Advice from Animal Control Officer on Being “Bear Aware” 9
PU Climate Scientist Teams With Comedian To Communicate Urgent Message 12
Princeton Festival Launches with Gala Opening 16
“Sondheim In the City With Melissa Errico” at Princeton Festival 17
After Superb Tenure
Guiding PU Women’s Hockey, Gardner Morey
Bringing Leadership Skills to Pro League 24
Overcoming Hurdles in Two Years of Planning, 1st Annual Princeton Triathlon Makes a Splash 29
Center for Modern Aging Looks Back With Pride, Ahead With Optimism
The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) will be presenting its inaugural Symposium on Ageism, “Living Longer Lives: Overcoming Our Fears of Growing Old,” on Thursday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mercer County Community College Conference Center.
Sponsored by the Silver Century Foundation and designed for individuals who are aging, professionals working in the aging sector, and advocates supporting the aging community, the event features workshops on aging and ageism, along with valuable networking opportunities.
New York Times “The New Old Age” columnist Paula Span and Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It author Tracey Gendron are keynote speakers for the event. Visit cmaprinceton.org for registration and further information. More than 150 people had already registered as of Monday evening.
For more than 50 years CMAP, formerly the Princeton Senior Resource Center in Monument Hall, now on Poor Farm Road, has served Princeton’s older residents.
“We exist to help older adults thrive,” said CMAP Executive Director David Dyson on Monday in his annual report to Princeton Council. “That means taking the time to deeply listen to our residents, to understand their needs and concerns, and to respond to emerging needs of individual older adults and groups that we serve.”
Dyson described a significant expansion of programs and services at CMAP during the past year, with 46 members participating in a Mandarin Chinese conversation group, 35 in a Spanishspeaking group, 14 in a Hindi conversation and friendship group, 31 in a group for Russian speakers, and 38 in a group of 38 French speakers.
Over the past two years there have been 16 members of an ESL program for older adult residents of CMAP and 39 members in the Aging Gaily program for members from the LGBTQ community, who gather for friendship, learning, advocacy. and support.
Dyson’s detailed report continued, noting on-site supportive services at Princeton Senior Living at Thanet Circle and the Mercer County nutrition program
Council Approves Assessment for Special Improvement District
Princeton Council voted unanimously at a meeting on Monday, June 9 to approve the annual assessment for the Special Improvement District (SID), known as Experience Princeton. The vote was taken following a public hearing on the measure.
A physician whose private practice is located at 357 Nassau Street commented that because she is located outside the central business district, she doesn’t benefit from the enhancements that Experience Princeton provides. She asked that Council re-evaluate the proposed assessment.
“My concern, that I know is shared by other business owners who are being asked to pay taxes that are intended for revitalization and improvement of downtown Princeton, is that because we are not within that immediate downtown vicinity, we’re really seeing no direct benefit from these initiatives,” she said, adding that things like seasonal decorations and plantings are not extended outside the central downtown. “Despite this, we are asked to shoulder the same financial benefit as those who do benefit.”
Former Councilman Lance Liverman, who owns real estate outside the central district, said he used to feel the same way. But he has changed his mind.
“I can truly say that I have been converted,” he said. “Because the town of Princeton looks a lot better and a lot cleaner, and the businesses are attracting more people. I’ve seen an increase in folks applying for apartments. I do see that Experience Princeton has been a plus, even though I don’t see the things like seasonal greenery and lighting.”
Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said that she and Experience Princeton Director Isaac Kremer have discussed trying to do
more outreach to local businesses about programs available to them. Kremer said Experience Princeton will be reaching out to all of the nine “sub areas” that are included in the district.
Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros commented that there is a lot of complexity in how the districts are set up.
“There are things we are working on that may not be as visible as holiday decorations, but are very impactful to all the businesses across the board,” she said.
Juneteenth Is Coming Up Next Week, Celebrating End of Slavery in U.S.
In celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, a flag raising will take place next Thursday, June 19 at 1 p.m. in Princeton’s Monument Plaza in front of Monument Hall, and a variety of other events commemorating the occasion will be occurring in Princeton and the surrounding area next week.
“Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the ending of slavery in this country,” Princeton Mayor Mark Freda wrote in an email. “We should embrace such an important milestone. What an inhuman and unjust practice that existed in this country, and in this town. Always better to acknowledge the wrongs of the
past so they are not repeated again in the future.”
Questioning the extent of that liberation and whether the current situation gives cause for celebration, Councilman Leighton Newlin, who will be speaking at the flag raising, shared a draft of remarks that he will be delivering.
“We are gathered here today to raise a flag, but we are also here to raise our consciousness, to raise our history, and to raise a question: Are we free … or are we fooled?” Newlin’s draft asks. It goes on, “But if you look around at what’s happening in this country today —
HANDS-ON: Kid-friendly activities, including an instrument petting zoo, were featured Sunday at the Princeton Festival’s Community Day event at Morven Museum & Garden. Attendees share their favorite instruments in this
(Photo by Sarah Teo)
Revisiting William Styron’s First Novel On His 100th Birthday 15
by Jason Robert Brown
Novel by Robert James Waller
Eliyana Abraham
Town Topics Princeton Home and Design
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TOWN TOPICS
as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are available for those in need, and different social services agencies are on site. Mcl.org.
Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library” : Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.
THE STORY OF A COMMUNITY: Among the 98 illustrations in Adam Welch’s book about the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood is this photo of Booker T. Washington’s visit to Princeton thought to have been taken in 1914 at 20 Green Street. The photo, which has been colorized, comes from the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.
Book on
Witherspoon-Jackson
Neighborhood To Launch at Reading and Open Mic Event
Adam Welch never intended to write a book. But once he started digging into the history of the Witherspoon-
Jackson neighborhood, Welch, who is the executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), was hooked.
“You research this tentacle, and then there’s another one — all these different spokes,” he said about The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood: How One Community Changed Princeton, the 172-page volume he has written and designed. “There is all of this uncovering of information. It sort of fast-forwards in each chapter to the people who are on the street now.”
TOPICS
Of the Town
The book, which has a foreword by Princeton Councilman and longtime neighborhood resident Leighton Newlin, makes its official debut on Friday, June 20 at a special reception, reading, and open mic at the Arts Council from 6-8 p.m. All proceeds from its sale ($65-$75) support the ACP, the Historical Society of Princeton, and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. U.S. Sen. Andy Kim is scheduled to speak at the event, which will also launch two books about the neighborhood by poet ACP trustee Gregory Smith. All are invited.
Welch’s book came about after he was asked to join the board of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society.
“Before that, I wasn’t really focused on the history of the neighborhood,” he said. “I was only interested in how it affected the Arts Council, which is at Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place,” he said. “But then we started to do projects like the Romus Broadway photo exhibition, and others that are about the history of the neighborhood. And I became more and more involved in its past.”
The book is an expansion of a “zine,” a 4-by-6inch publication that fits in a pocket, that Welch recently created about the neighborhood.
“I started to expand on the information I had gathered for the zine,” he said. “I hired an editor. And lo and behold, here is this book that is jam-packed with interesting little tidbits about the neighborhood, the town, and the University — good and bad. But by and large, it’s positive.”
In a written statement about the book, Welch said that what started as a weekend project in support of the Arts Council and the Witherspoon-Jackson
eton.org for information about attending the free event or ordering the book. —Anne Levin
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—Wesley Burton, South Brunswick
sound. Next time I’ll bring my drum here.” —Aron Peper, Princeton
Charlotte: “The clarinet, and the piano.”
Marshall: “Violin.”
—Charlotte and Marshall Wilcox, Montgomery Township
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Center for Modern Aging
continued from page one
based at the Suzanne Patterson Center on Stockton Street. “This is a model for the country that others should be participating in,” said Dyson.
He went on to note that there were 288 older adult Princeton residents registered in one or more of the CMAP support groups — for widows, widowers, caregivers, sufferers of dementia, early stage memory loss, and much more. There were 302 members who took at least two of the more than 40 informational seminars offered last year. There are 380 residents who receive at least one hour of service from the social services.
“We are the only senior center in Mercer County with a social worker on staff,” Dyson reported,” as well as an entire department dedicated to social services.”
There are 594 Princeton residents currently enrolled in the Crosstown transportation program.
“These needs are continually evolving,” said Dyson, “and we listen. We listen and try to expand our response.” One example of this is the Ping Pong Parkinson group, which meets every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m., with ping pong being one of the most highly recommended treatments for Parkinson’s.
Dyson went on to note CMAP’s community partnerships — with the Princeton Health Department, Human Services, the Princeton Public Library, Sustainable Princeton, and a New Jersey climatologist, and with the Silver Century Foundation.
In reporting on the CMAP’s commitment to exceptional programming and lifelong learning, Dyson pointed out that 865 Princeton residents took at least two courses or programs during the past year with an average of five different programs or events per participant. The Center’s Evergreen Forum program with 1,200 students is known around the state and beyond as a model program, with 50
classes including everything from political science to hard sciences, literature, art appreciation, and much more.
The Onstage Seniors program members, based at CMAP, write, prepare, and perform documentary theater vignettes and monologues about aging and ageism, drawn from their own lives, and they perform all over Mercer County.
CMAP also hosts the Grandpals program, pairing every kindergarten student in Princeton with an older adult grandpal from CMAP to read together for 30 minutes a week every week during the school year. CMAP also hosts Community Without Walls, with more than 200 older adults joining this peer-to-peer support and programming network “to help navigate the journey of aging so that older adults can safely and purposefully age in place,” according to Dyson. On the horizon for the coming year at CMAP is continuing to expand programming and facilities while “engaging in community service in new ways.” An AmeriCorps cohort of 14 volunteers will be leading a focus on growth in digital literacy and technology education. “We need to provide the support to make sure that no one gets left behind,” said Dyson. “Overcoming this digital divide is important.”
He continued, “We’re working on Age-Friendly Princeton 2.0,” in partnership with Princeton Human Services to make sure Princeton continues to be an age-friendly community.
“Our vision as an organization is to be an indispensable community asset for older adults and their families as they navigate the journey of aging,” said Dyson. “We envision a world where older adults embrace aging and are valued for their wisdom, experience and talent. Core values are built around inclusion, empowerment, compassion, excellence, innovation, positivity, community relationships, trust, purpose, stewardship, and joy.”
—Donald Gilpin
Council Approves continued from page one
Also on the agenda was a presentation about a proposed pilot project on North Harrison Street between Clearview Avenue and Terhune Road to create a “road diet” for the installation of bicycle lanes. Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell said the pilot project will remove one lane of vehicular travel in each direction to accommodate a buffered bicycle lane.
The recommendation is included in the town’s Bicycle Master Plan and the Harrison Street Corridor Study prepared by the consultants Michael Baker International Inc. The road diet would reduce the width of North Harrison Street to a single lane in each direction, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be vertically separated from the roadway.
“In the interim, the recommendation from the consultant is to install pilot bike lanes within the roadway in each direction, and evaluate their effectiveness before implementing the capital construction of curbing and shared-use plans,” Purcell wrote in a memo.
Also known as a roadway reconfiguration, a road diet can improve safety, calm traffic, and provide better mobility. A full report on the plan, with diagrams, is available in the agenda packet for the meeting at princetonnj.gov.
—Anne Levin
Rider Furniture
Princeton Yoga Fest Returns to Arts Council
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), in partnership with lululemon, will present Princeton Yoga Fest 2025, a full-day celebration of mindfulness, movement, and community, on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the ACP’s Solley Theater.
This year’s festival coincides with International Yoga Day, and is centered around the theme of mental health, inclusion, and community. Princeton Yoga Fest 2025 offers a lineup of classes, guest speakers, a Mindfulness Market, and the return of the Silent Disco. This annual celebration, now in its second year, brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the unifying power of yoga.
the generous support of lululemon, whose partnership underscores a shared commitment to community wellbeing and active lifestyles.
The day kicks off with a morning yoga session led by lululemon ambassadors Annie Amio, Nancy Brit Mackey, and Keri Mandell. To follow, a guest speaker panel will feature Janet Haag and Scott Krukowski of NAMI Mercer; and Justin Reilly, aka The Tattooed Yogi, founder and owner of Yoga Rebellion. An adaptive yoga session in the afternoon is to follow, specifically designed to support youth with special needs and/or physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
Hunterdon, or Mercer counties.
Candidates submitted an application with essays and a recommendation letter. A review committee scored all of the applications and selected the winners based on participation and leadership in school and community activities; application of Girls on the Run’s core values; articulation of future goals; and how the grant would support these goals.
Proceeds will benefit NAMI Mercer, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, supporting their critical mission to provide mental health resources through community support and education. This year’s Princeton Yoga Fest is made possible through
The festivities continue with an evening yoga session led by Reilley and a Silent Disco, where attendees are invited to dance to music transmitted through wireless headphones instead of traditional speakers, allowing for a unique and personalized experience.
“We are excited to bring the community together for a day dedicated to wellness and mindfulness,” said Annie Amio, Princeton Yoga Fest founder and lululemon Princeton yoga ambassador. “Yoga Fest 2025 embodies our commitment to fostering community engagement through the arts and wellness.”
The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. Multiple ticketing tiers range from free registration to $175. For more information and to view the full schedule of events, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Princeton Student Wins Grant for College Study
Girls on the Run NJ East, an independent council of Girls on the Run International, announced that Ava Tabeart of Princeton is the winner of the inaugural “Limitless Potential” Alumni Award for Burlington, Hunterdon and Mercer counties. Ava will receive a $2,500 grant to support her postsecondary education.
Girls on the Run NJ East created the award in honor of the organization’s 25th anniversary in 2025. Two $2,500 grants will be given: one to a program alumna or junior coach from Essex, Morris or Union counties; and one to a program alumna or junior coach from Burlington,
Ava is a senior at Princeton High School, where she leads the UNICEF club and serves as captain of the varsity track team and varsity soccer team. She plans to attend Princeton University starting this fall. Ava participated in Girls on the Run for three years at Littlebrook Elementary School. In her application, she said, “Girls on the Run has taught me perseverance, optimism, openmindedness, and sensitivity to other people. Its lessons entwined with running have contributed to my athletic ability and character.”
Caroline Ealy of the Girls on the Run NJ East’s Alumni Award Review Committee said, “We selected Ava for this award because of her tremendous leadership in community, school and athletics. She clearly connected how her early participation in Girls on the Run sparked her love of sports and cultivated her drive to be what she calls ‘a more empathetic and engaged citizen of the world.’”
MINDFULNESS AND MORE: Annie Amio, founder and lululemon ambassador for Princeton Yoga Fest, will be at the Arts Council of Princeton on June 21 for a day of mental health, inclusion, and community.
Advice from Animal Control Officer on Being “Bear Aware” During Bear Season
derived food sources, such as human garbage left out overnight or food scraps at a campground,” reads the website for the NJDEP. “Black bears actively forage for food in the spring after they emerge from dens, and in the fall when they are actively feeding to prepare for the winter den period. Black bears are also very active throughout the summer breeding season. These are the times of year when black bear/human encounters are most common, due to bears searching for food.”
Bird feeders and unsecured trash receptacles are major attractions for bears, as well as compost piles and gardens.
Flag Day Celebration
At Municipal Complex
The Spirit of Princeton Flag Day ceremony will take place, rain or shine, on Friday, June 13, at 12 p.m., at the Municipal Complex Plaza, 400 Witherspoon Street. The June 13 date, a day before the actual Flag Day, accommodates the schools that wanted their students to participate in the ceremony.
Lambertville Historical Society
Sponsors Talk on Needlework
Independent textile scholar
The keynote address will be given by Princeton resident Jason Mangone, who began his career as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a volunteer firefighter and a member of the Princeton Little League Board. Professionally, Mangone has dedicated his finance and administrative skills to organizations promoting national service, supporting veterans, and ending dangerously divisive rhetoric and actions in our society.
DON’T RUN: The best thing to do if encountering a bear is to make noise and back away, experts say.
When a black bear was spotted on the playground of Riverside Elementary School a few weeks ago, the school went into lockdown and the surrounding neighborhood was put on alert. The shaggy visitor had made an earlier appearance at the Butler tract on Harrison Street, and stopped on Dodds Lane before making itself scarce.
