacing feels a bit slow during this segment, artistically it is worth it to convey a sense of this new life form learning, through trial and error, to function in its surroundings.
These proceedings are observed, coolly and wordlessly, by Victor Frankenstein (played by Jimmy Weinstein, who captures the character’s lack of warmth, and masks complicated layers that will be unveiled later). Again accentuating a young child’s point of view, Conboy places Frankenstein high on the scaffolding so that he towers over the Creature.
Frankenstein literally and metaphori -
Creature instinctively moves toward his creator, the first words he hears are the repulsed scientist’s “No, keep away.” That is the last we see of Victor for some time.
Soon the Creature finds himself to be reviled by anyone who sees him. Gretel, a prostitute (Sidney Humes-James) merely flees; but beggars Gustav (Lucy Grunden) and Klaus (Humes-James, in an example of frequent multi-casting) beat him. (Sequences in which the Creature defends itself, or attacks others, are well staged by Fight Directors Jacqueline Holloway and Kat McLaughlin; the latter also is the Intimacy Director.)
Tellingly, the one who treats the Creature with the most kindness is the blind De Lacey (Ja’Quan Spann, who infuses the character with the right mixture of warmth and introspection). De Lacey (who has knowledge) teaches the Creature about music, English, and religion. The Creature (who has sight) guides De Lacey when he walks.
The two help each other by sharing what the other lacks, and in De Lacey the Creature finds the mentor – the father – that the absent Frankenstein has failed to be. However, De Lacey’s son Felix (Orion Lopez-Ramirez) and Felix’s wife Agatha (Humes-James) see well, and winning their sympathy proves more than challenging for the Creature.
the Creature imagines bonding with a Female Creature (Grunden). Like the Creature’s first scene, this segment is wordless. This time, however, the motions are graceful rather than jerky, as the two move together in an imagined, exquisitely choreographed, dance.
This scene is a fulcrum that propels the Creature’s motivation and actions for the remainder of the play, giving him heightened determination to find Victor. This entails encountering Victor’s brother, William (Joey Nartker); and father, Monsieur Frankenstein (Spann, in a second paternal role).
A highlight of the second act is a scene in which the Creature confronts Victor. In an apt turnabout from an earlier scene, Victor cowers on the floor, while the Creature towers over him. Conboy astutely uses vertical levels to foreshadow a line of dialogue that is heard later: “The son becomes the father.”
The Creature has a single demand for Victor: build a Female Creature (resembling the one in the dream) that can be a mate and companion. Victor, who (belatedly) has newfound moral qualms, is reluctant.
In a beautifully staged dream sequence
Weinstein entertainingly portrays Victor’s mixture of horror and astonished pride at what his creation has become, as well as his patronizing lack of warmth toward his fiancée, Elizabeth Lavenza (Emmie Collins). Victor is knowledgeable about science, but emotionally ignorant and abusive in his relationships.
To this, Elizabeth is a bracing foil. Collins infuses the character with requisite polished grace, mixed with steely resolve. We can tell that Elizabeth is unlikely to be patient with Victor’s behavior indefinitely; and other than the Creature, she is the only one who makes any headway in standing up to him. (Beside De Lacey, she is the only one who reacts to the Creature with anything other than horror.)
“I am the one who stands outside the door. I see inside. But I daren’t go in.” This line is deftly illustrated by Conboy and the designers; careful production choices periodically make us the outsider. Like the Creature, we “see inside,” but at times, only via silhouette. Conversely, in another scene the lights focus on the audience, and both Victor and the Creature look down on us.
“FRANKENSTEIN”: Performances are underway for Princeton Summer Theater’s production of “Frankenstein.” Directed by Alex Conboy, the play runs through August 2 at Princeton University’s Hamilton Murray Theater. Above: Victor Frankenstein (Jimmy Weinstein, left) and the Creature (Lana Gaige, right) debate the ethics of animating the Female Creature (Lucy Grunden, center).
“Frankenstein” will play at the Hamilton Murray Theater in Murray Dodge Hall, Princeton University, through August 2. Content advisory: “Frankenstein” is recommended for audiences aged 18+ due to mature themes including portrayals of sexual assault and general violence. For tickets, show times, and further information visit princetonsummertheater.org.
TWO TREASURED CASTLES IN THE HEART OF BUCKS COUNTY, PA
Guiding the cast and creative team, Conboy accomplishes a distinct unity of script and staging, and underlines an obviously too relevant theme of casting out those who do not physically resemble others in the community.
Victor Frankenstein may have created a monster (though arguably he is at least as bad). With Frankenstein , though, PST has created an excellent production of a literate and poignant script.
—Donald H. Sanborn III
BELOVED HEROINE: Oliva Fan (right) of North Brunswick, and Sofia Liang of Plainsboro, are among the cast for Huaxia Chinese School of Plainsboro’s presentation of “The Ballad of Mulan” at the Kelsey Theatre.
“The Ballad of Mulan” Comes to Kelsey Theatre
An original theatrical adaptation celebrating the courage, intelligence, and determination of one of China’s most beloved heroines comes to life when the Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro brings The Ballad of Mulan to the stage of Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre, August 1-3.
This family-friendly performance is based on the centuries-old Chinese ballad “The Legend of Mulan,” an inspiring story of a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army. She becomes a formidable warrior as she fights and saves China, but when the Emperor ultimately honors her for her long and distinguished military service, she declines the position of high office he
offers and returns home to her beloved family.
The multi-disciplinary performance includes poetry, music, songs, dances, and Chinese martial arts, and is narrated in Chinese and English.
Dates and showtimes for “The Ballad of Mulan” are Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2 and 3 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for children and students. Visit kelseytheatre.org.
New Jersey Lyric Opera Offers Two Productions New Jersey Lyric Opera (NJLO) returns to Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre for the third consecutive year with a weekend of opera favorites on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus, August 7-10, during the Summer Opera Festival.
The festival weekend features presentations by artists from the tri-state
region and beyond in Carmen and La Boheme , plus the Gala Spectacular, a showcase of opera favorites.
The weekend kicks off with Carmen, August 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. Sung in French with English subtitles, the story revolves around Carmen, a captivating and independent Romani woman, and Don José, a naive soldier, who is consumed by his obsession with her, leading to tragic consequences. The performance stars soprano Sarah Joseph, who sings Micaela, and tenor Chris Lorge singing the role of Don José.
The festival continues with La Boheme, August 9 and 10 at 2 p.m., the story of young, impoverished artists and their loves in 19thcentury Paris, particularly focusing on the relationship between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì. The performance is sung in Italian with English subtitles, featuring John Paul Durazzo, who returns as Alcindoro, Franchesca Solis as Mimi, and baritone Chaka Allen as Marcello.
Saturday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m. features the gala , an immersive, cinematic program with live, on-stage performances including opera favorites , paired with rare opera gems. (With English subtitles.)
Tickets $26.50 per event, or $75 for all three. Visit kelseytheatre.org or call (609) 570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is located on the MCCC campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor Township.
New Brunswick Square
To Host Arts Festival State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick Cultural Center, and New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), and the Arts Institute of Middlesex County present the 6th Annual New Brunswick Heart Festival on Saturday, August 9, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Monument Square, 2 Livingston Avenue.
The family-friendly festival is hosted by New Jersey Radio Hall of Famer Bert Baron and founder of TSO Productions, Sharon Gordon. Live music and dance performances; free dance classes for kids; food, craft, and art vendors; arts and crafts for kids; free face painting, Henna, caricatures; and balloon animals are among the scheduled activities.
Whole Earth carries a wide selection of locally grown produce from the Garden State’s finest organic growers. During the summer, we get daily deliveries of local organic produce. Stop in to sample the bounty of New Jersey’s organic farms.