Princeton Animal Control Officer Jim Ferry thinks it was the same animal that
has shown up in Lawrence Township, West Windsor, and Plainsboro. Whether or not that bear or any other makes a return visit to the area, it is a good idea to get familiar with how to handle an encounter.
“This time of year, with the number of bears throughout the state, it’s good to be ‘bear aware,’ ” said Ferry.
“My biggest concern is if someone accidentally startles one of them. And this goes for any wild animal,
(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com)
really. They don’t attack otherwise, but you don’t want to take them by surprise.”
Black bears are generally solitary animals, according to the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife. The one exception to that rule is sows — mama bears — with cubs.
“One of the biggest things I worry about is people encountering a mama bear and her cubs,” said Ferry. “They are super protective. If you see cubs, definitely admire them from a distance or inside the house. Because mom is definitely nearby.”
Bears are most active when it’s dark, especially just before sunrise and again after sunset. But there are exceptions to the unofficial rule.
“They will adjust their routines when it affords them the opportunity to take advantage of human-
“It’s simple,” said Ferry. “If there has been a report of a bear in the area, bring these inside the garage at night. And if you don’t want to spend a lot on bear-proof trash cans, which are sold, you can always bungee-cord your lids.”
If you do encounter a bear, the animal might give some warning signs such as swatting the ground or making huffing noises. If it stands up, it’s usually to get a better sniff of the air. Just don’t turn and run.
“Try to remain calm,” said Ferry. “Running away will trigger a chase response. Just back away. Make yourself known. Make noise. If you’re wearing a jacket, pull it up above your head to make yourself as big as possible. If a bear perceives you as something they don’t want to mess with, it will leave. Just don’t be between it and the escape route.”
To report a black bear sighting in Princeton, call the Animal Control Office at (609) 924-2728. For emergencies, call the Princeton Police Department at (609) 921-2100.
—Anne Levin
Members of the Princeton Police Department, Fire Department, and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, as well as students from Community Park School, will be participating in the ceremony.
Flag Day marks the adoption of the flag of the U.S., which happened by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day. In August 1949, an Act of Congress established National Flag Day.
Celebrating its 27th anniversary, The Spirit of Princeton is a not-for-profit, non-partisan community organization, whose mission is to produce events honoring Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day. These commemorations bring the community together to celebrate the men and women whose perseverance and bravery have enabled our nation to thrive. For further information and/ or to make a donation, visit spiritofprinceton.org.
Marty Campanelli will present “A Sampling of Hunterdon County Needlework” on June 22 at 1 p.m. at the Acme Screening Room, 25 South Union Street in Lambertville. This presentation is sponsored by the Lambertville Historical Society (LHS). Samplers are a visual and graphic reminder of a young girl or teenager’s education, as well as of the talented women who taught them these skills. As a farming community in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Hunterdon County was home to a number of diverse sampler groups. Campanelli will discuss the various styles including the now recognized “collared deer” school, Eliza Rue’s School in Pennington, the “Redington” School, and the “Hunterdon House & Heart” samplers taught by Amy and Elizabeth Lundy. New research on these groups, the instructors who taught the designs, and some sampler maker’s life stories will round out the lecture. Campanelli will also discuss how some of the designs came to Hunterdon and where they migrated afterwards.
Attendees are welcome to bring their Hunterdon samplers (or a photo of) for documentation afterwards by Campanelli. She is the author of two publications and numerous articles on the subject. Campanelli cocurated the exhibit “Hail Specimen of Female Art!” at the Morven Museum & Garden in 2014-2015. She and her late husband, Dan, wrote the only book on Hunterdon County needlework samplers in 2013, and she has lectured widely on the subject. Entry is $10 per person or $5 for students. LHS members attend for free. Visit lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.
REAL ESTATE SERVICE
Juneteenth
continued from page one attacks on anyone different, disregard for the rule of law, National Guard on our streets, ‘a big, beautiful bill’ in Congress more focused on exclusion than inclusion — you have to wonder: what exactly are we celebrating?”
The draft concludes in asserting that Juneteenth is more than just history. “It’s a declaration,” Newlin states. “And today we declare: We will not go back. We will build forward. And we will do it — together.”
The story of the origin of Juneteenth begins on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, where the last group of people enslaved in the South were informed of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln more than two years earlier on January 1, 1863.
Texas continued to be controlled by the Confederacy after the end of the war in April 1865, and news of the Emancipation and the union victory did not arrive in Galveston until June of that year.
Many African Americans have celebrated Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and America’s second independence day, with parties, picnics, parades, gatherings, and speeches for more than a century, but it was not officially recognized as a national holiday until 2021.
The Princeton Festival in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton will be leading the festivities following the flag raising on June 19 with a 4 p.m. talk by Princeton University Lecturer Rochelle Ellis on “The Motown Sound;” a Community Celebration, from 5 to 7 p.m. with history, crafts, and education; followed at 7 p.m. by the “Masters of Soul, A Motown Revue” concert, all taking place at Morven Museum & Garden.
The Community Celebration is a collaboration of community partners, including Art Against Racism, the Historical Society of Princeton, the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, Morven Museum & Garden, the Municipality of Princeton, Princeton Parents for Black Children, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and YWCA Princeton.
Ellis’ presentation and the community celebration are free to the public. Tickets for the evening “Masters of Soul” concert start at $35 and are available at princetonsymphony.org/festival or by calling (609) 497-0020.
On Saturday, June 21, from noon to 4 p.m. the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) will be holding its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration, “Stories of Freedom,” at the historic Mt. Zion AME Church and Reasoner/True House in Skillman.
Event highlights will include live performances by SSAM Heritage Singers and Band, baritone singer and storyteller Keith Spencer presenting freedom narratives through music and spoken word, the Luna Stage presenting The Ground On Which We Stand, and Mr. Boom Boom’s Drum Circle.
Also featured will be “The Head That Wears the Crown,” an exhibition of African American women’s headwear; guided tours of the historic church and heritage garden; a local artisan marketplace; a story booth; spoken word and readaloud; museum scavenger hunts; and a small free library of banned books.
The Princeton University Art Museum is the lead sponsor of the SSAAM Juneteenth event. Tickets, $20 online and $25 for adults and $10 online and $15 at the door for children, and more information are available at ssaamuseum.org/ juneteenth-2025.
The African American Cultural Collaborative (AAC) of Mercer County will be getting a head start on the holiday with its 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday, June 14 from 12 to 8 p.m. at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds. In partnership with NJ Legislative District 15 and Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, the AAC event will be hosted by Taylor Stokes and will feature a wide range of vendors and foods, crafts, cultural products, and more. Visit taacf. com or call (609) 474-4073 for more information.
Starting early on the morning of June 14, also at Mercer County Park, will be the fifth Annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride for bicyclists, with on-site registration starting at 7 a.m. Visit juneteenthridenj.com for further information and advance registration.
On June 15 from 4 to 5 p.m., outdoors in the Capital Health parking lot at 300 Witherspoon Street, the Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra will present a free Juneteenth concert.
Gilpin well loved and well read since 1946
—Donald
New Philanthropy Officer At Community Foundation
Steven B. Spinner has been hired as the next chief philanthropy officer at the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
Steven B. Spinner
A Pennington resident, Spinner has more than two decades of regional and national fundraising experience, in corporate and foundation relations as well as major gift fundraising. During his career, he has played a key role in philanthropic work that raised more than $200 million to advance research, strengthen communities, and sustain missiondriven organizations.
“The Community Foundation is proud to welcome Steve as our incoming chief philanthropy officer,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation president and CEO. “Steve has had a remarkable professional career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. He brings deep expertise in all aspects of fundraising and mission-based philanthropy. His work is anchored in building profound and deeply impactful relationships that drive engagement. He is returning to a community that he knows well, to a county where he was raised, and a community where he had deep professional and personal roots. I am very excited to be working with Steve to drive our mission forward.”
Spinner fills the role currently held by Marcia Shackelford, who joined the Community Foundation in 2019 and announced her retirement last year. Shackelford will remain connected to the organization, as she and her husband are fundholders, and she is also a member of the Fund for Women and Girls.
“We want to thank Marcia for her incredible dedication to our organization,” said Nelessen. “During her six years at the Community Foundation, Marcia has made an impact at the Community Foundation, and she has done a superb job leading the asset building team. She also graciously postponed, until June 30, her planned retirement so she and Steve could work together for several weeks, assisting with his transition into the role.”
where he led and expanded its fundraising program. He joined the Red Cross in 2012, where he also served as senior division philanthropy officer at the organization’s National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and as senior director of corporate partnerships, director of development and acting chief development officer for the New Jersey Region in Princeton. During his career at the Red Cross, he was recognized as one of the organization’s leading fundraisers, often ranked in the top 10 nationally.
He previously served in development roles at Rider University and Westminster Choir College. He graduated from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in business administration.
“I’m honored to be joining the Community Foundation at such an exciting time in its growth,” said Spinner. “It has a remarkable legacy of strengthening communities through philanthropy, and I’m eager to work alongside our fundholders, donors, partners, and staff to build on that impact. I look forward to deepening relationships across the region and helping the organization continue to be a trusted resource for those who want to make a difference.”
Sarnoff Radio Club Holds “Field Day” Event
Members of the David Sarnoff Radio Club (DSRC), an amateur radio club based in central New Jersey, will be participating in the national Amateur Radio “Field Day” event on the weekend of June 28 –29.
This annual national field day event has taken place each year since 1933 and is designed to showcase the radio communication abilities of amateur radio to the public. Field Day demonstrates how amateur radio emergency radio stations can be set up anywhere, reliably, and under any conditions to operate independent radio communications networks.
More than 35,000 amateur radio operators from thousands of locations all across the USA and North America participate each year in the event over a 24-hour period by setting up and operating amateur radio stations in the field.
The public is invited to visit the DSRC Field Day site from 2-5 p.m. Saturday
and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday to observe the amateur radio field day operating activities. Visitors also have an opportunity to participate by operating radios to communicate with other amateur radio stations across North America.
The DSRC will be operating amateur radio stations at the Somerset County Millstone Valley open space parking area, Route 518 Franklin Township, Somerset County. The location is on Route 518 about one mile east from the D & R Canal parking lot near Canal Road or 1.7 miles west of the intersection of Route 518 and Route 27 in Kendall Park.
Amateur radio is a valuable asset to communities during disasters or emergencies when the standard communication infrastructure such as cell phone service temporarily fails to function or when cell tower coverage is out of range. An amateur radio station can be set up and operated almost anywhere and on short notice. Amateur radio operators can literally throw a wire in a tree for an antenna, connect it to a battery-powered transmitter and communicate near and far all over the entire US or around the world.
For more than 100 years, amateur radio has allowed people from all walks of life to experiment with electronics and radio communications techniques, as well as provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster or emergency when cell phone or internet services might fail to function.
There are over 725,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the U.S. of all ages. Amateur radio clubs, such as the David Sarnoff Radio Club, make it fun and easy for anybody at any age to obtain a license and get involved.
For more information about Field Day, Amateur Radio, or how to obtain a radio amateur license, visit N2RE. org or contact Bob Uhrik at WA2BSP@gmail.com.
33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd Ellsworth’s Center (Near Train Station) 799-8554
Tues-Fri: 10am-6pm; Sat 8:30am-3:30pm
Alexander Rd, Princeton • 924-2880
Spinner was most recently the director of development at the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). He established the organization’s first fundraising program, helping the nonprofit expand its funding beyond a single foundation revenue source. He also doubled the organization’s annual fundraising revenue in 15 months.
Before joining CARRA, Spinner served for more than three years as chief development officer for the American Red Cross’ Indiana Region in Indianapolis,
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Native plants are the topic on Thursday, June 19 at 6 p.m. when Kelly Rypkema, who heads environmental education at Mercer County Park Commission, speaks at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System. Rypkema will talk about how to support local wildlife with native plants. Register at mcl.org.
FOUR GENERATIONS COMING TOGETHER: Andrew Hartford, far left, a member of the Millennial Generation, took this photo of four generations in action at a neighborhood meetup on Maclean Street. Also shown are, Dean Smith, co-owner of jaZams, Generation X; Cathy Consoli, Silent Generation; and Laura Sinderbrand, 98, Greatest Generation. (Photo by Andrew Hartford)
Renowned PU Climate Scientist Teams With Comedian to Communicate Urgent Message
Climate change is no joking matter, and perhaps no one knows that better than Princeton University Geosciences Professor Michael Oppenheimer, who has been at the forefront of climate research and attempts to communicate crucial climate warnings to the general public for more than five decades.
“There is a problem in that scientists don’t receive training in how to simplify their message and yet assure that it’s still scientifically valid and get it across to the average person,” said Oppenheimer.
“Humor, as I think has been shown over the centuries, is a very effective way to get people to absorb the information,” said Cross as quoted in The Guardian. “Why not? Nothing else seems to work,” he added on a CBS News appearance with Oppenheimer last week.
“The climate crisis is no longer a matter of scientific projections or partisan politics. It’s here,” said Oppenheimer in the video. “Records are being broken all around the world. Last year was the hottest year since the industrial era began.” And Cross follows up with the message: “Translation: the shit is hitting the fan. And the fan is on maximum.”
Environment at Princeton University. He has written widely on climate science and climate change — hundreds of publications over the years. He has served on numerous prestigious panels, boards, and committees, and has been a guest on many television and radio programs, including ABC’s This Week, The News Hour, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Colbert Report, and 60 Minutes.
In the video, produced by the British group Climate Science Breakthrough, Oppenheimer plays the straight man. “Most of it is me making a scientific statement and him commenting on it,” said Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer discusses the increasing prevalence and destructiveness of extreme weather events with images of hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding in the background.
But in his latest effort to bring understanding and a sense of urgency to the endeavor, Oppenheimer has teamed up with the famous comedian and Emmy Award winner David Cross to present a new video campaign. Oppenheimer is very familiar with the challenges that scientists face in trying to explain their work in a way that the masses can understand. “So I thought this was an interesting way to think about getting out the climate message — a little different than previously,” he said in a June 6 phone interview.
On last week’s CBS appearance, Oppenheimer elaborated. “If you need to explain something as complicated as climate change, you need to present the information in a familiar context in ordinary English, and scientists can’t do that. What’s more familiar than comedy, in ordinary English? They need to reach people they’re not used to communicating with.”
As the straight man in the video, Oppenheimer presents the grim facts, then Cross comes in with a condensed, down-toearth, irreverent, usuallynot-appropriate-for-printing-in-family-newspapers explanation.
He goes on to mention the impact of climate change on people’s pocketbooks, incomes, insurance rates, and ultimately the way the world will look in the future, the world that our children and grandchildren will inherit.
“Courage comes from knowing that when people want you to do something, comedy or any sort of humorous context is a way to engage more people so then they’re willing to do at least the minimum, which is to send a message to their leaders,” he said. “Tell them we heard this, we got it, and we want you to act.”
Oppenheimer is the Albert G. Millbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute and director of the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the
Oppenheimer is not entirely a stranger to working with comedians. When he was approached by a group of U.K. video creators, he was initially skeptical but trusted the Climate Science Breakthrough Group and some of the other scientists he knew who had worked with them.
“It was interesting,” he said. “It was fun working with David Cross. And I’m delighted that it’s gotten a fairly good listenership.” He noted that it has appeared in a number of places on YouTube. “Whether it’s gone viral or not, I have no idea,” he said. “It’s out of my hands. Aside from that, I’m a professor, and I don’t think I’m going to convert myself to a comedic life style. I’m just enjoying the new format of message out there.”
Oppenheimer’s previous experience as comedian includes a successful appearance on the Colbert Report in 2007. “I enjoyed it by playing a straight man with a little bit of a sense of humor,” he recalls.” But a career as comedian is not on his agenda.
“I sometimes use irony because of the world we live in,” he said. “But I don’t really try comedy. My wife always
tells me, ‘Don’t bother telling jokes. You’re not good at it,’ so I don’t.”
He is also reluctant to use humor in the classroom or lecture hall, since students, he says, are a very tough audience. “I tend to stay away from humor, especially in the context of something like climate change, but if done well it can be a way of drawing people in to want to listen to something they otherwise might not want to listen to.”