Before the festival begins, State Theatre presents a 1 p.m. performance inside the theater of LUMIA: A Futuristic Cirque Show , blending acrobatics with the latest advancements in visual technology. LUMIA showcases an array of holograms, interactive lasers, LED technology, light suits, and even robots that transform the stage into a vibrant canvas of light and movement. Tickets for the show are $39-$62 and can be purchased at STNJ.org.
This year’s festival lineup on the outdoor stage on Livingston Avenue includes the headline band the Discoteks, performing disco and Motown hits; Afro-Peruvian music and dance by Socabón Peru Cultural Association; tap dancer Omar Edwards; the New Brunswick Brass; dance performances by InSpira Performing Arts & Cultural Center and Grupo de Danza Folklórica La Sagrada Familia; beats by DJ IZM; a performance by George Street Playhouse; National ACT-SO Bronze Medalist and singer Myles Cherette; and a set by the winner of this year’s State Theatre Jersey Talent show, pianist, Elias Nicozisis. Plus, a hustle dance class with Amy Garcia Phillips and the Contento Dancers.
Other events at the New Brunswick HEART Festival include a health and wellness area with Garden of Healing; and a history area featuring historical interpreters by the Arts Institute of Middlesex County’s East Jersey Old Town Village and Cornelius Low House. Additional activities include free face painting, balloon animals, Henna, and caricature; free arts and crafts with Dibble and Dabble; button-making with the New Brunswick Free Public Library; Japanese black ink drawing with the Highland Park Arts Commission; and chalk art with Sharpened Mindz. Also featured at the festival are dance classes for ages 4-8 at 4 p.m. and Contemporary for ages 9-16 at 5 p.m.
Broadway Actors to Star In McCarter Premiere McCarter Theatre Center has announced that Jasmine Forsberg and Benji Santiago will play the leads in its season opener, the world premiere of I & You: The Musical . The production runs September 13 through October 12.
Based on Lauren Gunderson’s play I and You , the new musical reunites Gunderson with McCarter Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen, who led the play’s original premiere in 2013.
This intimate two-person musical features an original score by composer and lyricist Ari Afsar. Commissioned by McCarter with support from the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, the production will be co-produced with Olney Theatre Center.
“I’m beyond excited to work with these two extraordinary artists,” says Afsar. “Jasmine brings a presence that’s both commanding and deeply emotional, while Benji’s vulnerability and heart are utterly captivating. Together, they will be a force of nature.”
“Jasmine and Benji have unbelievably incredible voices — and illustrious careers as young artists. Not only are they Broadway stars, they have the warmth, humor, and mature depth of Caroline and Anthony,” said Rasmussen. “The creative team and I were blown away by their auditions, and we can’t wait for audiences to hear and see what we loved
in the audition room. We’re also thrilled to welcome our phenomenal understudies — Alex De Bard and Kishan Rao — who delighted us with their gorgeous musicality, comic timing, and heart.”
Forsberg’s Broadway credits include Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, SIX (Broadway and first national tour), and Here Lies Love . She has also appeared in A Grand Night for Singing at Goodspeed Musicals, Love in Hate Nation at Two River Theater, and Wild Fire at the Denver Center. She earned her BFA from Penn State.
Santiago made his Broadway debut as Younger Noah in The Notebook, and he also starred as Usnavi in In the Heights at The Muny. He studied at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Tickets and subscription packages are now on sale at mccarter.org or (609) 258-2787.
“TRAVELS WITH THOMAS GEORGE”: Works by the late artist Thomas George will be featured in a retrospective art sale in the Taplin Gallery at the Arts Council of Princeton August 1 to August 3. An opening is on August 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Travels with Thomas George”
Retrospective Art Sale at ACP
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), in partnership with Thomas George’s sons John and Geoff, will be hosting a sale of George’s artwork from August 1 to August 3 in the Taplin Gallery. All works from “Travels with Thomas George” — from sketches to framed works — will be offered for sale with a portion benefiting ACP community programs.
The opening is on Friday, August 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. George (1918-2014) was an internationally recognized artist whose work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, the National Gallery of American Art, the Tate Gallery, and many other museums and major collections in the United States and abroad. He had his first one-man exhibition in New York in 1951 followed by more than 50 one-man exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad. From 1959 -1981 he was represented by
the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York City.
George was a resident of Princeton and used the local scenery of Marquand Park and the Institute for Advanced Studies as inspiration for tree and garden studies. However, always seeking new inspiration for his work, he traveled extensively with his family throughout Europe and the Far East. He found inspiration in the dramatic landscapes of Japan, China, and, especially, Norway, where he maintained a home and worked every summer for over 30 years.
George was a prolific and successful artist, and his local shows included the Princeton University Art Museum (2005) and the Arts Council of Princeton (2011) before he passed away in 2014. Tom is survived by his sons, John George and Geoff George, who own a large collection of his works including wood cuts, prints, oils, drawings, pastels, and watercolors.
The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102
Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncil ofprinceton.org.
“Summer Exhibition “ at Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury
The Cranbury Arts Council and the Gourgaud Gallery will host the Creative Collective Art Group’s “Summer Exhibition” August 3 through August 29 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury Town Hall at 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury.
An opening reception on Sunday, August 3, from 1 to 3 p.m., features a variety of art mediums including acrylic paintings, oil paintings, watercolor, color pencil, collage, and mixed media.
The Creative Collective Art Group is dedicated to fostering a creative and nurturing community for artists, artisans, and art lovers in central New Jersey and beyond.
Their goal is to provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere for inspiration for beginners to professionals as well as supporting the greater artist community.
The Cranbury Arts Council
The Trenton
Academy Street in Trenton will feature “Recent Works by Thomas Kelly” August 23 through October 11. An opening reception is August 23, from 2 to 4 p.m.
provides arts-oriented programs, workshops, and performances aimed at enriching the cultural experiences of the community and keeping the creative spirit alive in adults and children. Their mission is to foster, support, educate, inspire, and promote artists and art appreciation in the community.
Gourgaud Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit cranburyartscouncil.org.
The Trenton Artists Workshop Association (TAWA) and the Trenton Free Public Library will present “Recent Works by Thomas Kelly” at the Trenton Free Public Library August 23 through October 11. An opening reception is on Saturday, August 23, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Kelly is an award winning, New Jersey-based painter. Widely collected, his work has a signature style, which has its roots in Expressionism. His colorful, narrative, acrylic paintings on canvas often create a dialogue with the viewer. His deceptively simplistic paintings are both critically acclaimed and very approachable by everyday viewers. More than 350 of Kelly’s original paintings have been collected. Kelly has exhibited in New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, and Bethlehem, Pa. His work is in private and public collections in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
“Thomas Kelly paints not the America we have, he paints America as we would like it to be. His paintings give us hope, like a modern Norman Rockwell,” said
Walter Wickiser of the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York City.
TAWA is a Greater Trenton nonprofit organization and has a 40-year history organizing exhibits in such venues as the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton City Museum, Artworks Trenton, Prince Street Gallery in New York City, and more.
The Trenton Free Public Library is located at 120 Academy Street in the Creek2Canal Trenton Arts District. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the library, call (609) 392-7188.
More information on the Trenton Artists Workshop Association can be found on the organization’s Facebook page.
August 29. Artscouncilof princeton.org.
Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Summer Exhibition” August 3 through August 29. An opening reception is on August 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. Cranburyartscouncil.org.
Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Emerging Artists Exhibition” through September 30. Greenbuildingcenter.com.
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.
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Léni Paquet-Morante: Extract / Abstract” through November 9. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Artists’ Gallery, 18
Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Footsteps” through August 3 and “Time of Day(s)” August 7 through August 21. An opening reception is on Saturday, August 9 f4om 4 to 6 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “The Mind of the Maker: Figure Drawing and Painting Practice” through August 9 and “Milagros de Corazón: Wings of Hope in Tin and Paper” through
Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural” through September 14. Michenerartmuseum.org
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Historic Morven: A Window Into America’s Past” (ongoing). Morven.org.