Oppenheimer has been off campus since the end of the term at Princeton University, so he hasn’t received feedback from his geosciences colleagues, but the responses to his YouTube appearance with Cross from family and friends have been uniformly complimentary, he reports.
“They all thought it was a great idea in the first place — not my idea, of course —and they liked the way we pulled it off,” he said. “And I trust them. Those are the people I trust the most on such things. There are times when I’m not so good online or on TV, and they’re perfectly happy to tell me that.”
Communicating to the average person through the mass media was a significant part of Oppenheimer’s job when
he worked for more than two decades with The Environmental Defense Fund, where he served as chief scientist and manager of the Climate and Air Program before he joined the Princeton University faculty. “So I learned quite a bit about it — how to do it,” he said.
Reflecting on the complexity of the climate problem and the complications of the politics surrounding it, Oppenheimer remains somewhat optimistic, at least for the long term. “It is possible,’ he said. “I think we’re going to beat this thing. It’s just that there will be damage in the meantime. Unfortunately the biggest impetus to getting something done about the problem may be the damages themselves. I wish the world weren’t that way, but it is.” He continued, “Human beings have trouble grappling with long-term problems, but they do do it sometimes. There are lots of examples of us as a society picking a longterm objective and getting the job done — water supply systems, other big infrastructure projects, national security objectives. And that’s the attitude we need to take with climate change.”
—Donald Gilpin
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (3)
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY (3)
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
WILLIAMS COLLEGE
SYRACUSE
Michael Oppenheimer
(Princeton University: Egan Jimenez)
Mailbox
The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.
Keep Town Desirable for All by Continuing To Fund, Support Educational Institutions
To the Editor:
What makes our town unique from all the others in central New Jersey?
Princeton is a town whose name is synonymous with history and education.
They will be forever intertwined.
The quality of our educational offerings both higher level and the public schools are top of the list for why people flock to live in this small, quaint, colonial village.
When PILOTs [payment in lieu of taxes] were introduced, they certainly were not meant for use in towns as popular or desirable as Princeton, yet as with all incentives and tax favors, people find ways to take advantage.
I write here to thank the town for taking the very responsible step in giving the Princeton Public Schools a portion of the future cash flows from the Avalon Bay Thanet project PILOT agreement. As we know, from the review of the Master Plan, this isn’t the first PILOT and it’s not likely to be the last. Let’s hope that this payment sets a precedent and is the first of many payments to the public schools from current and future PILOT agreements.
The only way to keep our very special town desirable for all, especially given the expected future development, is to continue to fund and support all aspects of our educational institutions, not just in the classroom, but also for safety, extracurriculars, and community involvement. With rising a population, this takes real investment. Without this demonstrated and valuable commitment to our world class education, Princeton would be just another Colonial battle town in central New Jersey.
JESSICA VIEIRA Stockton Street
Residents Have Right to Hold Local Government Accountable For Their Decisions, Some of Which are in Need of Scrutiny
To the Editor:
As a weekly reader of Town Topics’ Mailbox, I am thrilled to see the shared concern over the proposed Herring development.
There are a number of common concerns voiced by many of the contributors, least of which is the effect of a development of the density proposed. The renowned historians’ advertisement last month has gotten residents motivated to speak up, but from my perspective we needed to be more direct in our mutual outrage over this issue. First, the Council’s approval of the PILOT tax benefits for the developer is not an exclusive one-time gift to this developer coming into Princeton. Avalon on Witherspoon was also gifted this as well as gifting Avalon a 30-year abatement on any form of rent controls allowing the developer to
raise rents at whatever rates they choose. And you can be assured with the two additional Avalon developments on either side of Princeton Shopping Center they have been given the same gifts.
Yes, all the other issues raised by the contributors to Mailbox are also of great concern. Luxury apartments with only 20 percent affordable rentals? The 20 percent magic number is a state mandate to all communities in New Jersey, but does that mean it’s the correct percentage of units needed? The density of this development with a 250-vehicle underground garage adds another very significant issues. Traffic on Stockton Street and surrounding streets is already congested at certain times of the day now. What’s the impact when you add the additional traffic caused by residents coming and going into the new development? More noise, more fumes, more traffic.
I could go on about all the reasons this development should not be allowed to go forward, but I think the real question that the Council needs to answer now is why? Why give away the real estate tax income that supports the schools as well as the infrastructure needs of the town? The added student enrollment is significant, the schools are not located near this development, which means school busses in and out of the area will increase.
This development’s approval by the Council is just the tip of the iceberg of the questionable decisions this Council and its predecessors have made that need to be looked at and held accountable for. Who pays for all their decisions? Them? The consultants they hire who recommend many of the plans the Council approves? No, it’s the residents and local businesses who foot the bill.
As I said at the beginning, as residents we have a right to hold our local government accountable for their decisions and it appears some of their decisions are in need of real scrutiny.
What kind of town does Princeton want to be? Growth at all costs? Or well planned, executed to assure the town’s heritage is not only maintained but enhanced. And the ability for all residents to afford to live and thrive in this very wonderfully diverse community.
“Defending”
RICHARD GULARDO Albert Way
Historic Princeton? From Whom, and From What?
To the Editor:
In recent weeks, you’ve seen a growing number of signs in one part of town that read: “Defend Historic Princeton.” Not Save, not Sustain, not Protect, not Preserve, but “Defend?!”
Pay attention to the language and let that word “defend” settle in.
“Defend” implies attack. It implies there’s something coming to harm you. It evokes protection from an invader. But who, exactly, is attacking? What, and from whom, are we defending against?
The signs are a response to a proposed inclusionary development — a plan that would provide a range of affordable housing options for families, seniors, and working people who contribute to the life and labor of this town
every single day. But rather than have a genuine conversation, the reaction has been letters signed by individuals who don’t even live here, and a campaign fueled by fear, misinformation, and coded language.
These arguments — about PILOT agreements, density, traffic, walkability, stormwater management, and architectural design — are not arguments at all. They are part of the oldest bait-and-switch scheme in America. The surface looks polite and technical; the core is about power, privilege, and a refusal to share space.
This is a plantation mentality in progressive clothing. The language has evolved — but the intent remains. Keep those who “don’t belong” outside the gate, off the land, away from opportunity. “Defend” Princeton from what? From being equitable? From becoming accessible? From reflecting the true diversity of this country? The history they claim to protect becomes selective memory — sanitized and stripped of the very people who shaped Princeton with their labor, culture, and resilience.
This is how exclusion works now.
Let me be clear: Princeton’s Black population once made up close to 20 percent. Today it is about 6 percent. The Latino population is about 7 percent. If that doesn’t alarm you, you’re not paying attention. The town that claims to be for all has quietly pushed many to the margins — or out entirely.
So, when people say they want to “defend” Princeton’s history, ask them: what version of history? Because “historic” isn’t just colonial architecture and manicured lawns. It’s Witherspoon-Jackson, the Tree Streets, Jugtown, Grover, Moore/Jefferson, Littlebrook, Valley Road, it’s workingclass roots. It’s Black churches, Dorothea’s House, immigrant stories, laborers, teachers, cooks, dishwashers, landscapers, and seniors who made this town livable long before it was lucrative.
What’s happening here isn’t unique to Princeton. It’s a national pattern. Exclusion disguised as process. Elitism hiding behind lawsuits. Privilege weaponized as “concern.” And always, always — the assertion that they know what’s best.
To the people fighting inclusion under the banner of history: What you’re really defending is a version of Princeton that never had to include anyone but you.
It starts with a sign. A word like “defend.” A zoning appeal. A delay tactic. A lawsuit. A whisper that grows into a wail.
The real threat to Princeton isn’t affordable housing. It’s the fear of sharing. A zero-sum mentality.
It’s the belief that “community” stops at the end of “your” driveway.
Let Princeton be a community of courage, not cowardice. Of welcome, not warnings. Of inclusion — not “defense.” LEIGHTON NEWLIN Princeton Councilman Birch Avenue
Making a Case for Affordable Housing At the Westminster Choir College Site
To the Editor:
The approach of providing affordable units as a percentage of units in development projects is a good approach for maintaining the stock of affordable units in the community. It is not as good for producing the numbers of units required to meet state mandates in the short term. For every 20 affordable units, 80 other units are also constructed; to reach 100 units, 400 additional units will be added. This will leave the community forever chasing the mandate.
Constructing an affordable development at the Westminster Choir College site has many advantages: The site is walkable to the Princeton Shopping Center, for grocery shopping, pharmacy, dining, a hardware store, and some medical providers; it is adjacent to school facilities; it is a site recently used for multi-family housing; it is a relatively flat site which should be easy to develop; it is not adjacent to a historic district; and all units could be applied toward the mandate, not just 20 percent.
I hope the Municipality will consider this use for the site.
ANNE
E. WEBER,
Letters to the Editor Policy
Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition. Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.
All letters are subject to editing and to available space.
At least a month’s time must pass before another letter from the same writer can be considered for publication.
Letters are welcome with views about actions, policies, ordinances, events, performances, buildings, etc. However, we will not publish letters that include content that is, or may be perceived as, negative towards local figures, politicians, or political candidates as individuals.
When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there. Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.
FAIA Stockton Street
Author Cynthia McVay Creates Her Own Field of Dreams
Author and environmentalist Cynthia McVay presents her book, In A Field of My Own: A Memoir of Place on Sunday, June 22 at 2 p.m. at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. She will be in conversation with author Mimi Schwartz.
A lifelong creative and environmentalist, McVay chronicles a two-decade relationship with a flagging orchard in the Hudson Valley, N.Y. (Living in a Place Press, $59 hardback). As a single, working mother, she was looking for a weekend escape from New York City, a green place to call her own. One winter day, she fell in love with a meadow and her life was forever altered. She renovated the modest cottage, built a pond-pool, created pollinating and native gardens from orphans and strays, and learned to forage and run the tractor. She moved a large Amish barn to the property to make her sustainable home. Snarky contractors, a “tippling” partner, puzzling neighbors, concerning caretakers, black rat snakes, and coyote chases were minor setbacks; each day brought joy and serenity.
“For all of us who have fallen in love with the Hudson Valley, and for those yet to fall under its thrall, this book is essential reading.” wrote writer Gary Shteyngart.
McVay , who is also the book’s photographer, grew up in the woods outside Princeton. After decades as a strategy and management consultant, she returned to writing short stories, poetry, and essays. Her work appears in dozens of literary journals and anthologies. This is her first book, a love story and tribute to the Hudson Valley, where she has lived for a quarter century.
Schwartz ’s most recent book, Good Neighbors, Bad Times Revisited — Echoes of My Father’s German Village , has just been published in a German edition. Her essays have appeared in Lilith, Ploughshares, Gray
Bucks County, Pa., Genealogical Society
Presents Authors Mervine and Coleman
Love, The Boston Globe, Assay, Agni, The Missouri Review, and Tikkun, among many others. She is professor emerita in Writing at Stockton University and lives in Princeton.
Mercer County Library Invites
Readers to “Color Our World”
The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) has announced its 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Color Our World,” taking place from June 16 to August 9. This year’s theme invites readers of all ages to explore the joy of reading and the power of stories to bring color, creativity, and connection into their lives.
Designed for children, teens, and adults, the Summer Reading Program offers activities and events that encourage learning, imagination, and fun throughout the summer months, through discovering new books, par ticipating in interactive pro grams, or simply enjoying a good story.
Register at a local MCLS branch. Branches are Ew ing, Hickory Corner, Hight stown, Hollowbrook (in the Ewing-Hollowbrook Com munity Center), Hopewell, Lawrence (headquarters), Robbinsville, Twin Rivers (East Windsor), and West Windsor.
Participants can earn re wards and incentives for their reading. To learn more about the Summer Reading Program, visit mcl.org contact the nearest library branch.
JUNCTION
The Bucks County Genealogical Society will host a Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Program on Tuesday, June 17 at 11 a.m. at the Bristol Township Senior Center, 2501 Bath Road, Bristol, Pa. The program features an author talk by Patricia Mervine and Joseph Coleman on their book, Slavery, Friends, and Freedom in Bucks County. The book will be available for purchase; the full purchase price of $30 goes to the African American Museum of Bucks County’s (Pa.) Capital Campaign.
Mervine and Coleman have uncovered dozens of untold stories about Bucks County people and places involved with the Underground Railroad. Admission is free, but registration is required at bit. ly/bcgs-juneteenth. Following the presentation, pizza and beverages will be served, compliments of the Bucks County Genealogical Society.
Mervine enjoyed a 30year career as a speech/ language pathologist and assistive technology consultant in Bucks County schools. She has become immersed
in researching local history. Her first book on local history, Boone Farm: Its People and Place in Middletown History, tells the stories of the 21 owners of the Boone Farm, a 1716 stone farmhouse on the banks of Core Creek, which is soon to be the permanent home of the African American Museum of Bucks County. For her volunteerism and advocacy, she was named the 2025 recipient of the Bucks County Women’s History Month Award.
Coleman retired in 2019 after teaching U.S. history in high schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for 35 years. He is now teaching history at The College of New Jersey, and serves as the archivist for the Hulmeville (Pa.) Historical Society. His first book was Hulmeville Borough A History at 150, which commemorates the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Hulmeville, a mill town on the Neshaminy Creek in Lower Bucks County.
More information is at bucksgen.org/index.php/ bcgs-programs.
Tues-Fri: 10am-6pm;
Princeton
www.princetonmagazinestore.com
SPECIAL GUESTS
Tiya Miles Barbara Brown Taylor
Willie Jennings Jeff Chu Michael Twitty Heber Brown Hanna Reichel
Norm Wirzba Tink Tinker
WORKSHOPS
Writing with the Land Composting 101
Native Seed Collection Cooking with the Earth Helping Institutions Think Ecologically The Upside to Downspouts And More!
FOOD AND DRINK
Wine and the Bible Farm Chef Fest
schedule and
“A Life Well Spent” — William Styron at 100
Only at the end of the book [Lie Down In Darkness]... in Peyton’s Molly Bloomlike monologue, would I finally enter her mind. And I hoped that this passage would be all the more powerful, because it was suddenly and intensely interior and personal.
—William Styron (1925-2006), from a 2002 talk
The girl, Peyton ...would have wound up jumping from a window no matter where she came from.
—from Writers at Work (Viking 1957)
Interviewed at a Parisian cafe in the mid-1950s, William Styron is described as “a young man of good appearance, though not this afternoon; he is a little paler than is healthy in this quiet hour.” A few questions later Styron admits, “I like to stay up late at night and get drunk and sleep. I wish I could break the habit but I can’t.”
Styron was 77 when he delivered the 2002 talk at the Whiting Foundation, some 17 years after the battle with suicidal depression that he recounted in Darkness Visible : A Memoir of Madness (1990) and not long before the recurrence of the illness that clouded the last years of his life, which ended when he was 81 in 2006. In the memoir, which first appeared as an essay in Vanity Fair, Styron connects the onset of depression with the realization, “almost overnight” that “I could no longer drink.” It was as if “a comforting friend had abandoned me not gradually and reluctantly, as a true friend might do, but like a shot — and I was left high and certainly dry, and unhelmed.” Worse yet, he hadn’t published a book since Sophie’s Choice in 1979 and would live the last 27 years of his life in the shadow of that fact, which may explain why he devoted the Whiting talk to his first book, Lie Down In Darkness (1951).
The word “darkness” and occasional echoings of the novel’s title recur throughout Peyton’s monologue, a 50-page-long un-indented paragraph, which, contrary to Styron’s framing, has little in common with Molly Bloom’s earthy, life-affirming monologue that famously ends with a simple “Yes.” Peyton’s monologue is bookended by a pompous preface (“ Strong
is your hold O mortal flesh, strong is your hold O love ”) and two fragments, one set above the other, as if thought or cried out in mid-fall: “Oh most Powerful .... Oh must.”
What Happened?
In 2002, Styron claimed the novel’s “entire story” was “building toward” Peyton’s monologue. In fact, the first 330 pages of the narrative had nothing to do with what happened to me when I followed Styron into Peyton’s mind. To this day I can’t explain why I emerged from Styron’s tour de force dazed, excited, my head light, my heart beating fast, having experienced one of the most intense reading experiences of my life.