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Celestial Bodies: Black Queer Identity in Precolonial Africa” through August 18. Princetonlibrary.org. West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” through August 8. Westwindsorarts.org.
Wednesday, July 30
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one discussions about issues affecting Princeton on the steps of Princeton University Chapel (enter on Nassau Street across from South Tulane Street).
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.
6 p.m.: Princeton Student Film Festival at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Original short films by teens and adults; postscreening discussion. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:30-10 p.m.: Contra dance at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Michael Karcher with Princeton Pickup Band. Princeton countrydancers.org.
Thursday, July 31
12-4 p.m.: Evergreen Forum Fall 2025 Open House, Center for Modern Aging, 101 Poor Farm Road and on Zoom. Light refreshments, sample classes. Cmaprinceton.org.
7:30-10 a.m.: “Sustainable Futures: The Greening of Trenton,” topic of breakfast series sponsored by the Princeton Mercer Chamber at Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Executive Park, Route 29, Trenton. Tom Szaky of TerraCycle is keynote speaker. Panelists are Jay Watson of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Brian Blair of Trenton Renewable Power. Princetonchamber.org.
6-7:30 p.m.: Six Degrees of Morven Trivia Night at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Teams are welcome to enter, and prizes will be awarded. Snacks and beverages provided. Morven.org.
Friday, August 1
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 Mark Miklos Terhuneorchards.com.
6 p.m.: “Dancing to Chopin,” Princeton Ballet School’s culminating summer session performance, at Berlind Theatre of McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place. Arballet.org.
6:30 p.m.: Yacht Rock Gold Experience perform at Mercer County Park, West Windsor. $5 ($25 for season pass). Mercercounty.org.
7 p.m.: The Ballad of Mulan is at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Presented by the Huaxia Chinese School of Plainsboro. $14-$16. Kelseytheatre.org.
8:30 p.m.: Shrek is screened on The Green at Palmer Square. Free. Palmersquare.com.
Saturday, August 2
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Princeton Junction train station southbound side. More than 50 local farms and vendors. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Just Peachy Festival at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Games, pony rides, scavenger hunt,
traveling zoo, bubbles, food, wine, and music from 2-5 p.m by Zuko Phillips Cohn & Starr. Terhuneorchards.com.
10 a.m.-12 p.m.: FOPOS Bio Blitz at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Hands-on community science event to identify as many species as possible; learn how to use free apps to document plants, animals, fungi, and more. Fopos.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Honey Harvest at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Free. Howellfarm.org.
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Beyond Words II: Collage Open Studio at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. Free, family-friendly, drop-in workshop for anyone affected by cancer and their families. Participants make collages as a way to explore themes of hope, resilience, and connection. No experience necessary; materials provided. Deborah Rice is facilitator. Westwindsorarts.org.
1 and 4 p.m.: The Ballad of Mulan is at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Presented by the Huaxia Chinese School of Plainsboro. $14-$16. Kelseytheatre.org.
Sunday, August 3
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Just Peachy Festival at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Games, pony rides, scavenger hunt, traveling zoo, bubbles, food, wine, and music from 2-5 p.m by On the Fly. Terhuneorchards.com.
1 and 4 p.m .: The Ballad of Mulan is at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Presented by the Huaxia Chinese School of Plainsboro. $14-$16. Kelseytheatre.org.
3-5:15 p.m.: Stephanie Chin and Laurie Davis perform at the Listen Local series on Hinds Plaza (or inside Princeton Public Library’s Community Room if it rains). Princetonlibrary.org.
Tuesday, August 5
9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick: Flowers, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Handson farm activity followed by stories. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.
10-11 a.m.: Summer Kids Club at MarketFair, 3535 U.S. Highway 1. Wildlife and the Preserve; interactive program by Plainsboro Preserve, followed by story time at Barnes & Noble. Free. Marketfairshoppes.com.
5-8 p.m.: Community Night Out at Community Park Pool. Free pool admission, food while it lasts, dunk tank, inflatable activities, kids’ activities, display of emergency vehicles, and more. Princetonrecreation.com.
7-8:30 p.m.: 80th Anniversary Observance of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action and the library. Speakers include Princeton professor Robert Goldston; and Larry Ericksen and Masaru Nakawatase of the Seabrook
Educational and Cultural Center. The Solidarity Singers will sing songs of peace. Candle-lighting, poetry, light refreshments. Rsvp to rsvp@peacecoalition.org.
Wednesday, August 6
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. Sunny Lawrence with Princeton Pickup Band. Princeton countrydancers.org.
Thursday, August 7
11 a.m. Sen. Andrew Zwicker’s constituent service representatives hold open office hours in the lobby of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
12 p.m.: Trenton Walks : Guided walk from City Hall to Capital Park via Assunpink Greenway and Mill Hill Park. Gmtma. org/trail-happenings.
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Real Estate in the Region: Evening Networking. Presented by Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Real Estate Business Alliance at Hill Wallack, 21 Roszel Road. Princetonmercer.org.
6-7 p.m.: Sound Bath Meditation at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Led by wellness consultant Stephanie Whitford. Register at mcl.org.
7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Lyric Opera presents Carmen at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Kelseytheatre.org.
Friday, August 8
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 the Barbara Lin Band Terhuneorchards.com.
6:30 p.m.: Big Hix Tennessee Whiskey performs at Mercer County Park, West Windsor. $5 ($25 for season pass). Mercercounty.org.
6:30 p.m.: Opening reception for “All Stars: Black Baseball in New Jersey and Beyond,” exhibit at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, 183 Hollow Road, Skillman. Ssaamuseum.org/ all-stars-exhibit.
7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Lyric Opera presents Carmen at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Kelseytheatre.org.
Saturday, August 9
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.
9:30 a.m.: Free walk along the Lawrence Hopewell Trail . For meeting point and route, visit lhtrail.org.
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: “All Stars: Black Baseball in New Jersey and Beyond,” free open hours to see exhibit at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, 183 Hollow Road, Skillman. Ssaamuseum.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Potato Harvest at Howell Living History Farm , 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Help sort the crop, to be delivered to local soup kitchens and food pantries. Free. Howellfarm.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 Chris P. Terhuneorchards.com.
2 p.m.: Staged reading of Macbeth by local actors at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
2 p.m.: New Jersey Lyric Opera presents La Boheme at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. At 7:30 p.m., the Festival Night Gala cinematic program is held. Kelseytheatre.org.
2-6 p.m.: New Brunswick Heart Festival , Monument Square, 2 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Live music and dance performances, free dance classes for kids, food, craft, and art vendors, face-painting, balloon animals, and more. Free.
5-7:30 p.m.: Swara performs at Nassau Park Pavilion behind Panera. Indian/ American band sings in multiple languages. Hands-on art activities for all ages. Free. Westwindsorarts.org/events.
It’s all about ice cream!
And not just everyone’s summertime favorite, it is the go-to treat for all seasons. Now traversing the Princeton area and beyond, the Alsies Ice Cream Truck is bringing its selection of ice cream cones, sandwiches, popsicles, and more to a wide spectrum of customers.
Opened in North Carolina in 2020 as a franchise business, it now includes 16 locations. The recently launched Princeton operation is the first in New Jersey.
Alsies Princeton owner Rajeev Sharma and manager Gurbux Mangat were boyhood friends in the Princeton area. Their shared love of ice cream and their demonstrated business acumen led them to open Alsies here.
“Ice cream was always a go-to treat, tied to so many great memories with family and friends,” recalls Sharma. “That sense of joy and nostalgia definitely played a role in our wanting to be part of Alsies.”
He adds that the Alsies founders had an intriguing concept and business format. “The founders of Alsies have a strong track record and bring a thought ful, mission-driven approach to everything they do. Their vision was compelling — not just to sell desserts, but to reimagine what a mobile dessert experience could look like.”