It’s important to note that I was 20, my first novel had just been published, and I was already writing my second. The previous spring, while finishing the manuscript and looking forward to a summer in Europe, I’d read Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, The Sound and the Fury, and Madame Bovary, all on my own, no classroom tie-in, all absolute knockouts.
How could Styron’s account of Peyton’s desperate swerve toward suicide match Emma Bovary’s mad rush in the same direction, where it “suddenly seemed to her that fiery particles were bursting in the air, like bullets exploding as they fell, and spinning and spinning,” and once she fathomed the “abyss” of “her plight,” knowing what had to be done, making the pharmacist’s assistant give her the key to the cupboard where the poisons were kept; then, in Francis Steegmuller’s translation, “she seized the blue jar, tore out the cork, plunged in her hand, withdrew it full of white powder, and ate greedily.”
Reading that bravura passage from Lie Down In Darkness over again for the first time in more than half a century, I’ve seen enough to convince me that Styron’s feat inspired a personal breakthrough in the form of a chapter from my unpublished second novel unlike anything I’d ever written before and the only part that found a home in a literary journal with Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Robert Bly, and William Carlos Williams.
Thus, on William Styron’s 100th birthday, I’m writing about a mere fragment of his work, rather than The Confessions of Nat Turner, Sophie’s Choice , or Set This House On Fire , the follow up to Darkness that failed to live up to my expectations. One paragraph worth noting in June 2025: “What this country needs ... is something to happen to it. Something ferocious and tragic, like what happened to Jericho or the cities of the plain — something terrible I mean, ... so that when the people have been through hellfire and the crucible, and have suffered agony enough and grief, they’ll be people again, human beings, not a bunch of smug contented cows rooting at the trough.”
November 1, 2006
“in triumph” toward the heavenly vision Cortona chose to paint rather than focusing on the storm that drowned the flames of the pyre. I saw more of awe and stunned submission in her face than triumph. To me it was a wonderful expression, in both senses of the word: wonderfully painted and full of wonder.
The wording in my review sent me back to one of the only places I marked in my recent reading of Peyton’s monologue, which occurs when she visits the painter and former lover she’s hoping will take her in again: “He was painting an old man. In grays, deep blues, an ancient monk or a rabbi lined and weathered, lifting proud, tragic eyes toward heaven; behind him were the ruins of a city, shattered, devastated, crumbled piles of concrete and stone that glowed from some half-hidden, rusty light, like the earth’s last waning dusk. It was a landscape dead and forlorn yet retentive of some glowing, vagrant majesty, and against it the old man’s eyes looked proudly upward, toward God perhaps, or perhaps just the dying sun.” Peyton says, “I think it’s wonderful.”
It was at this moment that my engagement with Peyton’s plight must have taken hold. Whether it’s the coincidence with the date of Styron’s death, or the wording of the review, it gives me an opportunity to cite Styron’s November 2, 2006 New York Times obituary, which quotes his rival and sometime enemy Norman Mailer: “I think for years to come his work will be seen for its unique power .... No other American writer of my generation has had so omnipresent and exquisite a sense of the elegiac.”
Nothing in Styron’s performance could compare with Flaubert, or the great moments in Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Faulkner, so why did those 50 pages hit me so hard?
When William Styron died on November 1, 2006, I was in my third year at Town Topics. I’d been hired to write art and book reviews and occasional news stories and features. The day of Styron’s death coincided with my review of a Princeton University Art Museum exhibit featuring “A Painting in Context: Pietro da Cortona’s Saint Martina Refuses to Adore the Idols.” My review was headed “In the Context of Creation: A Fascinating Work of Art” and, as was my habit, I found myself quibbling with the curatorial language. My problem was that the curator’s note downplays the idea of a “refused adoration” and suggests instead that Saint Martina is gazing
Styron himself has provided a more personal statement, from Lie Down in Darkness : “I thought there’s something to be said for honor in this world where there doesn’t seem to be any honor left. I thought that maybe happiness wasn’t really anything more than the knowledge of a life well spent, in spite of whatever immediate discomfort you had to undergo, and that if a life well spent meant compromises and conciliations and reconciliations, and suffering at the hands of the person you love, well then better that than live without honor.”
—Stuart Mitchner
SPrinceton Festival Launches in Grand Fashion with Gala Opening
oprano Renée Fleming is busy these days. She was recently featured in the opening session of Chorus America’s national conference, speaking on the connection between singing and health; next week, she will be appearing with LA Opera; and her hectic schedule continues through the summer leading to a concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra in Saratoga, N.Y. This past Saturday night, Fleming was in Princeton, performing at Morven Museum & Garden with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra as part of the Princeton Festival. The Festival added to the glamour of the evening by building a gala celebration around Fleming’s appearance, with cocktail and dinner parties and a high-level reception. Conducted by Rossen Milanov, Fleming’s recital with the Orchestra included a wide range of music, from Fleming’s own favorites and “signature” arias to pieces the audience may not have previously known.
Conductor Rossen Milanov and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra opened Saturday night’s program with a journey through the oratorios of Georg Frideric Handel. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba was originally part of the 1748 Solomon , and on its own was heard in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Scored for string and oboes, this one-movement sinfonia depicts the bustling preparation for the Queen of Sheba’s arrival and was a fitting opening to establish a regal mood. Milanov and the players began crisply, with active violins and a joyful spirit. A pair of oboes led by Kemp Jernigan provided elegant contrasts to the string palette with sweet thirds and perfectly timed duet passages.
Fleming took the stage for two Handel arias, singing with a voice which well filled the expanded space at Morven and instantly connecting with the listeners. Noting the composer’s ability to understand the human condition, Fleming sang “Calm Thou My Soul” (from the little-known oratorio Alexander Balus ) with pensiveness and lyricism against steely and exact accompaniment. Fleming also advised the audience to take Delila’s advice not to lose a moment—for life is short, with a stylish interpretation of “To Fleeting Measures Make Your Court” from Samson Milanov and Fleming constructed Saturday night’s program alternating vocal and instrumental pieces and moving seamless among centuries. Fleming and the Symphony took patrons to the French Belle É poque era with two art songs of Venezuelan-born Reynaldo Hahn. Acknowledging her affinity for music connecting with nature, Fleming drew out the languid
phrases and soaring register of Hahn’s “L’heure exquise.” She continued an emotional journey through history with a presentation of John Kander’s “A Letter from Sullivan Ballou,” a setting of a letter from a Civil War major to his beloved. Kander’s orchestration depicted war through delicate yet decisive harp writing and poignant strings, with Fleming conveying the words with meaning.
Fleming has been successful in many genres, with opera being the meat and potatoes of her career. Both Fleming and the orchestra made the most of the drama in a selection from Ruggero Leoncavallo’s La Bohème , and Fleming gave insight into an aria which she called a “touchstone of her life” with an expressive performance of Puccini’s popular “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi
Fleming and the Symphony devoted the second half of the program to American music, starting off with Princeton composer Alan Fletcher’s Three American Songs , which were written for Fleming. Fletcher’s trio of songs were orchestrated with the open simplicity of the Southern Harmony tradition, and understandably suited Fleming’s voice perfectly. The third verse of Stephen Foster’s folksong “Slumber, my darling,” was particularly well placed in Fleming’s high soprano wheelhouse. Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s musicians were solid throughout, with refined effects provided by a combination of harpist André Tarantiles and violinist Basia Danilow in accompanying Foster’s text. Percussion instruments were kept busy during the closing “The Cuckoo,” especially an almost continuous marimba. Fleming has had a long collaborative relationship with composer Kander, who with lyricist Fred Ebb wrote the 2015 musical The Visit. Fleming sang two selections from this work, bringing out the saucy 1940s style immediately recognizable as from someone who also scored Cabaret and Chicago . Fleming closed with a playful song reflecting on her own career, as well as two encores in which the audience was invited to sing along.
Renée Fleming is a powerhouse across the vocal arena, through singing, advocacy, and her initiatives to link music with good health. With Saturday’s rain clearing out in time for the performance (and a rainbow over the Morven mansion greeting concert-goers as they arrived), it was evident that the stars had aligned for Princeton Festival’s gala evening, hopefully foreshadowing a good aura for the two weeks to come.
–Nancy Plum
The Princeton Festival continues until June 21 with music, opera, and dance, along with community activities. Information about all events can be found by visiting princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Princeton Festival Presents “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico”; Broadway Star Delivers Exquisite Performances, Fascinating Stories
Princeton Festival has presented “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico.” As the title suggests, the stage and film star performed a program of songs — the majority of which comment on life in New York City — by Stephen Sondheim.
The concert, which took place June 8 at 4 p.m. in the Festival’s performance tent on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden, featured selections from two of Errico’s solo albums. Most of the selections appear on Sondheim In The City ( 2024). A few others are heard on Sondheim Sublime (2018).
In between songs, Errico recounted fascinating stories about Sondheim — including some of her experiences and correspondence with the legendary composer and lyricist — as well as her family’s history, predominantly that of her great-aunt Rose, who performed for early 20th century producer Florenz Ziegfeld. The evening was framed as a metaphorical tour of Sondheim’s New York apartment.
Errico is a Tony Award-nominated actress and singer. In addition to numerous recordings, and concerts that include collaborations with over 40 symphony orchestras, she has starred in Broadway productions of My Fair Lady, High Society, Anna Karenina, White Christmas, Dracula, and Les Misérables.
Television appearances include a starring role in Central Park West. Beside her work as a performer, Errico has authored articles for several outlets, including the New York Times and the Huffington Post.
For the Princeton Festival concert, Errico was accompanied by Musical Director Tedd Firth (piano), David Finck (bass), and Eric Halvorson (drums).
Outfitted in a black dress covering a white blouse, along with a hat whose importance would be explained later in the concert, Errico opened the program with the vivacious, defiant “Everybody Says Don’t” from Anyone Can Whistle (1964). Errico’s considerable vocal talents were immediately on display, along with her ability to punctuate a performance with lively choreography; she illustrated the line “Sometimes you have to start small, climbing the tiniest wall” by steadily raising her hands (one on top of the other).
Errico removed her hat for the gentle “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979). This was the first of many numbers characterized by beautiful sustained notes. In a speech following the selection, Errico cited “Not While I’m Around” as an example of Sondheim’s work being a “protective force” (despite the song having been written for a show in which a barber murders his customers).
This first monologue was punctuated by a comic bit in which Errico tries to find a place for a bouquet of pink flowers she has just discovered on the stage (where they end up staying). She observes that the flowers match the one “in my top hat!” The flowers, like the top hat, prove to be important later in the show.
Elsewhere, Errico explained how Sondheim told her to perform his material in concert. He advised her to perform the melody as written for the first half of each song, then to “jazzify” the second half however she likes.
Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Errico described herself as the “high priestess of the cult” of Sondheim admirers, and described “Somewhere” from West Side Story (1957) as her parents’ “theme song.” She also noted Sondheim’s early background — his acrimonious relationship with his mother (who infamously wrote in a letter that her one regret was giving birth to him); and by contrast, his rewarding friendship and mentorship with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.
The mention of Hammerstein was a cue for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music (1959). Errico’s delivery of Hammerstein’s lyrics was preceded by a parody in which she exuberantly declared, “Sondheim in Princeton’s my favorite thing!” Errico played with the melody’s triple meter, pointedly lengthening key phrases.
The unabashed joy of this sequence was contrasted by the following piece, the plaintive “Take Me To The World” from the eerie television musical Evening Primrose (1966). Although the song is a ballad, Errico — aided by Halvorson’s gentle but steady drumbeats –keeps the tempo moving to preserve a sense of restlessness, adding a lovely bit of syncopation to the phrase “a world where I can be alive.”
Next was a trilogy of wry but affectionate songs about life in New York City. A sweeping but introspective piano solo introduced the “Who Wants to Live in New York?” segment of “Opening Doors,” a complex, extensive
the latter, Errico entertainingly mimed having several phone conversations at once, adding motivation to the curt line, “Look, I’ll call you in the morning or my service will explain.”
Multiple monologues were devoted to the story of Errico’s Aunt Rose, whose father sold top hats (hence that part of the costume). A recounting of Aunt Rose’s experience performing in Ziegfeld’s revue, The Midnight Frolic, provided a cue for a risqué Sondheim number cut from Follies (1971), “Can That Boy Foxtrot!”
To Errico, Sondheim is the “poet laureate of longing.” Two wistful examples of this are “Good Thing Going” (from Merrily We Roll Along ), a ballad that borrows melodic material from “Opening Doors,” and is given a brief, wordless vocalize by Errico; and the title song from Anyone Can Whistle. Tempo and mood then were altered, as Errico closed the first half with the rousing, affable “Broadway Baby” from Follies.
Part two brought a costume change: Errico now sported a sparkly silver dress, punctuated with a wrap that (Errico told us) belonged to Aunt Rose. The second half opened with “Uptown/Downtown,” a cut song from Follies that relates the social ascent of “a dame named Harriet.” The intricately rhymed song, which juxtaposes the past against the present, is an apt choice for Errico’s concept for her concert.
Gypsy (1959), which has lyrics by Sondheim and music by Jule Styne, is enjoying a Broadway revival that opened last December. Errico included “Small World” (the only song in the concert not to have both music and lyrics by Sondheim) from that show as a tribute to star Audra McDonald, whom she (and many others) assumed would win this year’s Tony cal. (As it turned out, the prize went to Nicole Scherzinger for her performance in another
The concert had many highlights, but Errico managed to top herself with a showstopping rendition of “Getting Married Today,” a song from Company (1971), in which wedding guests’ celebratory excitement (and that of the groom) is juxtaposed against the bride’s frantic nervousness. Errico not only sung the roles of both the guest and the bride, giving each a distinctive voice (with Firth delivering the groom’s dialogue), but heightened the hectic mood by taking a veil on and off. The flowers that were moved earlier in the concert became the bridal bouqet. Errico quipped that Sondheim was the first writer to bring “a panic attack” into a musical.
We heard two other songs from Company, a show that an audience member cited as a favorite early in the concert. One was “Being Alive,” described by Errico as a song of “renewal” and “endurance.” The other, “an ambivalent song about ambivalence,” was “Sorry-Grateful.” The theme of ambivalence also pervades “Nice Town, But,” a song Sondheim wrote at age 18.
Errico has a distinctive voice with a pleasing vibrato. Although she is a soprano, the majority of the songs demonstrated that she has a strong lower range as well. The second half included two songs that were not New York-themed, but still were valuable in allowing us to savor her technique and phrasing. One was the beloved “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music (1973), which was written for a character who is an actress (another theme of the concert). The other was the inspirational “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George (1984).
In a monologue discussing the latter, Errico recounted her experience being given a tour of Sondheim’s NYC townhouse. She had a realtor give her a tour, presenting herself as a potential buyer for property, which was valued at $7 million. In the laundry room was a poster for Sunday, along with Sondheim’s graduation certificate from the military school his mother forced him to attend.
This writer wishes that Errico had included another song from Sunday in the Park with George, which appears on Sondheim Sublime : “Children and Art.” In that reflective ballad, the contemporary artist’s grandmother points to Seurat’s painting and tells him, “This is our family tree.” It would have corresponded nicely with the theme of another art form — musical theater — linking Errico with Aunt Rose.
Errico
concluded the performance with an introspective ballad from Anyone Can Whistle, “With So Little to Be Sure Of,” which she describes as “apropos” to current events. The song is equally apropos to Errico’s exquisite, energetic, and informative concert. Despite lasting about two hours and needing an intermission, the performance brought heightened poignance to a lyric line that contemplates “Everything that’s over too fast.”
—Donald H. Sanborn III For information about upcoming presentations by Princeton Festival, visit www.princetonsymphony.org/festival.
“SONDHEIM IN THE CITY WITH MELISSA ERRICO”: Princeton Festival has presented “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico.” Broadway and film star Errico (above, center) performed a selection of songs by Stephen Sondheim, most of which comment on life in New York City. Errico was accompanied by musicians including Musical Director and pianist Tedd Firth (left); and bassist David Finck (right).
(Photo by Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff)
Performing Arts
OPENING CONCERT: Princeton’s Summer Concert series begins at Richardson Auditorium on June 26 with the Ivalas Quartet.
Haydn, Skye, Ravel On Concert Program
The Ivalas Quartet will open Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts’ 58th Season in Richardson Auditorium on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble will offer works by Haydn, Skye, and Ravel.
The quartet was founded in 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. They served as the Graduate Resident String Quartet at The Juilliard School from 2022 to 2024, where they studied with the Juilliard String
Quartet. They were previously in residence at the University of Colorado-Boulder under the mentorship of the Takács Quartet. They premiered Derrick Skye’s Deliverance through a commission from Caramoor in 2024.
The members of the quartet — violinists Reuben Kebede and Tiani Butts, violist Marcus Stevenson, and cellist Pedro Sánchez — have a shared dedication to their roles as educators, with coaching experience including residencies at the University of Michigan’s Center Stage Strings program, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Central
Award-Winning Musical at Princeton Summer Theater
The Tony Award-winning musical The Bridges of Madison County opens Thursday, June 12 on the Hamilton Murray stage at Princeton University.
Founded in 1968, Princeton Summer Theater (PST) is a professional summer theater company located in Princeton University’s Hamilton-Murray Theater, comprised of undergraduates and young professionals. Notable alumni include Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth ( Chicago ), Tony Award-winning producer Geoff Rich ( Avenue Q ), and Hollywood actor William Hootkins ( Star Wars, Batman ).
Arkansas, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the MacPhail Center for Music.
In New York City, they have coached student groups at The Juilliard School and worked with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center through the Society’s Chamber Music Beginnings since 2022.
The series will continue on July 2 with the Bennewitz Quartet, on July 11 with the Galvin Cello Quartet, and on July 17 with a clarinet/ viola/piano trio from the Manhattan Chamber Players. Visit princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org for more information.
The Bridges of Madison County highlights a brief but life-changing encounter between a lonely Iowa housewife and a traveling photographer, brought to life through a score by Jason Robert Brown. This show is an adaptation of Robert James Waller’s 1992 romance novel. Directed by Eliyana Abraham, Princeton Class of ’23 (who also directed The Last Five Years last season), this production features a simple, rural set with an ensemble of nine actors.
PST will be continuing to offer a three-show subscription for $75 ( over a 25 percent discount). The annual children’s show will be an adaptation of The Odyssey by Lucy Shea ’27, which opens on Wednesday, June 18, with performances on select dates through June and July, and the children’s workshops will run the first and last week of July. PST will have its End-of-Season Cabaret and Gala on Sunday, August 3.
Visit princetonsummertheater.org for tickets.
Music of Motown At Princeton Festival
The Princeton Festival celebrates the contributions of Motown to popular culture and the civil rights movement on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. The day-
OPENING PRODUCTION:
Rehearsals have been underway for the first show of the annual Princeton Summer Theater. “The Bridges of Madison County” opens Thursday, June 12 on the Princeton University campus.
long commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation includes free community events presented in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton, and culminates in a ticketed 7 p.m. performance of Masters of Soul, A Motown Review in the Festival’s main performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden.
Masters of Soul, A Motown Review features harmonies and moves made famous by artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and others. The show reproduces the look, choreography, style, and sound made famous by record labels that were relatively unknown at the time but went on to profoundly influence the history of popular music: Motown Records, Stax, and others. The performance goes beyond the music to preserve the integrity of the entire Motown experience.
The show features The TFC Band. After having toured together for decades, The TFC Band created the Masters of Soul show in 2008 as a way to heighten the experience for their fans and deliver a stage show that captures the sights, sounds, and feel of the Motown era.
Tickets to the performance start at $35, and are available at princetonsymphony. org/festival or by calling (609) 497-0020; groups of 10 or more receive a 20 percent discount. Day-of $20 RUSH tickets are available
for anyone 18-30 with government ID at the festival entrance one hour prior to the start of the event.
The Juneteenth celebration begins at 1 p.m. with a Juneteenth flag-raising at Monument Plaza in front of Monument Hall, with remarks by Princeton Council members. It is free and open to the public.
At 4 p.m., Rochelle Ellis, Lecturer of Voice at Princeton University, will deliver a talk on “The Motown Sound.” Ellis takes a look at the music of Motown and how the record label helped further the cause of the Civil Rights Movement in America. She traces the origins of Motown and how this distinctive sound affected American pop music, spotlighting some of the major groups on the Motown label. The free presentation takes place at Stockton Education Center at Morven Museum & Garden.
Next from 5-7 p.m. is a Community Celebration, a sharing of Juneteenth resources, history, crafts, and education commemorating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with community partners: Art Against Racism, The Historical Society of Princeton, The Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, Morven Museum & Garden, The Municipality of Princeton, Princeton Parents for Black Children, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and YWCA Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden offers free museum admission all day during their normal hours. The celebration is free to the public, and takes place on Morven’s Colonial Lawn, behind the museum.
“One Vision of Queen” Embodies Famed Rockers State Theatre New Jersey presents “One Vision of Queen” featuring Marc Martel on Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39-$118
In 2012, Queen’s Roger Taylor and Brian May handpicked singer Marc Martel to take on the lead vocals for their Queen tribute tour known as the Queen Extravaganza. His audition video of “Somebody to Love” garnered 13 million views on YouTube. Describing Martel’s impersonation of Freddie Mercury, Taylor remarked “That voice. You listen, close your eyes and you think it’s Freddie. It’s really uncanny.”
“One Vision of Queen” features some of the band’s greatest hits, including fan favorites “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are The Champions,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj. org for tickets.
“CHRYSOCOLLA — CYAN”: This work by Scott Staats is featured in “Mirrored Hues,” his dual exhibit with Christina Sorace MacKinnon, on view June 21 through July 19 in the Arts Council of Princeton’s Taplin Gallery.
“Mirrored Hues”
Dual Show Coming to Arts Council
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has announced “Mirrored Hues,” a new summer exhibition celebrating the spirit of the season through the works of artists Christina Sorace MacKinnon and Scott Staats. It will be on view from June 21 through July 19 in the Arts Council’s Taplin Gallery. A Gallery Opening, free and open to the public, is on Saturday, June 21 from 3 to 5 p.m.
“Mirrored Hues” invites viewers to experience the season’s vivid energy through the expressive lens of color MacKinnon’s paintings feature swirling,
layered palettes that evoke both movement and meditation, encouraging a deep emotional resonance with the viewer. In Staats’ glasswork, each piece is a carefully crafted exploration of transparency, light, and hue.
Together, MacKinnon and Staats create an immersive sensory dialogue between painting and glass. Their complementary practices offer viewers a multifaceted encounter with color’s power to transform space and mood.
To learn more about the artists and their work, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Also on view: “Places Near and Far” by Ron Berlin will be on display June
21 through July 19 in the Siegal Gallery. Spanning a significant period of the artist’s practice, this body of work is a tribute to the rich and varied beauty of the world around us. Whether capturing the quiet dignity of humble surroundings or the breathtaking grandeur of majestic landscapes, Berlin invites viewers into a personal act of preservation and sharing. “These pieces are my attempt to hold onto the marvels of this world,” he said. “Through art, I offer it back — as I’ve seen it — to the viewer. What was once a gift to me becomes, I hope, a gift to you.”
“Milagros de Corazón: Wings of Hope in Tin and Paper” will be on view in
the Lower Level Gallery from June 21 to July 19. This collection, a heartfelt celebration of tradition, imagination, and student creativity, showcases work from the ACP’s long-running after-school program Princeton Young Achievers, presented in partnership with the YMCA for over 20 years.
The exhibition features handmade milagros — symbolic hearts crafted in the rich Mexican folk-art styles of hojalata (embossed tin) and papier-mâché. Curated by Veronica Olivares-Weber, the program’s instructor, this display reflects growth, artistic exploration, and the power of community.
Opening receptions for the Siegal Gallery and Lower Level Gallery exhibitions will also be held on Saturday, June 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. — free and open to the public.
Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.
Princeton Makes is Moving to New Space in Shopping Center
Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, has announced that it will be moving its store and studios to a new location within the Princeton Shopping Center. Princeton Makes will host a reopening celebration on Saturday, June 14 at the new location, which is in the southeast section of the shopping center, between Princeton Nassau Pediatrics and Pizza Star. People will have the opportunity to shop in the new space, meet many of the Princeton Makes artists, and enjoy refreshments. The event will start at 10 a.m. and continue through regular store hours until 6 p.m.
Princeton Makes will also host an indoor moving/yard sale on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come to the former location to shop for items that are not being moved to the new location, including furniture, displays, art books, art supplies, and myriad other items that somehow get accumulated when you spend almost four years in one location. Half of all proceeds from the yard sale will be donated to the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry.
Jim Levine, founder of Princeton Makes, said, “Princeton Makes started as an idea to bring together a diverse group of local artists to make art, build a community, and share that art and community with the public. In our three-and-a-half years we have done just that, well beyond what I could have imagined. The Princeton Shopping Center has been a great partner, allowing us to occupy our current space as a pop-up (albeit a long-term one) as they looked for permanent tenants. They have now found a new tenant for our space and have generously allowed us to move our pop-up to another space within the center.
“All this would not have been possible without the energy, spirit, and artistry of the Princeton Makes cooperative members, and to the public, which has supported our store as customers, collectors, and participants in the many events that we have held. We hope to build on all of this as we embark on our next chapter.”
Princeton Makes is a cooperative composed of 40 local artists who work across a range of artistic genres, including painting, drawing, stained glass, ceramics, sculpture, textiles,
and jewelry. Customers can support local artists by shopping for a wide variety of art, including large paintings, prints, custom-made greeting cards, stained glass lamps and window hangings, jewelry in a variety of designs and styles, and more.
For more information, visit princetonmakes.com.
Weekend on the Veranda At Trenton City Museum
The breezy veranda of Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will welcome the community for two events over the weekend of June 14 and 15.
On Saturday, June 14, from 12 to 3 p.m., the museum teams up for the second year with the Trenton Knit ‘n’ Stitch club to celebrate international Knit in Public Day. Attendees are invited to get comfortable on the veranda, pull out a favorite project or start a new one, and enjoy crafting and creating with friends. All are welcome, from beginners to expert hand-crafters. Register in advance at ellarslie. org/knit.
On Sunday, June 15, from 1 to 4 p.m., the annual Sundaes on the Veranda will offer ice cream and fun for the whole family. Activities for all ages include making Father’s Day cards, playing corn hole, and, from 2-4 p.m., free face painting by professional face painter Antoinette Marchfelder, who is known in the greater Trenton area for her whimsical creations. There will also be a new array of artisan-made ceramic ice cream bowls to take home. Admission: $20/ sundae in a ceramic bowl to take home; $10/disposable bowl; free for kids 6 and under accompanied by a paid adult. Reserve in advance at ellarsie.org/sundaes or pay at the door.
Located in Trenton’s Cadwalader Park, Trenton City Museum is accessible by car from Parkside Ave. and has ample, accessible parking alongside the museum. It is open Thursday through Saturday 12 to 4 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee to view exhibitions, but donations in support of the museum’s programs are appreciated. Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion, an 1848 Italianate Villa on the National Historic Register. For more information, visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.
ON THE MOVE: Princeton Makes artist cooperative is moving to a new location in the Princeton Shopping Center. A reopening celebration is on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“CLIMATE CHANGE NOW”:
reception is on Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Art Reception at Montgomery Township Municipal Center
The Montgomery Township Municipal Center lobby now features a new exhibit by two local artists. There will be a reception and talk with local artists Spriha Gupta and Susan Hockaday on June 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
The artists have titled their show “Climate Change Now.” The new exhibit explores the fragile balance between humanity and nature, spotlighting the environmental harm caused by plastics and mass consumerism. Through their art, Hockaday and Gupta hope to inspire viewers to be mindful of their choices, appreciate the beauty of the planet, and take that first step — however small
— toward creating positive change.
Gupta, who lives in the Skillman section of Montgomery, said, “My work draws deeply from nature, using it as both muse and material. My layered compositions are crafted from recycled and found objects — bark, cloth, handmade paper — bring organic forms to life in vibrant, textured landscapes. Through these tactile pieces, I invite viewers to reflect on the fragile relationship between humanity and the environment.”
For close to 20 years, Hockaday has been responding to climate change through her artworks. “I feel art helps people talk about the fears and problems surrounding them in relation to the environment and climate
change,” she said. The connection between trash, climate change, and nature is the focus of her colorful and attractive photography.
Mayor Neena Singh, who will be present at the reception along with other township officials, summed up the township’s role when she said, “Art enriches all of our lives. It adds to our cultural landscape, enhances community identity, boosts local businesses, and fosters a sense of place. The Montgomery Municipal Center lobby was designed as a gathering space that could showcase the talents of local artists. We continue this effort with our new display this summer.”
This art exhibit will remain on display through the end of August, during municipal and library public hours.
“Rose That Grew From Concrete” Opening at Capital Health
On June 11, Capital Health will host an opening reception for “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Leon Rainbow, the latest art exhibit at the Investors Bank Art and Healing Gallery, located in the second-floor atrium of Capital Health Medical Center –Hopewell, One Capital Way, Pennington. This event is open to the public and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
This exhibition celebrates resilience and transformation through the works of artists who have overcome mental health struggles, addiction, poverty, and other challenges. Their art tells compelling stories of survival, hope, and the strength of the human spirit, highlighting the beauty that can emerge from adversity.
For more information about this installation and Healing Arts at Capital Health, contact the Capital Health Foundation at (609) 303-4121 or foundation@ capitalhealth.org.
Area Exhibits
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Roberto Lugo: Orange and Black” through July 6. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Celebrating Color and Light” through July 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Instant Gratificationz” and “Being Present: Exploration of Abstraction” through June 14. “Hours of Homecoming” is on view through June 12. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “John Stritzinger: How Trees See the World” and “Dutch Bagley: The Creative Tool” through June 15. Gallery14.org.
Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has works by Stonebridge Photography Club members through June 27. Cranburyartscouncil.org.
Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Awakenings” through June 20. 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.
Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real” through July 27 and “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.
Phillips’ Mill, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show” through June 29. Phillipsmill.org.
Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has photographs by Rebecca DePorte through July 1. Smallworldcoffee.com. West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Faculty and Student Art Show” through June 28. Westwindsorarts.org.
Artists Spriha Gupta and Susan Hockaday pose with two pieces from their new exhibit, now on display in the Montgomery Township Municipal Center lobby. A
Town Topics
Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, June 11
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens . Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton on the steps of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.
Thursday, June 12
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: “Living Longer Lives: Overcoming Our Fears of Growing Old,” symposium presented by the Center for Modern Aging at MCCC Conference Center, Princeton Junction. Speakers and breakout workshops. $60. Cmaprinceton.org.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Yardsale Press takes part in the Nassau Artist PopUp at Small World Coffee, 254 Nassau Street. Screen prints on paper, wooden drink coasters, pins, and tote bags. Smallworldcoffee.com.
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos holds a weekly event titled Our Common Ground: Literature and Poetry in Community with People & Stories at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.libnet. info/event/13266655.
4-7 p.m.: An evening of networking and reverse pitches hosted by Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs and the NJ Economic Development Authority at 303A College Road East. By invitation only. To express interest, visit princetonbiolabs.com.
5-8 p.m.: Trivia Nights in the Winery at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With DJ Iron Mike. Terhuneorchards.com.
6-9 p.m.: Wordsmith: A Def Poetry Reunion honoring Sonia Sanchez, The Poetry of Peace and Resistance, at Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton. Groundsforsculpture.org.
7:30 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents Tessa Lark , Violin: Stradgrass, at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Friday, June 13
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Monthly meeting of the Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild at the Administration Building, Hunterdon County Complex, Route 12 outside Flemington. Guests welcome. Hcrag.org.
12 p.m.: The Spirit of Princeton Flag Day ceremony, Municipal Complex, 400 Witherspoon Street. Keynote
address by Jason Mangone. Spiritofprinceton.org.
12-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, music, light bites in the apple orchard. Music from 5-8 p.m. by Laundrymen . Terhuneorchards.com.
7 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents Puccini’s Tosca under the tent at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.