Even the thought behind the Alsies name was mean ingful to them, he adds. “The name is inspired by the names of one of the found er’s children — a brand deeply rooted in family, joy, and purpose.
“I was also drawn to the technology component,” he continues. “Alsies integrates tech in smart, practical ways — from app-based delivery and route discovery to datadriven decisions around in ventory and operations. It felt like a modern, scalable model with heart behind it, and that combination really stood out to me.” agrees, pointing out, “We
saw a market for this. We felt the region lacked a modern, high quality, familyfriendly mobile ice cream option. Alsies brings something fresh, premium, and community-focused.
“We are blending the old with the new. The old ice cream neighborhood truck and culture, with the new technology of today, i.e., being able to order via an app. This is a great combination. We are really set apart with this technology. The app is the biggest differential. People can follow us with their app, order with their app, etc. And we’ll know exactly where a customer is waiting, and they’ll know where we are.”
This is very early in the entrepreneurs’ new adventure, having just launched the Princeton area Alsies in June. Even in such a short time. however, they are very encouraged.
As Sharma explains, “We have seen a very strong response from the community, and that motivates us to keep building. I’m looking forward to expanding our presence, making more connections, and seeing how Alsies can become a fixture in Princeton and the central Jersey neighborhoods.”
Adds Mangat, “We not only go to neighborhoods, but also to parks, schools, community centers, and a variety of settings and different events. For example, we recently had an event, a pool party, and people were
Mangat. “Seeing people smile when they come up to the truck — kids, parents, even dogs! — that’s the best part. There’s something re ally special about being part of someone’s happy memo ry, even if it’s just for a few minutes.”
The quality and choices of the ice cream are anoth er important reason Alsies is fast becoming a favorite option, believe Sharma and Mangat.
“Our offerings include gourmet ice cream sand wiches from Nightingale, all-natural popsicles from Streetpops, and traditional favorites including cones. Blue Bunny is another brand we carry, and the menu will continue to evolve based on customers’ preferences. We also offer vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options. Every product is intention ally sourced, tested, and selected for quality and flavor.”
The array of choices offers a treat for everyone’s taste buds. Ice cream sandwiches are among the most popular, including Chocolate French Roast, Cookie Monster, and Chocolate Blackout, among others,
Also in demand are such popsicles as Rainbow Lem onade, Mango Strawberry, Blueberry Lemon Cream, and Pineapple Passion. Oth er favorites include Choco late Eclair, Blushing Lemon Cream, Strawberry Short cake, BDay Cake Chomp,
Brendan Gorman made trips to Nantucket and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this July.
While Gorman’s weekend in Cape Cod was for pleasure, the jaunt to South Florida was a business trip for the rising senior star forward on the Princeton University men’s hockey team as he skated in an NHL Development Camp with the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
The Panthers kept Gorman and his fellow campers busy. “They sent us a schedule of the whole week; you wake up in the morning and head over to the practice rink,” said the 6’0, 175-pound Gorman, a native of Arlington, Mass. “It was a walk from the hotel, then you eat food which was unbelievable. Then we would skate and lift in the mornings, back-to-back. In the afternoon we would do some sort of activity. One day we played pickleball. One day we went to a Miami Marlins game. One day we went to a children’s hospital and met with some sick kids, that was really cool.”
The Panthers utilized video to supplement the on-ice work.
“At the beginning of each skate you would watch a video of what they want you to focus on that day, whether it was puck protection, turning out of pressure,” said Gorman, who skated in development camps with the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks the
previous two summers. “Each day there were specific drills that were meant to show a game-like scenario and the things they are teaching on video. It was just specific onice things like a move around a defenseman or using your body to protect the puck.”
As Gorman went through the drills, he found himself holding his own with the other skaters at camp who were a mix of college and professional players.
“You could see where you are at with all of those guys because there some really good players,” said Gorman. “You start off the week and you have never skated with these people before. I felt comfortable toward the end.”
While in Florida, Gorman got a sense of a key factor in the recent success of the Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup final in 2023 before winning the Cup the last two seasons.
“Everybody is so close, whether it is the staff or the players,” said Gorman. “You see how they treat each other, and you can see how they win.”
This past winter, Gorman and his Princeton teammates developed a closeness with new head coach Ben Syer and his staff.
“Benny came in and it was very obvious that he had control of the locker room and all of the boys were bought in,” said Gorman. “With him,
the biggest thing was that he had everybody wanting to be so dialed in and wanting to compete every day and be consistent with that to where it helped us win some big games.”
Gorman competed well last season, scoring 12 goals after totaling 11 in his first two campaigns combined as the Tigers went 12-15-3 overall. He credited hard work over the offseason and a lot of help from the Princeton coaching staff of Syer, Connor Jones, Tommy Davis, and Shane Talarico during the season as keys to his improvement.
“Throughout last summer I spent a lot of time on the ice,” said Gorman, who earned third-team All-ECAC Hockey and first-team All-Ivy League honors last season as he set career highs in goals (12), points (26), game-winning goals (3), power-play goals (2) and short-handed goals (2).
“Benny, Connor, Tommy, and Shaner also had a huge role in that. They were just teaching me and staying after with video. I think talking with those guys, just being around them, and trying to pick their brains was definitely helpful.”
Gorman looked to help his teammates, serving as an assistant captain last winter.
“It was awesome; it felt good but honestly it didn’t feel like anything changed,” said Gorman. “I just stayed the same. We have so many leaders and
Princeton University men’s hockey player
controls the puck in a 2022 game. This summer, rising Tiger
skated in an NHL Development Camp for the
Panthers.
with a voice. It was definitely fun. It was a cool role.”
In taking a leadership role, he applied some lessons he learned from his older brother, Liam ’23, a former Tiger hockey star and team captain.
“When I was a freshman and he was a captain, we talked a bunch,” said Gorman. “I picked his brain a lot and talked to other guys like Pito [Walton] and Spencer [Kersten] too.”
For Gorman and his brother, playing at Princeton is adding to a family tradition as their father, Sean, was a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers, captaining the 1990-91 team while earning second-team All-Ivy honors.
“Even growing up, Liam and I would be wearing Princeton shirts all of the time,” said
Gorman, who is now the family scoring leader at Princeton with 69 points on 23 goals and 46 assists while Liam totaled 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) and Sean ended with 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists).
“It was our dream school, we wanted to go to Princeton. Going there and playing together and being in the same community was awesome.
As Gorman has gone through his Tiger career, he views his teammates as a second family.
“I think one thing is that you are so close here,” said Gorman. “You grind it out together, whether it is school or hockey. You develop those bonds where you know each other so well.”
In the wake of his experience with the Panthers,
Gorman will be grinding it out over the rest of the summer.
“I skate in Boston in the mornings with a skills coach,” said Gorman. “I lift and skate sometimes in the afternoon in a group skating. It is four, five times a week skating and lifting.”
Looking ahead to his senior campaign, Gorman believes he and his teammates can lift Princeton to a big winter.
“My goal is to help the team win games as much as I can,” said Gorman. “It is so exciting. Coach has one year under his belt and the guys feel really confident in him and the players we have on the team. We have some great players coming in. I think it should be a great year. Hopefully it leads to success.”
—Bill Alden
While the Princeton University women’s open crew won’t start training for the upcoming season until September, the program has already suffered a devastating loss as rising junior rower Kerry Grundlingh ’27 died last weekend in a cycling accident after being struck by a car in her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Princeton women’s open head coach Lori Dauphiny expressed the sadness at the tragic loss.
“The world has lost an amazing young woman with the passing of Kerry Grundlingh ,” said Dauphiny in a statement on the Princeton Athletics website. “She was an exceptional rower and student-athlete, and that is just the beginning of who Kerry was as a person. She leaves a legacy of her life lived as a tremendous daughter, sister,
friend, and teammate who constantly gave the best of herself for the betterment of others in each and every daily interaction. All of us in the Princeton Rowing community send our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Kerry’s parents, Debbie and Francois, as well as her brother, James, and all of her family and friends around the globe.”
In her two years rowing for the Tigers, Grundlingh was a two-time medalist at the Ivy League Championships and twice rowed at the NCAA Championships. In 2024, she was part of second varsity that took third at the Ivy regatta and then went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Championships. This past season, Grundlingh was part
Princeton Director of Athletics John Mack ’00 echoed Dauphiny’s thoughts.
“This is a shocking tragedy for the Grundlingh family, our Princeton Rowing community, and all at Princeton University,” said Mack as quoted on the Princeton Athletics website. “Kerry embraced everything that being a Princeton student-athlete entails as she competed on the water and thrived in the classroom. Most importantly, Kerry developed impactful relationships with friends, and teammates across campus and around the world. The hearts of everyone associated with Princeton Athletics are with Kerry’s family and friends, her teammates and coaches, and everyone who had the honor of knowing Kerry as we all grieve together.”
PU Heavyweight Assistant Smith Tabbed to Guide Men’s Lightweights
Matt Smith, a stalwart within the Princeton University rowing community, has been named head coach of the Tiger Men’s Lightweight rowing program, Princeton Director of Athletics John Mack ’00 announced this Monday.
Program. He was a seventime member of the U.S national rowing team. Smith has won medals at the PanAmerican Games, World Championships, and National Championships, while also representing the U.S. in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Joely Cherniss ’27 competed for the United States women’s eight that took silver as it clocked a time of 6:16.28 with Great Britain taking first in 6:13.60
The Great Britain men’s pair of Theo Bell ’26 and Marcus Chute ’26 came agonizingly close to a medal as they took fourth in 6:26.47 just behind third-place Switzerland, who finished in 6:26.39.
Tiger Field Hockey Stars
Competing in Pan American Cup
In his 11 seasons on the coaching staff of the Princeton men’s heavyweight program, Smith helped guide the Tigers to 27 medals at Sprints and 13 medals at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association ( IRA ) national championship regatta. Since 2021, 24 of Smith’s rowers have gone on to earn AllAmerica honors.
During his time in the military, Smith was promoted twice, eventually earning the rank of captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medals for exceptional duty in combat and peacetime operations. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and Airborne School.
Smith is married to Hilary Gehman, a six-time member of the U.S. national rowing team and a two-time Olympian. They have two sons, Luke and Carson.
—Bill Alden
This spring, Smith, who had been promoted to associate head coach of the Tigers heavyweights in 2019, helped guide the Tigers to a fifth-place finish in the IRA Ten Eyck team standings, with the varsity eight finishing fourth in its Grand Final. At the Eastern Sprints, the Tigers finished second in the team point standings, with the second varsity and third varsity eights taking second and the varsity eight and fourth varsity eight each coming in third.
Several Princeton University rowers earned medals last week at the U-23 World Championships which took place in Poznan, Poland.
Tristan Wenger ’28 rowed for the Great Britain men’s eight that took the gold medal as it posted a time of 5:29.60 over the 2,000-meter course with New Zealand taking second in 5:32.59.
A pair of Princeton University field hockey stars, past and present, are currently competing in the Pan American Cup field hockey tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Princeton alum Elise Wong ’19 is the captain of the Canadian team, who will be competing in Pool A along with Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Beth Yeager, a rising Tiger senior, will be playing for the United States team, whose matches in Pool B will be against Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, and Mexico.
In addition to his collegiate success, Smith has helped guide numerous Princeton rowers to international team selections including five Olympians who have gone on to win four medals. In the summer of 2024, Smith helped a Princeton boat win the Ladies Challenge Plate at Henley while another boat finished second in the Temple Challenge Cup.
Before joining the staff at Princeton, Smith served as associate head coach at Cornell from 2008-14 and spent the 2012-14 summers as either an assistant coach or head of the USRowing Under-23 men’s national team.
During his six-year tenure at Cornell, Smith guided five crews to medals at the Eastern Sprints. His freshman eight earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Sprints and was the lone Cornell boat to reach a grand final at the IRA Championships. Over the last three years, his freshman eight has posted a 12-2 record during the regular season and medaled each year at Sprints.
A star rower at Wisconsin who graduated in 2000, Smith was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army where he continued his rowing career in the Army’s World Class Athlete
Matt Cashman ’28, Dan Cashman ’28, and Ed Nutt ’27 competed on the Australia n boat which just missed a medal, taking fourth 5:34.44 while while Kian Aminian ’27 and Andrew Wilkinson ’26 helped the United States place fifth in 5: 36.95.
Olivia Cheesmur ’29 helped the Great Britain’s women’s quadruple sculls earn gold as it posted a winning time of 6:30.43 to top runner-up Germany by nearly three seconds as it came in at 6:33.15.
The Pan Am Cup, a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, runs through August 3. Argentina has won all six of the previous Cups, including in 2022 in Chile, where Wong and Canada defeated Yeager and the Americans in the third-place game.
Tiger field hockey will also be represented on the United States men’s team as assistant coach Pat Harris is on the squad’s staff. The American men are in Pool A along with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, while Pool B has Canada, Chile, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.
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SIGNED UP: Matt Scannell takes a big cut in a 2023 game for the Princeton University baseball team. Scannell, who played for Wake Forest this past spring as a grad student, has signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Outfielder Scannell appeared in 129 games for the Tigers in three seasons batting .279 with 25 home runs and 97 RBIs and was a twotime All-Ivy League performer. This spring, Scannell batted .300 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs for Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons reached the NCAA Knoxville Regional Final Scannell joins Sean Episcope and Jake Bold as Princeton players who were either drafted or signed by a professional team this summer. Star pitcher Episcope was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft while catcher Bold signed a free against contract with the San Diego Padres.
The 2025 spring season marked Ben Samara’s final one as head coach of the Princeton High track and field program.
Samara has stepped down to focus on running the Tiger Time after-school program that is part of his newly created Samara Solutions Group. The Tiger Time framework will be implemented starting in September at all four Princeton elementary schools.
“It’s really a passion of mine,” said Samara, who will remain as a school counselor at Riverside Elementary. “And so, I’m kind of going from one passion to another with that work.”
It won’t be easy for Samara to walk away from the PHS indoor and outdoor track and field programs. He’s been coaching for 20 years, first at his alma mater Hopewell Valley High before joining the PHS program in 2012, two years after he became a counselor in the school district. He worked hand-in-hand with Jim Smirk, the PHS cross country coach, after being associate head coach alongside track head coach Rashone Johnson and then became the indoor head coach in 2012 and took the helm of the outdoor program in 2019.
“When I first came in, Jim and I had a conversation about what we wanted to change,” said Samara. “We didn’t have the best team culture. There was a lot of things that we wanted
to change, and we really just started from the ground up. We broke it down and we built it back up the way that we envisioned it. And I’ll just always be grateful that I had him as a partner to do it with.”
Smirk has been a constant through his PHS coaching career. Over the last two years, Samara got to work with family as his father, Fred, the retired Princeton University men’s track coach, was a volunteer coach on the PHS staff.
“I always wanted him to be my assistant coach,” said the younger Samara. “I always would joke with him, and so I pestered him, and I got him to come and he got hooked on the athletes too. And that was fun to see. And it was just a really good way to wrap up my time at PHS being able to bring him in, an Olympian (in the decathlon), to be able to work with me and some of these kids. It was just a joy.”
Samara has enjoyed plenty of success with his track teams and athletes through his tenure. It started in Hopewell with Emily Kianka, a state champion high jumper who cleared 5’11 under Samara’s tutelage before competing for the University of Virginia.