7 p.m.: Dancing Under the Stars at Hinds Plaza. Members of the Central Jersey Dance Society demonstrate basic steps and lead others in dancing to recorded music. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:30 p.m.: Princeton Symphonic Brass Summer Concert at Community Middle School Auditorium, 95 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro. Led by Lawrence Kursar, with solo trumpeter Liesl Whitaker. Americana, jazz, pop, and light classical music. $20 adults, $15 seniors, $5 kids under 16. Psbrass.com.
8 p.m.: Fiddler on the Roof is performed by Theater to Go at Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $24-$26. Kelseytheater.org or (609) 570-3333.
8 p.m.: One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel is at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39$118. Stnj.org.
Saturday, June 14
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 a.m.: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Maidenhead Meadows elevated boardwalk , followed by an informal community walk starting at the historic Brearley House. Lhtrail.org.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Local Artist Minako Ota presents original artwork, prints, and artist-made goods at a one-day pop-up at Small World Coffee, 254 Nassau Street.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Pleasant Valley house tours at Howell Living History Farm , 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Interpreters lead tours and tell the stories of people who lived in the historic community. Free. Howellfarm.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: 27 th Annual Hidden Gardens of Lambertville Tour , starting at the Kalmia Club, 39 York Street. Nine private gardens on display, rain or shine. $25 in advance, $30 day of tour. Kalmiaclub.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Native Plant Sale held by Lambertville Goes Wild at Mary Sheridan Park, 37 York Street, Lambertville, rain or shine. Lambertvillegoeswild.weebly.com.
11 a.m.: Annual Pride Parade down Witherspoon Street to the YWCA, where an after-party will be held. Visit rustincenter.org for more information.
12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, food, farm strolls, and music from 2-5 p.m. by Brian Bortnick Terhuneorchards.com.
2 p.m.: Fiddler on the Roof is performed by Theater to Go at Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $24-$26. Kelseytheater.org or (609) 570-3333.
3:30-5 p.m.: No Kings Day Rally at Monument Park, 1 Monument Drive. Protest of PresidentTrump’s policies. Register at peacecoalition.org.
7 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents “An Evening of Pas de Deux” with American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under the tent at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/festival.
8 p.m.: Tim Keyes Consort performs at Richardson Auditorium. An oratorio The Pool ; other works. Princeton.edu/utickets.
Sunday, June 15
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 Jerry Steele Terhuneorchards.com.
1-3 p.m.: Bhagavat Cultural Immersion program at Tiger Park, in front of Palmer Square. Meditation (kirtan) and sanctified vegetarian meal (prasadam) distribution. Bviscs.org.
2 p.m.: Fiddler on the Roof is performed by Theater to Go at Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $24-$26. Kelseytheater.org or (609) 570-3333.
2 p.m.: Kids Summer Reading Kickoff Concert with Ants on a Log at Hinds Plaza. Interactive music and literacy show. Princetonlibrary.org.
4 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents Puccini’s Tosca under the tent at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.
4 p.m.: “Membra Nostri: Hands of Hope” at Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial, Trenton. Music of displacement, resilience, and belonging presented by Cranbury School choirs, Trenton Children’s Chorus, Lawrence High School Honors Choir, Lotus Chorale, and Lotus Festival Orchestra. Free, but suggested donation of $25. Thelotusprojectnj.org.
Monday, June 16 Recycling
7 p.m.: Author John Seabrook discusses his book The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty at
JUNE
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7-8 p.m.: Ward Hayes Wilson , author of It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons , speaks at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street. Presented by the Coalition for Peace Action and the church. Free light meal for those who pre-register. Peacecoalition.org.
Tuesday, June 17
8-10 a.m.: 2025 State of the County Address given by Mercer County Executive Dan Benson at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake, West Windsor. Sponsored by Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber. Princetonchamber.org.
9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read and Pick: Cherries , at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Educational program for kids includes picking a container of fruit. $12 per child. Pre-registration required. Terhuneorchards.com.
6 p.m.: Songwriters Circle and Open Mic at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. The Princeton chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association provides feedback to help songwriters improve, and includes an open mic. Princetonlibrary.org.
7 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents Puccini’s Tosca under the tent at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.
7-9 p.m.: Screening of Shelf Life at the James Stewart Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free. Princeton. edu/events/shelflife.
Wednesday, June 18 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton at Olives Bakery, 22 Witherspoon Street. 3 and 7 p.m.: The Princeton Festival presents “The Sebastians: Baroque Brilliance” at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Princetonsymphony. org/festival.
6 p.m.: The Board of Trustees of Princeton Public Library meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
Thursday, June 19
10 a.m.: Meeting of the 55 Plus Club of Princeton at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, and via Zoom. Dr. William Hu, director of the Center for Healthy Aging Research at Rutgers, will speak on Long Covid. Free ($5 suggested donation). Princeton55plus.org. 10-11:30 a.m. Cook Talks: Hydroponic Gardens , at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Mcl.org.
Landscaping, Hardscaping, and Garden Center
“
Enjoying the outdoors, being together in nature is more important than ever,” says Rich Kilian. “The interest in outdoor living today is just the tip of the iceberg. People want to be outside with family, friends, or just by themselves to enjoy the pleasure of their landscape. Spending time in the beauty of their own backyard is appealing to more and more people.”
IT’S NEW To Us
Owner of Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply, Rich Kilian just relocated his company to 133 Carter Road, the former site of Kale’s Nursery and Landscaping, which closed after many years as a Princeton mainstay.
“We had been looking for a piece of property to grow our business, and we knew this was the right place,” he explains. “Kale’s had such a fine reputation for so many years, and the setting was perfect. We were also glad to keep many of the Kale’s employees with us.”
Kilian’s has a long history in providing outdoor settings for both residential and commercial customers.
In 2003, Rich Kilian purchased Trenton Building Block & Hardware, a company which opened soon after World War II. “I am proud to have taken a company that was established in 1947, expanding it, seeing it evolve, and also one that my son and son-in-law will continue,” he points out.
Full Selection
“Continuing Trenton Block’s tradition of wellknown service through years of experience, our family-owned and operated business offers the same resources and more. As a top name in the business of hardscape contractor supply, Kilian Outdoor Living Supply, powered by Trenton Block & Hardscape Supply, is committed to expanding our reputation as a trusted supplier of high-quality outdoor materials.”
Landscaping is a big part of Kilian’s services, and the new location, which underwent a substantial renovation, includes a spacious outdoor setting with a full selection of trees, shrubs, and plantings, as well as a garden center with annuals, perennials, herbs, and vegetables.
The hardscape showroom offers samples of every choice for patios, walkways, driveways, retaining walls, pool decks, and more. Blue stone, natural stone, brick, concrete pavers, and porcelain are all available in a variety of patterns and textures.
Hardscapes provide structure, style, and function to the landscape, points out Kilian. “We combine quality materials with thoughtful designs to create spaces that look amazing and last for years to come. Fire pits and fireplaces (both gas and wood) are very popular now, and we also have trellises, pergolas, and arbors.”
Lighting and water features are also in demand today, he adds. Lighting offers both aesthetic enjoyment as well as safety, and choices in style and size are abundant, and much appreciated by customers.
The majority of Kilian’s work is with residential clients, but commercial projects and institutions and schools are also among the landscaping and hardscaping jobs. All sizes, from small to large, are part of the company’s work.
Right Timing
The timing is right for customers to come in and visit the garden center, reports Kilian. A full selection of annuals, perennials, ground covers, ornamental grasses, bedding plants, and hanging baskets is available for planting now. In addition, herbs and vegetables are popular with many people today.
Trees, including fruit, flowering, and evergreen, are all in demand, as is the wide variety of shrubs. Opportunities to establish a year-round thriving landscape are abundant.
A full array of garden tools and planting needs, such as mulch, potting soil, compost, and organic and synthetic fertilizers, is also offered, as is grass seed, deer-resistant plants and deer-deterrent products.
“There are fertilizers and lawn products that are environmentally friendly,” Kilian reports. Also, he adds, many people are including native plantings in their landscaping today. These can withstand the elements better because they are indigenous to their surroundings.
Kilian is very enthusiastic about his new Princeton venture, and as he says, he has always looked forward to new opportunities. No stranger to hard work, he began his landscaping career at the age of 12, when he accompanied a neighbor to the nursery to select plants and helped in her garden.
“She helped me learn about different flowers and plants, fertilizers, etc.,” he explains. “I have always liked to be busy and involved in something creative, and ultimately being able to provide a remarkable result for our customers.”
Expert Guidance
“We connect our retail customers with the professionals who will do a quality job for them,” he continues. “We are essentially a supply business, connecting customers with landscapers and hardscapers. We believe in the power of collaboration, personalized attention, and expert guidance.
“For flowers and individual trees and shrubs, customers can buy directly from us. Our employees are very knowledgeable and experienced, and will help customers with advice regarding sun and shade and the requirements for different plantings, etc. Also, if customers have specific requests, we will do our best for them.
“For those who want substantial landscaping or hardscaping designs and installations, we will connect them with the quality pro -
Outdoor Haven
fessionals we recommend. They can come here to see all the samples and possibilities for hardscape design, and the wide range of trees and shrubs we carry. If they wish, they can bring in a photo of their yard or patio, etc. so we can help advise them on choices.”
As with any business, it is important to keep up with changes, new developments and advances, and Kilian points out the need to be up to date. The introduction of new technologies, new materials, new designs, and new directions in the field make change inevitable. As he says, “We are passionate about giving people a great experience and a great end result. We have to be knowledgeable about everything to do this.”
He believes his new Princeton location gives him an opportunity to reach more customers and provide them with Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply’s expertise and experience.
“I also look forward to providing my family with a place to operate from in this new location and within a beautiful setting. I am happy to watch my son and son-inlaw become involved in the business and being there to guide them. We look forward to a lot of projects in Princeton, and we also have work elsewhere in New Jersey, at the shore, and in the Poconos in Pennsylvania.”
He is very pleased with the reception the company has received and the welcoming support from customers, neighbors, and the community. It is always important to give back to the community, he emphasizes. “We have to give back. The community has been there for us, and we are grateful. We support food banks and other charities.”
Providing a special outdoor haven for his customers remains Kilian’s greatest reward. As he says, “It’s a great pleasure for me to see someone’s backyard transformed into something special through our landscaping and hardscaping.”
And he continues, “At the heart of everything we do is one simple belief: business is personal. We don’t just sell, we connect. We take the time to understand your goals, your challenges, your vision. Whether you’re a first-time client or a longterm partner, we treat every interaction as the beginning, or continuation, of a meaningful relationship. We know that trust, community, and consistency are the foundation of lasting success.”
Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 7a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the garden center. For further information, call (609) 396-9570. Visit the website at kiliansoutdoorliving.com.
—Jean Stratton
OUTDOOR DESIGN: “Our mission is to provide high quality products to help you build the best outdoor setting you can imagine. We aim to be your trusted partner in creating beautiful functional landscapes and hardscapes that are long-lasting for years of enjoyment.” Evan Bogdan, left, and Ben Kilian of Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply are shown in the company’s outdoor hardscape setting.
S ports
After Superb Tenure Guiding PU Women’s Hockey, Gardner Morey Bringing Leadership Skills to Pro League
In her role as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team, Cara Gardner Morey has often urged her players to be daring in their play.
Taking a page out of her book, Gardner Morey is making a bold move in her hockey life as she has stepped down from her Princeton job to become the general manager of the Vancouver expansion franchise in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
As she gave her Princeton players the news, Gardner Morey invoked that philosophy.
“I told my players through a ton of tears,” said Gardner Morey. “I constantly tell them that they have to get out of their comfort zone. They have to take risks and push themselves. I said it is time that I listen to my own advice.”
Taking her advice, though, was not easy for Gardner Morey.
“It was the hardest decision ever,” said Gardner Morey. “I was never looking to leave, I never anticipated leaving. I don’t even want to leave. It is just such a cool opportunity. I just felt that life is about taking chances, taking risks and pushing yourself.”
After spending her first six years at Princeton as an assistant coach before getting promoted to the top job in 2017, Gardner Morey took advantage of the opportunity to guide the program.
“The biggest challenge is that you go from kind of being the players’ liaison and the person that they go to with the close relationship and then you are the head coach,” said Gardner Morey, who leaves
Princeton as the the secondwinningest head coach in program history with a 120-8224 record in her eight seasons at the helm. “You are controlling their ice time a little bit more so there is that part. You actually go into more of a general manager role than a coach. You have to delegate the actual coaching to the assistants. I would say 80 percent of my job was other stuff, not coaching. It was a lot of managing.”
Along the way, Gardner Morey learned to be flexible in her management approach.
“Every year was so different, you learn something new every year,” said Gardner Morey. “Every team feels a little bit different. The biggest thing that I learned is that there is no recipe, there is no cookie cutter. You can have it great and think you know how it works and then it is a different group of people and it changes completely. It is just constantly being able to adapt and change.”
One of the greatest groups Gardner Morey coached was the 2019-20 squad that went 26-6-1 and won the program’s first-ever ECAC Hockey Tournament title.
“The 2020 season before COVID-19 was definitely a highlight, the culture of that team was amazing,” said Gardner Morey. “Obviously we were talented and we won the ECAC. That was certainly a highlight.”
But for Gardner Morey, many of the highlights came off the ice through interaction with her players.
“The big highlight was watching them graduate,” said
Gardner Morey. “I got to coach some of the best athletes in the sport. I would always talk about pregame meals and how interesting their conversations were. Another highlight is just when you are on a road trip and you are sitting around with them, listening to them talk about things they are studying or things going on in the world. They are so impressive as athletes but even more impressive as people and students and intellectuals.”
Gardner Morey pointed to former star defender Claire Thompson ’20, an NYU medical student and Olympic gold medalist for the Canadian women’s national team, as epitomizing the quality of the student athletes she guided.
“Claire is the cream of the crop and a great human being,” said Gardner Morey, who is being reunited with Thompson after signing her this week to join the Vancouver squad.
Coaching Sarah Fillier ’24, the fourth all-time scorer (194 points on 101 goals and 93 assists) in program history and one of the top players in the world was another great learning experience for Gardner Morey.
“It is almost sometimes too challenging,” said Gardner Morey of Fillier, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion for the Canadian women’s national team. “With some of the great players because you don’t want to over coach so you are trying to understand them because they are going to see the game differently. It is finding that balance when to coach them and when to let them be.”
After having a great time at Princeton over the last 14
PRO: Cara Gardner Morey instructs a player during her tenure as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team. After spending the last 14 seasons as a member of Princeton’s coaching staff, including the last eight as head coach, Gardner Morey recently resigned that position to accept a new role as the general manager of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Vancouver team, an expansion franchise set to begin play in the 2025-26 season. The second-winningest head coach in program history with a 120-82-24 record in her tenure at the helm, Gardner Morey guided the Tigers to the 2020 ECAC
years, Gardner Morey is sad to be leaving.
“I am going to miss everything,” said Gardner Morey. “I love the town. I love the people. I love the culture. I love the campus. If I was in a different place at a different school, it would have been a no-brainer to take this step but it was really difficult to make this decision because I love Princeton so much.”
When Vancouver initially contacted her, Gardner Morey was skeptical about making the move to the front office.
“They reached out to me, they said they were going to be expanding and they asked me to consider the general manger role and truthfully,” said Gardner Morey, “at first I was a little bit insulted because it was why don’t you want me as a coach. What I didn’t understand is that the GM is the one running the whole team. I talked to some of my connections in the NHL with the Flyers. I talked to Danny Briere and Brent Flahr and I started exploring what this position was.”
Gardner Morey came to realize that she was well-suited for the GM role.
“I really love coaching but I also really love leadership,” said Gardner Morey. “It was just a bigger leadership role. I just felt like it is an opportunity to grow our sport. I am really invested in making sure that the league succeeds. At first I was like what are you talking about. The more that they had conversations with me and I explored it, I thought well I am really passionate about leadership and this is a larger leadership opportunity within a new professional league. The momentum is there in pro sports for women. It is a really exciting time to be involved.”
It is an exciting time for Gardner Morey as the franchise chose seven players in the expansion draft earlier this week and signed four others in addition to Thompson. Now, she is turning her focus to putting together the rest of the organization.
“It is hiring a head coach,” said Gardner Morey. “Assembling a team is the beginning. I have got to hire 30 more staff members.”