“Right as I’m starting out as a coach, to be able to go to the national stage with her and watch her and help her develop was incredible,” said Samara. “And then coming over to Princ -
eton, my very first year, the girls were able to win the sectional title. I was able to do that with Jim and that kind of just set us on that path right away.”
In 2018, Samara was part of the staff that helped Princeton dominate for the 2018 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 boys’ state championship. That team won the program’s first state group title since 1981.
“We spent years just really trying to build the culture of the team and to plug all the different event holes to try to make something happen,” said Samara. “We started with a triple with three sectional titles indoors in a row, and then we had a great cross country team that won the Meet of Champions (in 2016) and that kind of led into this just incredible juggernaut team that was, I believe, one of the best teams in New Jersey state history. We had so many incredible athletes.”
Athletes like runners Will Hare and Acasio Pinheiro, jumper Varun Narayan, and sprinter/jumper Nils Wildberg, pole vaulter Simon Schenk and thrower Paul Brennan spread the top talent around the events and amassed points in bunches. While the depth of the state’s talent usually ensures that a score in the 40s is enough to win, PHS overwhelmed the competition with 81 points.
“It’s one of the highest scoring groups in the history of the state of New Jersey,”
said Samara. “We scored 81 points in the group meet and I’ll never forget that.”
There are athletes that have stood out too for their ability to raise the bar for the Tigers. Each successful team had their leaders that set the tone and helped to promote the sort of culture necessary to win.
“We had kids like Maddie Lea who were just workhorses and just would do whatever you ask them to do and compete where you needed them to and ended up getting multiple medals at state meets and were just incredible kids,” said Samara. “And that led into kids like Nils Wildberg and Varun Narayan, who ended up being multiple record holders. Those two guys in the long jump are absolute once in a lifetime. To have two 24-foot long jumpers in high school is unfathomable and was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a coach to be able to compete with those guys.”
This year, Samara helped guide senior throwing star Sean Wilton to a historic campaign which saw him set the school indoor record in the shot put with a heave of 62’2.25 at the New Balance Nationals Indoor this March and then set a new PHS outdoor mark of 60’ 7.5 in winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 title.
“And then you look at a guy like Sean Wilton to round out my career to be able to watch him compete
and to be able to watch him embody everything that our program wanted our athletes to be,” said Samara of Brown University commit Wilton.
“It’s just been a really nice progression the whole way.”
The breadth of athletes and their interactions is what Samara is proudest of. He’s been a part of developing young people using track and field as a platform. It’s one of the reasons that makes leaving the program difficult.
“What I’ll miss most about coaching is just the relationship that you build with the athletes and the relationships that you see the athletes build with each other and the community that you build together,” said Samara.
“The athletic achievements are great, but one of my proudest moments is every time somebody comes up to me and that former athlete tells me that the lessons that they learned in our program help them in their real life and their life after high school. That was always the goal and that’s something that Jim Smirk and I talked a lot about with our program, what our values are and what we want this program to mean to the athletes and the families. To have it be successful in that way is something I’m proud of and something I’ll miss for sure.”
Samara will shift gears to another student population in the school district, but it’s something he is equally passionate about building. Last December, he founded an educational consulting company, Samara Solutions. It’s grown quickly with services that consult with schools on AI integration and they will hold classes at The College of New Jersey. Their Tiger Time after-school program was hired by Princeton for the upcoming school year.
experience across his two work disciplines to build his new endeavor. Coaching and counseling have crossover that translates to each well.
“A lot of the things that I want to bring to the table in the after-school program is the same kind of stuff that I pride myself on with coaching, which is a lot of that social, emotional work and building connection and building community,” said Samara. “All the things that I think in our program are great. I’ve done a lot of that work at Riverside. I’ve done a lot of work on the track team. Now I want to bring it to all four elementary buildings and now it’s really about impacting as much of the Princeton community as possible,”
The PHS track and field team will always be close to his heart. Samara could return to coaching again down the line.
“Once I am done with my day job, so to speak, maybe on the next transition,” said Samara. “I can see myself going back either private coaching or coaching athlete, in some capacity, maybe coming back to coach at the high school. But I have to see where the wind takes me. I didn’t feel like I was done now. I saw myself coaching for 30 years and so I’m only halfway done.”
Samara sees his new direction as something that he couldn’t pass up, an important service to the school community. Two hundred and fifty students have signed up across the four schools. They will be his focus each day after school, but he will also find time to support the track and field program that he helped to build.
“Where
“I knew I was going have to stop coaching, but I definitely saw a need on the elementary level for really quality after-school programming,” said Samara. “I felt like I had a breadth of experience that would bring a lot to the table, and I just decided at the time for a next step.”
He will be using years of
“At least for the first year or two, when there’s athletes there that I have coached, I’m not going to be able to stay away,” said Samara. “I won’t be able to be at practice because I’ll be at the after-school program but for counties, for some of those big meets, I’ll be there. I don’t think I’m going to be able to stay away. And now I’ve got my weekends free so I can come watch.”
—Justin Feil
Over the last decade, the Princeton Junior Football League (PJFL) has established itself as a fixture on the local sporting scene with its focus on community, character, team, and skill.
The recreational flag football league, which holds its games on the Princeton High turf field, annually draws more than 200 boys and girls from Grades 1-8 who are attracted to its positive environment and highspirited competition.
Sensing a need for a similar program in town with regard to soccer, a group of parents has founded the Princeton Youth Soccer League (PYSL) to kick off this fall for children in Grades K-5.
According to the league’s mission statement, the organization will focus on “having fun, skill development, and promoting sportsmanship, character, and community.”
One of the league’s founders, Brett Gaudin, believes that PYSL can have an impact on its players that will last well beyond the season.
“This is really borne out of our experiences and so many other peoples’ experiences of the power of sports and what it can do to impact a community and shape young people’s lives,” said Gaudin. “We really have a desire to do that and create these lifelong memories for the kids. So many of my friends come from people I grew up playing sports with. Our goal is to hopefully create the opportunity for kids to learn, grow as people, be a little bit challenged, learn that they can do hard things, make friends and positively impact their community.”
Darren Gorden, who initially came up with idea for the PYSL, believes it will fill a void on the local sporting scene.
“We played soccer growing up in rec programs and we noted that there was no recreational soccer league in town,” said Gorden. “There are two clubs in town (Princeton Soccer Association and Princeton FC) but they don’t really start games until you get into the travel league with those teams. We talked to other parents, and they felt the same way. A lot of of our friends’ kids didn’t register for soccer because they didn’t want to get caught up in the club and travel
progression. That is fine for some people, but I know a bunch of people that didn’t sign up because they didn’t want to go down that track.”
In the view of Gaudin, the PJFL model can serve as a blueprint for the new soccer program.
“My son played for a season with PJFL last fall,” said Gaudin. “He had never been introduced to football and had a really, really good experience with it. The PYSL is very much in that same spirit with the desire to create a coachable introduction to the game and do so with a real priority on community building and having a sense of a connection to the town. We actually talked with the PJFL guys and said we would love to learn from you.”
Gaudin made it clear that the new league is looking to be an alternative, not a competitor, to the established club soccer programs in town.
“We don’t want there to be any sense that we are trying to compete with or say that we are against the existing establishment of the PSA and PFC,” said Gaudin. “I played competitive soccer — I think it is great that offering is there. We want to be complementary.”
After bouncing his idea off on other parents in town over the last couple of years, Gorden’s vision came to fruition earlier this year.
“The idea first popped into my head when I was registering my older son for soccer in kindergarten and we realized that there is a club team but they don’t play any games,” said Gorden, noting that Ammar Shallal was also involved in the planning of the league along with him and Gaudin. “It was, ‘How come they don’t play any games, how come there is no recreational portion of it?’ That was two, three years ago and then talking to more parents over the last couple of years, they had similar concerns and the desire to have a recreational soccer league. So, it was let’s see if we can put this together. It really took off early this year in January and February.”
The PYSL sent a preliminary survey to all the elementary schools in town and around 55 families responded. The organization then started a website,
princetonysl.com, where parents can register their children to play and learn more information about the league.
The current plan is for the inaugural season to go from September 13 to November 15 with a coed K-1 division and divisions for grades 2-3 and 4-5 with boys and girls being separate. The games will be on Saturdays with a practice component beforehand.
PYSL is still working on confirming a home field. “Our goal is to be as centrally located in town as possible,” said Gaudin, adding that either the Princeton Middle School or Valley Road field are possible sites.
The league will be looking for parents to guide the players.
“Primarily the coaches would be parent volunteers, similar to the PJFL model,” said Gaudin, noting that high school students have also helped coach PJFL teams over the years.
“We are also looking at having some soccer experts provide a bit of curriculum and structure to our volunteer coaches and give then a bit of material to work from. There would be similarity and consistency across the teams and we would not put it all on the parent volunteers to come up with that.”
To that end, the PYSL recently added Elan Daniel to its team to lead player development. Daniel played on the Princeton High boys’ soccer team that won the 1995 state title and competed for the Mercer County Community College men’s squad that finished second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) tournament in 1997. He has coached several age groups in different places over the years. Daniel coached at Princeton FC for the past two years and holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘D’ coaching license.
Once the details are all worked out, Gorden is confident that the PYSL will achieve its goals.
“It is about having fun, learning the game and also learning lessons through sports,” said Gorden. “Bringing people together is our main focus.”
—Bill Alden
The Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz men’s singles rivalry took center stage at the Wimbledon Championships earlier this month, and watching Sinner and Alcaraz duel in the final was, quite frankly, an exhilarating experience. But I don’t see the Sinner-Alcaraz clash as this Wimbledon’s defining moment–rather, it was Amanda Anisimova’s post-match interview after getting routed by Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles final that took my breath away.
13th-seeded Anisimova losing 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes to eighth-seeded Swiatek. Anisimova made 28 unforced errors on the day and lost 55 of 79 points in the match.
Anisimova, 23, a native of Freehold, reached a milestone in her career this year by upsetting world No. 1 and top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals. Ansimova’s victory was especially remarkable because it followed a difficult period in her career when she stepped back from professional tennis to focus on her mental health. She had every reason to be confident heading into the Wimbledon final–but few anticipated how badly it would go.
What followed was one of the most lopsided finals in Grand Slam history, with
Getting defeated without winning a single game is a kind of defeat so terrible that tennis players have a special phrase for it: getting bageled. And the Wimbledon isn’t a run-of-the-mill tournament, either. It’s one of the four Grand Slams and happens to be the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament of the four. The last woman to ever get doublebageled at a Grand Slam final, Natasha Zvereva, was so devastated when she lost 6-0, 6-0 to Steffi Graf in the 1988 French Open final that she declined the on-court interview. Zvereva never reached another Grand Slam final.
But Anisimova opted to not decline her post-match interview after the Wimbledon setback. Instead, wiping tears away from her face, she complimented her opponent, apologized to the fans, and expressed gratitude for her mother’s unflagging support. Then she expressed her desire to come out stronger through a quote from author Marianne Williamson
“Pain can burn you up and destroy you, or burn you up and redeem you.”
Although Anisimova wasn’t holding a racket, I would describe that interview as brilliant tennis. Because tennis isn’t simply about striking a ball. It’s a sport that measures your ability to put each point in perspective. It’s a sport that measures your ability to adjust and prevent conditions, expectations or opponents from throwing you off your game. To face brutal loss, to accept responsibility, to move forward with your life — that’s the epitome of playing tennis. It’s also important to remember that failure is necessary for growth. Successful athletes or individuals fail more, not less. What ultimately sets them apart is their willingness to learn from those setbacks and keep pushing forward. While Anisimova could certainly have kept that approach in mind during her match, her post-match interview leaves me optimistic for her future; she’s clearly determined to keep pushing forward.
—Andrew Kuo
Kuo is a rising Princeton High senior who starred at second singles this spring for the Tiger boys’ tennis team.
With Lob City falling behind YSU early in the second half last Monday night in game one of the best-ofthree championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Maliq Sanders caught fire.
Draining some key 3-pointers and then calmly sinking several free throws down the stretch at the Community Park courts, Sanders sparked Lob City to a 46-36 victory.
Drenched with sweat and gulping down water afterward on the muggy evening, Sanders made it clear that he wasn’t about to let Lob City lose.
“When I come, I come ready to play and give it my all,” said guard Sanders, who scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed six rebounds as Lob City improved to 9-1. “You have just got to want it. They played hard but you just have to want to win, and I wanted to win.”
With second-seeded Lob City having lost 76-58 to top-seeded YSU (now 8-2) in regular season action to suffer its only defeat of the summer, it brought a different intensity to the playoff rematch.
“It is the championship now; we have got a lot of guys, and we are ready,” said Sanders. “In the regular
season, we lost to them, but we have to move on.”
It took a while for Lob City to get moving on Monday as it fell behind 15-4 in the early going before going on a 17-3 run to forge ahead 21-18 at halftime.
“It was just picking up the energy,”said Sanders, reflecting on the surge by Lob City. “We started off kind of slow. We didn’t know they were going to be in a zone so that threw us off. But once we figured it out, they can’t really guard us. I feel like that is why they played the zone.”
Lob City focused on the basics from there in pulling out the victory. Derrick Woods scored nine points and nine rebounds in the win while Wesley Robinson tallied 14 points and had seven rebounds and Freddie Young Jr. chipped in nine points, six rebounds, and four assists in a losing cause for YSU.
“We played to our strengths,” said Sanders. “I told the guys to just protect the basket and keep it simple. It was play high-low on offense, stuff like that.”
While Sanders struggled at times from the perimeter, he was deadly from the free throw line.
“As far as shooting, it is very difficult to perform outside,” said Sanders. “I am really a good shooter so
that affected me a lot, but I don’t miss free throws. I step to the line with confidence.”
Sanders joined the Lob City squad this summer, reuniting with former Holy Family University men’s hoops teammate Terrell Jones.
“This is my first time playing in the league,” said the 6’6, 185-pound Sanders, a former star for Eastern Regional High who also played college ball at Shepherd University and Rowan University.
“Guys just want to win, we know what it takes to win games,” said Sanders. “We have a few additions, and we are going to get the job done. It is just reconnecting. I haven’t seen Terrell in years. Basketball brings people together so it’s nice to see him and get back on the court.”
Looking ahead to game two on Wednesday, Sanders is confident that Lob City will keep it together as they look to close out YSU and earn the title without the need for a decisive game three which would take place on Friday.
“We just need to play the same way,” said Sanders. “We know that they are going to make adjustments but I feel it just comes down to playing hard and just having the will to win. If we do that, they can’t really deny us.”
—Bill Alden
Joint Effort Safe Streets Program Holding Hoops Clinic, Games
The Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets Summer Program is sponsoring a youth basketball clinic on August 9 from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. at the Princeton Middle School gym at 217 Walnut Lane
The clinic is being directed by former Princeton Day School girls’ hoops head coach and Philadelphia 76ers camp director and clinician Kamau Bailey, who leads the Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA). Attendees at the clinic will get individual skill development
opportunities in ball handling, shooting, offense and defense, mental preparation, team play and a souvenir sports bag. Bailey will be assisted by members of the Princeton Police department and area coaches.
In addition, on August 10, the Joint Effort Safe Streets will sponsor the Pete Young Sr. and John Young Memorial Youth Challenge Games for Princeton-area youth at the Princeton Middle School. The games run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will start with youth games and conclude with a final boys’ high school contest.