As a proud Canadian who hails from Hensall, Ontario, Gardner Morey is happy to be returning to her native land.
“In some ways it feels like I am going home but I am going a lot farther,” said Gardner Morey. “It is an exciting city. The fan base is really excited for the team to come. There is going to be tons of support so that part is exciting.”
Looking ahead, Gardner Morey believes that the PWHL is going to succeed in a big way.
“It is in really good shape,” said Gardner Morey of the league’s prospects. “I have been watching pro women’s hockey try and I think a lot of us who have been in it were a little hesitant at the beginning. We wanted to make sure that it was going to be done properly. They have the business model and the leadership structure in place. I think this league is going to last. That is why I was OK, it is the right time and I want to help make sure that we have a great product out there.”
And with Gardner Morey bringing her Princeton hockey experience and leadership skill to Vancouver, the franchise is good shape as it gets up and running.
—Bill Alden
a Princeton tradition!
GOING
Hockey Championship.
(Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
PU Sports Roundup
PU Men’s Basketball
Adds Johnson to Staff
Former University of Connecticut assistant coach Mathew Johnson is joining the staff of Princeton University men’s basketball team, Tiger head coach Mitch Henderson announced last week.
Johnson, who will serve as an assistant coach for Princeton, was part of a UConn staff that coached the Huskies to national championships in 2023 and 2024.
Johnson’s time with the Huskies was defined by winning. Along with the two national titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances, the Huskies won the Big East Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2024. UConn went 149-52 for a winning percentage of
74.13 percent during his time on staff and Johnson worked with nine players who made it to the NBA and 12 allconference selections.
At UConn, Johnson oversaw film production, including breakdown of opponents and evaluation of the Huskies. He worked closely with the coaching staff to assist in planning day-to-day practice sessions and game strategy.
Johnson produced all aspects of opponents’ scouting reports and strategized with assistants directly on the execution of game plans while managing in-game defensive match ups.
As a recruiter, Johnson assisted in the recruitment and signing of top-five recruiting classes in 2023 and 2025. He planned and executed the operations of oncampus visits, and created visual presentations to be presented to recruits.
Johnson graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Tampa in 2017 with a B.S. in accounting. He helped guide the Spartans to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree and a three-time Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Commissioners Honor Roll selection. Johnson ended his career at Tampa ranked fourth all-time in program history in assists and was a four-year letterman along with a two-year captain.
A native of Columbus, Johnson graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 2013.
Henderson believes Johnson will be a valuable addition for the Tigers.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Mat Johnson to our staff,” said Henderson. “He brings a championship pedigree, deep roots in our local basketball community, and a clear understanding of what makes Princeton special—both on the court and in the classroom. Mathew’s experience at UConn, winning two national championships, shows his commitment to excellence at every level. His passion for player development and his appreciation for Princeton’s academic values make him a great fit for our program.”
Johnson , for his part, is excited to be returning to his New Jersey roots.
“I am truly honored and excited to join the Princeton basketball family as an assistant coach on Coach Henderson’s staff,’ said Johnson. “Growing up just a short drive away from the prestigious university, I have always admired the program’s longstanding passion for development and excellence both on and off the court. Having the opportunity to add to the rich tradition of Princeton basketball is something that I do not take for granted, and I look forward to showing that gratitude through my efforts daily.”
PU Men’s Golfer Greyserman Wins Florida Amateur Title
Princeton University men’s golf rising sophomore Reed Greyserman rallied to win the 108th Florida Amateur Championship last weekend at the BallenIsles County Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Greyserman, who was at five-over after two rounds, caught fire in the final two rounds and went on to win in a playoff, earning an
DRIVING FORCE: Princeton University women’s golf star Catherine Rao displays her driving form this spring. Last weekend, junior standout Rao was named as an honorable mention All-American by Golfweek Magazine. This spring, Rao placed third at the Ivy League Championship and was named the Ivy Player of the Year. She opened her 2024-25 season with a win at the Nittany Lion Invitational last September and added a second victory at the Columbia Classic in February. Along the way, she finished second at the Princeton Invitational. Rao placed in the Top-10 in seven of her eight appearances. Outside of her play for the Tigers, Rao made history this April as the first Ivy Leaguer to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
automatic exemption to the upcoming U.S. Amateur Championship in the process.
Greyserman was tied for 53rd after the opening two rounds, nine shots off the lead. In the third round last Saturday, he carded a 64 (-8) to jump into a tie for 4th place. A day later, he fired a 68 (-4) to bring himself level with Arth Sinha at -7 overall after 72 holes and force the playoff.
On the first extra hole, Greyserman carded a par which was good enough to win.
It is the second summer in a row that Greyserman has won a state’s amateur championship as he won the 2024 New Jersey Amateur.
He will play in his second U.S. Amateur from August 11-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Producing Record-Breaking Season for PHS Boys’ Track, Senior
Thrower Wilton Aiming for Big Finale at Nationals
Sean Wilton will have at least three more throws in his Princeton High track career.
The PHS senior will try to further his own school record in the shot put at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2025 from June 19-22 in Philadelphia.
“It’s going to be my last meet,” said Wilton. “I really just gotta do what I gotta do. I want to put a lot of different work in. This spring, I’ve been doing a lot of pure distance throws where now I have so much time before this meet, I can do like a full prep for it. I’m just going to take my time, ease into it, build up for this meet and be ready when the day comes.”
On May 30, Wilton set a PHS outdoor record of 60’ 7.5 to win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 championship. He also threw 166’9 in the boys’ discus for fifth place at groups, a mark that puts him third in the PHS record books. Wilton’s 62’2.25 shot put at New Balance Nationals Indoor this March stands as the best ever in school history.
“We have this big board in the weight room, but the moment I saw the record on the board my freshman year I knew that that was my goal,” said Wilton. “And that day that I got it was just such a good feeling. That’s when you know you made it. You achieved something that no one else has in your entire school history. That
was the goal. That’s the best feeling you can get in a sport like track and field. I’m very happy to leave with that record .”
Wilton eclipsed the record of 57’ 6.75 set by Paul Brennan in the Mercer County Championships in 2019. Prior to that, the shot put record went all the way back to 1983 when Peter Young threw 57’1.5.
“A lot of the times it was like, all right, we’ve got the Brennans, but after the Brennans are gone, what do we have? And we got to see that and see Sean’s legacy,” said PHS head coach Ben Samara. “It’s incredible because Paul just had broken that record that had stood for 40 years, and we’re like, ‘Wow, this record is going to be around forever.’ And then Sean comes along and he is the best shot putter in Princeton High School history now. And he willed it to happen which is awesome.”
The third-place discus mark was a bonus. He had been a little inconsistent with throws from 125’7 to start the year to 156’1 at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Championships. Then it clicked at groups.
“Discus is a very different event than shot put,” said Wilton. “For a while, I was pulling the discus out of its orbit. I would set it up so well, and then just do the last little bit wrong to pull it just out of its way and it would hurt me a lot. And I kind of plateaued because of it. But at that meet, I
literally just waited, I was a bit more patient at the finish and then it just kind of flew out of my hand.”
Wilton had hoped to better his marks at the Meet of Champions, but had a tough day last Wednesday at Pennsauken High. Fouls cost him in the shot put and he settled for ninth with a 57’1.5 effort and also threw 146’3 for 23rd in the discus. He’s using that meet as an important lesson to prepare for throwing shot at nationals
“I was just too amped up,” said Wilton. “I think my warmups were too hard. The big thing I try to do is build for every meet. From the start of that Monday in practice to the end of the week to the meet, I’ll be building. At that meet, I went way too hard, way too quick and I couldn’t build into my throws. I got a 60foot warmup but then from there I got really tense because I wanted to hit that again. I knew I had that mark in me. But then I got two fouls and 57. So now what I’m gonna do is I’m going to take it easy for nationals, I’m gonna build up to the meet. And when I’m there, I’m just going to take my warmups nice and easy, warm up and then just have three good throws and see if I can make finals.”
Wilton was one of two Princeton athletes to make the Meet of Champions. Junior distance star Kajol Karra ran 11:01.19 for 15th in the girls’ 3,200
Princeton High boys’
Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state meet at Franklin High on May 30. Last Wednesday, senior and Brown University commit Wilton placed ninth in the shot put at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Wilton will wrap up his PHS career by competing in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2025 from June 19-22 in Philadelphia. (Photo
meters. She’s part of a returning group that has the Tigers optimistic about the girls next year.
“We’ve been talking about the girls team for a couple of years now,” said Samara. “That next year would be the year and I think that we’re losing a great a couple of great captains, but a lot of our firepower is back. We have some really good girls on the sprint side, and our distance girls are now maturing into upperclassmen and that’s a team that really could threaten to win Meet of Champions in cross country.”
While the girls look to be in great shape, losing Wilton among a number of high achieving boys means the PHS boys will have to rebuild back. In the meantime, Wilton will be beginning his college career at Brown University. For the first time this summer, he won’t be getting ready for a football season. He’ll just be focusing on lifting and preparing to be a college thrower, starting over at a new level of competition.
“I gotta work harder,” said Wilton.“It’s a clean slate. It’s just going to be a good reset. I’m just excited for the competition . I know it’s
going to be there and I’m excited to have that build back up toward senior year because right now this is where I’m supposed to be peaking. But freshman year next year it’s just going to be a build-up year, so I’m excited for that too.”
Wilton possesses all the tools to succeed. While the coaches thought it would take a while to break the shot put record that had stood for so long, Wilton used it as motivation and had confidence in his abilities
“When I started my freshman year, my first ever meet I was at 40 feet, which is a very good mark for freshmen,” said Wilton. “And then from there, there’s just like a rule of thumb that you add five feet every year, so I knew I could be hitting 60 by my senior year and really I just had to keep working. The really big reason is I knew myself and I knew how hard it was going to work and I knew how fast I was progressing was not going to slow down. I was just going to keep getting better and stronger. And once I started really getting close to it, I knew I was going to hit it very, very soon. Like my sophomore year I knew
I was definitely going to get the record at some point.”
Samara expects Wilton will hit another level in college. He’ll continue to get stronger and work at his technique as the latest PHS thrower to continue his career at an Ivy League school.
“I think he’s going to do some incredible things at Brown,” said Samara.“I think he’s going to be able to have almost the next evolution of Sean Wilton.”
What makes Samara so sure is what he saw over the last four years from Wilton. He’s been on a steady rise and the MOC was just a small hurdle in his development
“He’s one who will never stop moving forward,” said Samara. “The higher the level of competition, the more of a gamer he is, which is why I think he was surprised on Wednesday by what happened. That was a real anomaly for him and I can’t see it happening twice in a row. I think he’s going to have a huge, huge series at nationals.”
It’s his final chance to add to his record-setting career at PHS. He is graduating with his name on the wall to inspire the next generation of throwers, and still more to accomplish as he continues his career in college.
“I’m very happy with how I ended up,” said Wilton. “I know there’s more left on the table, but I can get that in college. I’m just happy with my career. I’m very happy with where I’m going next. I did everything that I wanted to pretty much.”
—Justin Feil
GROUP EFFORT:
track star Sean Wilton, center, and PHS throws coach Brandon Willams, left, and Tiger volunteer assistant coach and former Princeton University men’s track coach Fred Samara are all smiles after Wilton placed first in the shot put at the New Jersey State Interscholastic
provided courtesy of Ben Samara)
PHS Girls’ Lacrosse Battled Hard to the End In Federico’s Swan Song Coaching the Tigers
In 2024, an 11th-seeded Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team stunned sixthseeded Montgomery 9-8 in overtime in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament.
Heading into this year’s NJSIAA Group 3 North Jersey tournament, PHS was aiming to make history repeat itself as the 11th-seeded Tigers played at sixthseeded Red Bank Regional on May 29.
In the early going, PHS was on track for another upset as it jumped out to a 6-2 first quarter lead. But this year, the Tigers couldn’t close the deal as Red Bank battled back to make it 7-7 at halftime and then pulled away to an 11-8 win.
“We came out pretty strong, Red Bank made some adjustments,” said PHS head coach Katie Federico, whose team ended the spring with a 12-10 record. “They had a good goalie (Nora Tavares) and the placement of our shots wasn’t great. She ended up with 12 saves. We unfortunately had a coup le of turnovers and that just did us in there at the end. But really, we played lights out. We played all the way through to the final whistle.”
In reflecting on the season, Federico pointed to the team’s offensive balance as a major area of progress.
“I think our attack jelled a lot this year, we had a lot of different girls contribute on attack,” said Federico. “You never knew who was going to step it up there in a game whether it was through an assist or a goal. Many times we had many different players scoring which was really great. We are only losing four seniors so it is a pretty solid group coming back who have that camaraderie.”
The senior quartet of Aniya Zahid (18 goals, 3 assists in 2025), Ellie Naggar (16 ground balls), Lily vonRoemer (6 goals), and Alessandra DiBianco (2 goals, 3 assists) gave the Tigers some solid work this spring.
“Aniya was like the stealth attacker and then all of a sudden she would just rip a shot,” said Federico. “She has beautiful cuts. She timed
her cuts nicely and would be there to receive the pass on the cut. Ellie stepped up on defense into a leadership role this year and was just a very big voice on defense which we needed. Lily and Allie would just jump in there and get a goal when it was needed.”
Junior Leah Bornstein made another jump in her game as she piled up a teamhigh 98 points on 63 goals and 35 assists and led the team in ground balls (125) and draw controls (105).
“Leah really grew into her leadership role this year,” said Federico. “Last year, I felt was a breakout year for her, it was huge. This year, I think she just had that confidence that she could do it and be there to make the plays. The biggest force in her having such a successful season this year was that confidence piece. She is just everywhere. She is always giving it 100 percent, even her jog is a sprint.”
Bornstein’s fellow junior and running mate Quinn Gallagher helped trigger the attack as she tallied 40 goals and 40 assists.
“Quinn sees the field really well, especially when she is down on attack,” said Federico. “She is probably the best at looking for the open girl to get the pass off. She really just sees it nicely and is able to execute the pass when it is needed. We have had her play a lot of low attack this year. Because she is lefty she was able to roll the crease and drive that way. Leah had great giveand-goes with her. They just have that seamless connection which was really nice. I was really happy for her this year.”
Sophomore Emerson Barker (24 goals, 8 assists), sophomore Clare Barlag (27 goals, 8 assists), junior Nicki Lee (20 goals, 16 assists), and junior Gracie DePrince (27 goals, 24 assists) each had nice seasons.
“Emmie reminds me of how Leah was last year, she broke out as well,” said Federico. “She joined us towards the end of last season. She has got such a wicked shot; when she gets there, it goes in. Clare is a learner of the game. She is always thinking about plays or
different scenarios and loves sharing those ideas with the team. It was so great to have Nicki back this season and have such a successful season. Being injured most of last season, we really missed her. She has brought so much to the attack as well. Gracie is great at faking out the defender and going in for the backdoor cut. She really times them nicely. It will be nice to see what she can do next year.”
On defense, junior Zoie Reynolds (15 ground balls) and sophomore Lila Casto (42 ground balls) led the way.
“Zoie stepped it up a lot on defense because losing Josie [Lee] and Theona [Hsu] we had some big defenders there so having Zoie stepping into that role was great,” said Federico. “By the end they were starting to jell more as a unit. Lila is great, she has that natural instinct. She always seems to be there to grab the ball.”
The pair of junior Olivia DeLuca (111 saves) and sophomore Paige Menapace (82 saves) stepped up in goal.
“Both goalies are coming back too, they were pretty balanced and they had a great relationship with each other where they are so encouraging of each other,” said Federico. “They both played really well and they really improved a lot this year as well. I think it helped confidence wise because Olivia was hurt last year and Paige was starting to get a little more into it. This year, it was great for both of them to raise their confidence.”
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ON POINT: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Emerson Barker, right, heads to goal in a game this spring. Sophomore Barker tallied 24 goals and eight assists this spring to help PHS go 12-10.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
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Girls’ Lax Goes 5-1 in Last 6 Games to End at 9-9
After losing 15-9 to WW/ P-North in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament in early May to fall to 4-8, the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team could have thrown in the towel on the rest of its season.
Instead, PDS saved its best for its last, going 5-1 down the stretch to end the spring with a 9-9 record.