Also, on August 2, there will be Hoops and History Recognition program for the Joint Effort Witherspoon
Jackson All-Time Greatest Players and Coach to be held at the Elks Lodge at 124 Birch Avenue at 4:30 p.m. For more information on the Joint Effort Safe Streets hoops clinic or games, contact John Bailey at (720) 629-0964 or via e-mail at johnbailey062@gmail.com
In the story entitled “Producing Dramatic Second Half Rally in Final, Princeton FC Porto Wins NPL U-17 National Title” that ran in the July 23, 2025 issue on page 23, it should have said that Michael Marinello scored one of the extra time goals in the final.
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Carol Frank Edelman, whose steadfast love sustained five generations of family, died peacefully on Sunday, July 27, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, with her children by her side. She was 89 and had fought a two-year battle with stomach cancer with characteristic resolve.
A lifelong New Jersey resident who had lived in Skillman since 1998, Carol was a loving wife, devoted mother, and adoring grandmother, and great-grandmother. She maintained close relationships with many friends and formed lasting bonds with the friends of her children and grandchildren, who treasured her warmth, support, and guidance.
Active well into her 80s, Carol loved to travel, experiment with new recipes, and explore new restaurants. She was an avid shopper
and fashionista, a skilled home decorator and gardener, and enjoyed playing bridge with friends.
Carol Shayna Israel was born on August 7, 1935, in North Bergen, N.J., to Leah and Barney Israel. She adored her parents — she spoke with her mother nearly every day — and her older sister, Elaine, who died far too young in 1974.
She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she trained to become a teacher. Not long after college, she met Dr. Stanley Frank, an optometrist. They married in 1957, settled in Somerville, N.J., and raised a daughter and a son. Carol was active in local politics and the American Association of University Women.
Stanley died of a heart attack in 1972.
Carol later met Arthur M. Edelman of Trenton, a widower with three children of his own. They married in 1974, moved the blended family — along with Carol’s father — to Princeton, and built a vibrant life together.
Once their children were grown, the couple enjoyed golf, tennis, and travel. Carol volunteered with Hadassah, the Jewish women’s organization, and at Greenwood House, a senior living center. Arthur died in 2021.
Carol is survived by Marc and Edna Edelman of El Portal, Fla.; Larry Edelman and Meghan Willis of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Nancy Frank Cook and Richard Cook of Basking Ridge, N.J.; Sue Edelman and Cheryl Schaffer of Medford, Mass.; and Seth Frank and Caroline Broullon of Doylestown, Pa.
Her grandchildren — Sagiv Edelman, Gilad Edelman, Mara DeJonghe, Jacob Edelman, Gabriel Edelman, Stephanie Cook, Jennifer Cook, Sayde Frank, and Chloe Frank — brought her immense joy, as did her great-grandchildren: Remy and Sylvie DeJonghe, and Emmanuel and Gabriel Edelman.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 30, at 11 a.m., at Bruce C. Van Arsdale Funeral Home, 111 North Gaston Avenue, Somerville, followed by burial at Temple Sholom Cemetery in Bridgewater, N.J.
The family will sit Shiva on Thursday, July 31, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a minyan at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Nancy and Richard. Donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Carol’s memory can be made at: mskcc.convio.net/ goto/CarolMSK.
Harold “Hal” Feiveson
Harold “Hal” Feiveson, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Princeton, NJ, on July 10, 2025. He was born May 20, 1935 and grew up in Chicago, graduating from John Marshall High
School in 1953 before attending the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he was a standout shortstop on the baseball team. Hal received a master’s degree from the University of California in Los Angeles in theoretical physics before joining the Science Bureau of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
He came to Princeton University in 1967 and received his Ph.D. in 1972 after completing a thesis on the danger of weapons programs emerging from civilian nuclear energy technologies. Combating the threat of nuclear war and weapons proliferation became the focus of Hal’s career thereafter.
In 1974 he married Carol Dreby, with whom he spent the rest of his life. They made their home in Princeton and raised three children together. Hal remained at the University for the entirety of his career, where he taught and mentored countless students. He was a beloved teacher and research scientist, academic advisor to the Princeton University men’s basketball team, and collaborated on numerous books and publications. He was also a lifelong Cubs fan and, above all else, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Carol; children Dan, Peter, and Laura; daughterin-law Stephanie; son-in-law Nupur; grandchildren Julian, Levi, Jaya, and Ceci; and brother Arthur.
Donations may be made in Hal’s memory at 350. org, Feed America, or the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
January 3, 1958 –July 25, 2025
Diane Barbara (Cowley) Hoehn passed away quietly at home on July 25, 2025 with her adoring husband, Bob, her son, Bobby, and her sisters, Mary and Joan, by her side after an over four year battle with ovarian cancer.
Diane was born January 3, 1958 to Lawrence and Barbara Cowley, the middle of seven children. She attended St. David’s School in Willow Grove, Pa. and Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa. After two years working for the Secret Service, she studied accounting at Temple University, where she graduated at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA. After Temple, she began her career with Price Waterhouse in Philadelphia
In May, 1984, Diane married Bob Hoehn. They adopted their children, Greg and Bobby (then Joey) in 1991. Diane, in addition to her role as mother, did charity work as CFO of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for Central Jersey, and for
the Finance Counsel and as Trustee of St. Paul Parish, in Princeton. Diane was a devoted parishioner of St. Paul’s and a regular attendee of daily Mass. Her brilliant exuberance was regularly on display throughout the parish.
Diane’s intelligence and unwavering joy touched everyone she met. Diane’s dazzling smile and brilliant blue eyes lit up every room she entered. She had an unabating faith in Jesus Christ, which, along with outstanding medical care and sheer strength, allowed her to far outlast her diagnosis. Those extra years with her husband and grandchildren were cherished by all around her to the end. Diane particularly cherished her time with her grandsons, Aidan and Jaxon.
Diane is survived by her mother, Barbara; her husband, Bob; her sons, Greg and Bobby; her siblings, Tim, Mary (Paris), Joan (Pellini), Bobby, Paul, and Phil; and her grandchildren, Briana, Chloe, Aidan, Jaxon, and RJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Paul Parish or the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of The MatherHodge Funeral Home.
The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector The Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector SUNDAYS
8:00 am: Holy Communion Rite I 10:00 am: Holy Communion Rite II
33 Mercer St. Princeton • 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org
904 Cherry Hill Rd • Princeton, NJ 08525 (609) 466-3058 Saturday Vespers 5pm • Sunday Divine Liturgy Pescantified Liturgy Wednesdays during Lent 6pm 930am • www.mogoca.org
August 2nd • 2pm 3pm
Rm 2 ( 1 Sat of every month) st
PrincetonBahais org Sat August 2nd • 2pm 3pm Frist Campus Center, Rm 227 ( 1 Sat of every
í
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House hunting can be overwhelming emotions run high, choices feel endless, and perfection is elusive. That ’s where the 80/10/10 rule comes in: a smart, balanced way to evaluate potential homes.
Here’s how it works: If a house meets 80% of your must haves like location, size, layout that’s a strong start. Then, consider the 10% of features that are easily changeable, such as outdated flooring, paint colors, or kitchen fixtures. These are cosmetic fixes that shouldn ’t be deal breakers. Finally, there’s the remaining 10%: the compromises. No house is flawless, and being open to minor drawbacks (like a smaller yard or older windows) can lead to a great long term fit.
The 80/10/10 rule reminds buyers to focus on what matters most while staying realistic. Instead of searching for perfection, it helps you find a place with real potential and room to make it your own.
Take notice that in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.6, application has been made to the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, Trenton, New Jersey, to receive title papers authorizing the sale for, Make: Suzuki, Year: 2006, VIN/Hull Identification Number: JS1GR7GA662102311. Objections, if any, should be made in writing, immediately in writing to the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, Special Title Unit, P.OL. Box 017, Trenton, New Jersey, 08666-0017.