The Panthers capped the season on a high note by routing Hamilton West 18-2.
“Hamilton reached out to us, someone dropped off their schedule and they had a girl on their end, a senior, who needed one more point to get to 100 points,” said PDS head coach Lucia Marcozzi. “We were more than happy to come and play one last game. Shelby [Ruf] got her 100 goals. Grace [Ulrich] got her 250 saves, she had a phenomenal season. That was a great way to go out. I am really happy with how it all ended.”
Marcozzi credited the senior one-two punch of Ruf (60 goals, 12 assists in 2025) and Natalia Soffer (41 goals, 13 assists) along with sophomore Ava Fairbanks (36 goals, 34 assists) with fueling the late surge through their work in the midfield.
“Our seniors who make the most impact on offense, Shelby and Nat, realized this is their last go and they wanted to make it a great end of season and they really turned it on,” said Marcozzi. “All three of them
started clicking towards the end of the season. All of the work the three of them put in throughout the season to get there really paid off.”
Merrimack College commit Ruf gave the Panthers great work all over the field.
“Shelby is a phenomenal player, people forget that she is a defender, she is not a midfielder or attacker,” said Marcozzi. “She is going to Merrimack as a defender. She is a phenomenal defender. She has an incredible sense of the field and has great footwork. That type of skill we needed throughout the entire field. I was lucky enough to have her everywhere. For someone who played a scoring position for only two years, to get 100 goals is super special. She is going to make such an immediate impact at Merrimack. I am excited to see what she does.”
Soffer produced an exciting final campaign for the Panthers.
“I think Nat totally found her confidence this year, she was an impact midfielder for us,” said Marcozzi. “We beat Pennington in overtime (1211 on May 15) and she got the draw, went right to goal and scored it and won it for us. She just became such a clutch player and that came from her confidence. As a senior, she was huge for us this season.”
In goal, senior Ulrich (151 saves) came up huge repeatedly.
“Not having her in the first few games was pretty
evident, you could see those losses that were bigger losses than they should have been and probably some of them didn’t have to be losses,” said Marcozzi, noting that Ulrich was unavailable early this season because she was away playing in the USA Hockey National Championships.
“Losing her presence in goal was tough but when she was there, she made a huge difference. She had over 10 saves in like seven games. It was pretty clear that she was just the backbone of the defense.”
The trio of seniors Cass Salas (20 ground balls), Eliza Bailey (5 ground balls) and Charlotte Miller also starred on defense.
“That is going to be a big loss for us next year,” said Marcozzi.“They were three super senior defenders who jelled well together. They have been playing together on the varsity level for three, four years. We are going to miss them, definitely those are big shoes to fill on defense.”
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“Ava had a really great summer last summer; she played a lot of good lacrosse and it showed this year,” said Marcozzi. “She had great chemistry with Shelby which was awesome to watch when they were clicking. I think a player like her is going to continue to do really well.”
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“Lena was phenomenal, she really found her groove, especially when we saw a lot of different defenses,” said Marcozzi. “I think she really gained her confidence getting the ball into the back of the net. She started the first four games, it took a little while for her to get going. She has a great shot, she knows how offense works. I think her confidence is just going to keep going up as she keeps playing. Andrea and Lena play club together, they work great together. I am excited to have Andrea for a full season. It was tough to have her go out with the concussion. You get out of the lacrosse mindset and the groove of practice every day. I am excited to
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RUF AND TUMBLE: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Shelby Ruf races upfield in recent action. Senior star and Merrimack College commit Ruf led the Panthers in scoring this spring with 72 points on 60 goals and 12 assists as PDS went 9-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Overcoming Hurdles in Two Years of Planning, 1st Annual Princeton Triathlon Makes a Splash
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again is a classic proverb meant to inspire persistence.
Those words could serve as an appropriate motto for Shawn Elwood and the Princeton High Triathlon Club.
In 2023, Elwood, now a PHS junior, and the student members and adult advisors of the club decided they wanted to stage a triathlon in Princeton.
After not procuring a permit from the Princeton Council in 2024 to hold the event, the club went back to the drawing board.
“I think the first year maybe we were a little ambitious,” said Elwood, noting that the planning group included his father, Doug, and his younger brother, Darren, along with Braedyn Capone, Tyler Cenci, Harrison Knoch, and Patrick Remboski. “The main thing was the road closures for the bike course. The second year we took another look at the course. We shrunk it down a little. We made it into a SuperSprint triathlon versus a normal sprint triathlon.”
The club got the go-ahead from the town earlier this year and last Saturday, that goal became a reality as the first annual Princeton Triathlon took place. The event started with a 300-meter swim in the Community Park Pool followed by a 5-mile bike ride around Moore Street and a 1.5 mile run in and around the CP area.
In addition to the SuperSprint triathlon, there was SuperSprint triathlon relay, duathlon, and aquabike which were all for ages 13-and-above along with a youth triathlon event for those ages 7-12.
The SuperSprint triathlon had 134 finishers and nearly 240 people overall took part in the day’s activities. The overall winner of the SuperSprint was Dana Palumbo, 43 of Marlton, N.J., in a chip time of 28:23.88 while the top male finisher was David Linder, 50, from West Chester, Pa. in 28:43.25.
For Elwood, seeing the club’s vision become a reality triggered pride and emotion.
“It was a very positive
experience; what makes me think that is that we got so much positive feedback from the participants, the spectators and the volunteers, everyone,” said Elwood. “It was really great, it was such a surreal experience to see all of things work and come together. There was so much community support and involvement.”
That community support helped Elwood and his colleagues pull off the event.
“Going into it the second year we had a lot more support from the Rec Department and the Police Department and that all helped,” said Elwood. “The final push was with the Town Council. The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad offered their services. We had a dedicated EMS vehicle out on the race course. We had reached out to DQ Events, the timing company. We had connections with them before with the club. We are very thankful”
Once the group got the go-ahead, a major focus was on marketing the event.
“First of all, it was getting the word out, it is a first-year event; there is a Princeton 5K, there is a half marathon but other than that there wasn’t too much of a participant base in the area,” said Elwood, noting that the event ended up drawing entrants from New York, Pennsylvania, and even Arizona. “We had to push pretty hard on marketing. We had the signs in town and we did a ton online.”
Another key in running the triathlon was putting together a volunteer crew to deal with complicated logistics of the event.
“One other challenge was planning for race day with the whole volunteer plan,” explained Elwood, whose colleagues on the planning team served as venue directors for the 30-40 volunteers. “Different things are happening all across the bike course and the run. We had a few different waves of volunteers, starting at 4 in the morning. We gave each of them a little sheet of paper with some instructions which sent them around to the different stations and he different disciplines.”
Remboski, the faculty liaison for the triathlon club who teaches at Princeton
Middle School and is a boys’ soccer and girls’ swimming coach at PHS, provided some key support in making the event happen.
“I was there, I was the link between the school and the triathlon club,” said Remboski. “I was giving my expertise on triathlons that I had been involved in. It was just being there for whatever they needed. I met with Shawn, we went to the town together. Sean and Doug Elwood really spearheaded this thing. Doug is a really brilliant guy. We could not have done it without him and his guidance.”
Remboski noted that the group got crucial financial support as well.
“As soon as we got the go-ahead, one of the biggest things was the funding through sponsorships and partnerships,” said Remboski. “We could not have done it without those sponsors and partnerships that we had and all of the donations. We had the plan set where we got the approval. After that it was executing it and getting the funding.”
With rain in the forecast for Saturday morning, there were some nervous moments as the planning committee and volunteers set up the course. The rain held off and the event went smoothly.
“We were really fortunate with the weather, that was out of our control so that was pretty stressful but the day was a huge success,” said Remboski. “We were in Princeton the night before until like 11:30 and then we all met up at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday so there was no rest that Friday and Saturday. It was a ton of family and friends that came out to help and students from PHS. It was a great way to get some community service.”
Remboski saw the turnout of participants as a great sign going forward.
“The total was 237, I think it was just the right amount,” said Remboski. “We were going to push for 300 but we wanted get the first one under our belts and make sure we got things going smoothly and that there were no big hiccups. So that way when we plan again for next year, we have more of a buy-in.”
For Remboski, being part
of the push to hold the triathlon was heartening.
“It was incredible to see, this thing was basically put on by a group of high schoolers,” said Remboski.
“There is not many places like Princeton where motivated high schoolers can put on a massive event like this and have success and be profitable where we can donate the profit to Princeton multi-sport. I was in awe and I was truly honored just to be part of it alongside the triathlon club who was ultimately responsible for everything that happened.”
For Elwood, it was awesome to see how trying again and again paid off last Saturday.
“It means the world,” said Elwood. “We were deep in
planning this for so long. We had so many hurdles that we had to jump over.”
After the successful debut, the triathlon club is already planning for year two.
“We are trying to get some feedback from all of the participants on things they enjoyed and maybe some things they would like to see
changed for next year,” said Remboski. “The plan is to make it an annual thing like the Turkey Trot, the Princeton Half Marathon and the Princeton 5K. We have already been brainstorming some ways where we can make it larger without taking up more roads and closing down roads.”
—Bill Alden
2025 SUMMER BBA HOOPS
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GOOD TRI: Dana Palumbo handles her bike in the transition area at the first annual Princeton Triathlon last Saturday. Palumbo, 43, of Marlton, N.J. placed first overall in the SuperSprint Triathlon division at the event. She posted a winning chip time of 28:23.88 over the course which included a 300-meter swim in the Community Park Pool allowed by a 5-mile bike ride around Moore Street and a 1.5 mile run in and around the CP area. (Photo by Allison Brooks)
TAKING THE PLUNGE: Swimmers get ready to take the plunge at the Community Park Pool last Saturday in the first annual Princeton Triathlon. At far left, is Patrick Remboski, a Princeton Middle School teacher and boys’ soccer and girls’ swimming coach at Princeton High, who served on the planning group for the event and was the pool area director. The event drew nearly 240 participants with 134 finishers in the SuperSprint triathlon division. (Photo by Allison Brooks)
Princeton Summer Hoops League Tipping Off 36th Year, Boasting
Plenty of Talent as Princeton Supply Chases 3-Peat
As the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League tips off its 36th year this Wednesday night, it boasts the talent across its eight squads to produce another competitive campaign.
“It is a solid group; from one to eight, there are no duds in there,” said Princeton Recreation Department Executive Director and League Commissioner Evan Moorhead. “These are all teams that, on paper, should be able to compete.”
The key story line for the season which features an opening night doubleheader at the Princeton High gym revolves around whether any team can dethrone two-time defending champion Princeton Supply, which went undefeated last summer on the way to its title repeat.
“On paper, they have got everything,” said Moorhead, noting that the last title three-peat in the league was achieved by LoyalTees, which won titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021. (The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
“They have got size, they have got speed and quickness and to that mix they add Gefen Bar Cohen (former Princeton High and Kenyon College standout) who is a top-tier player. They have the big kid Pete Sorber along with Mike Kane and Troy Jones. They have a backcourt of Shaquan Worthy and Quayson Williams. They have all of the pieces, the other teams better load up if they are going to take them on.”
The team’s manager, Phil Vigliano, or “Coach Phil” as he is known, is determined to build a dynasty.
“Coach Phil has been in the league for years, it took him a while to get the right pieces together to make a championship run,” added Moorhead. “Now that he has them, he is not letting go. Every year, it is like he adds a piece trying to keep the wolves at bay and keep the championship streak going.
Lob City, last year’s other championship finalist, will be aiming to snap that streak.
“Lob City was a new entry but with some guys who had played in the league before,” said Moorhead. “They had an understanding of what it takes to compete with some local guys. They made a really nice run there at the end of the season. They have some of the same guys. Salam Simon is the manager. Derrick Woods is a big kid with an inside, outside game. Kenar Gully had a really strong year for them. Myles Mitchell White is a great ball handler and distributor. They have some pieces, I anticipate that they are going to be right there again. They are one of the teams that could challenge Princeton Supply for that title.”
A new entry this summer is Play Smart which is comprised of players on the Mercer County Community College men’s hoops team that is coached by former Princeton University star and assistant coach Howard Levy.
“It has been a long time coming,” said Moorhead.
“Howie has been in touch a couple of other years about getting them into the league. Either he didn’t have enough guys or by the time he reached out, it was already too late. I am excited they are in. It makes a lot of sense, they are local too.”
The J Majeski Foundation, a league stalwart, is another team that features a college roster as it is made up of players from The College of New Jersey.
“They did have an off year last year,” said Moorhead. “They won it in ’22 and it was a bit of a surprise. For them, it is all about which of their guys show up. If they can bring their top players and most of their roster, they are going to be extremely competitive.”
Another squad that has brought a college flavor to the league is YSU which has featured former Lincoln University player Freddie Young Jr. and some of his college teammates in the past.
“I anticipate, given how competitive they have been in the last couple of years, they are going to put a very competitive team out there again,” said Moorhead, noting that YSU made the league semis last year. “Freddie Young Jr. is back and is in charge of the roster. Freddie Sr.coaches AAU and there are a lot of guys from Mercer County and Burlington County area that have played for him. They will be a good team.”
Tropical Smoothie, which was the Jefferson Plumbing entry last year, is led by Princeton Rec Department Program Supervisor and Princeton Day School boys’ hoops assistant coach Chris Petrucelli figures to be competitive.
“It is a pretty similar group, he has Connor Rushing, Connor Topping (a former PDS standout) with Tim Evidente (a PHS alum) and Jahan Owusu (another former PHS star),”
SUPPLY SIDE: Princeton Supply’s Troy Jones looks to pass the ball last August in the championship series of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Jones helped top-seeded Princeton Supply sweep thirdseeded Lob City in the best-of-three series to earn its second straight league title. Jones is back this summer as Princeton Supply looks to earn a title three-peat. The league is slated to tip off its 36th year on June 11 with a doubleheader. As of press time, with the Community Park outdoor courts currently being repaired, the league was hoping to play the games at the Princeton Middle School gym.
said Moorhead. “He has the PDS/PHS mix. We lost the SpeedPro team that had Tim, Judd Petrone, Jack Suozzi and some of those PHS kids. I am glad at least one or two of them have landed on another team to have that local flavor. Having PHS alums in the league is what this league is all about, they don’t have a lot of size on that roster.”
The Novi Wealth squad is back but will be without star guard Kevin Johnson.
“The big news there is that Kevin moved out of state and John Pozzick is taking over for him as the manager,” said Moorhead. “Kevin was the engine for that team end-to-end. He was, if not the quickest player, in the top three in terms of quickness on the court so that is a big loss. Jalen Parham is back, he moved and now he is back. He was an all-league performer.”
The 1911 Smokehouse squad didn’t catch fire last summer but has the talent to make an impact.
“They had a rough year, it was little unexpected,” said Moorhead. “They have some good names the team, it shows you how competitive the league is. Juwan Harrison is a big-time scorer. John Armstead had a really good year last year. He can shoot and score. These guys have all played.”
With the Community Park outdoor courts currently under repair, the league will be going inside in the early going. As of press time, the league was hoping to play the games at the Princeton Middle School gym.
“My feeling is that I always want the league to be outdoors; that is where the league started and that is where it belongs and where we get the fan support,” said Moorhead. “I want to get the inside games out of the way early so I don’t tempt the weather gods. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing after the court is repaired. It gives us some flexibility.”
No matter where the games take place, Moorhead is fired up to see how the 36th year of league plays out.
“I am excited about it as always,” said Moorhead. “I put stuff out on social media to say hey we are back, hashtag “Still Here.” That is the good thing about this time of year, hope springs eternal.”
—Bill Alden
Bailey Basketball Academy Offering Summer Camps
The Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA) is offering two week-long basketball camps this summer along with other specialty hoops programs.
BBA is led by former Princeton Day School girls’ hoops coach and Philadelphia 76ers camp director and clinician Kamau Bailey.
The camps are slated for June 30-July 3 and July 2125 at the Princeton Middle School.
There are full day camps for ages 9-14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and half day camps from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
In addition, there will be First Hoops options for ages 5-8 (9-11:45 a.m.).
BBA will also offer Shot Doctor shooting instruction and small group player development daily sessions from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting June 24 and running through August 15 (excluding camp dates) for players getting ready for middle school, high school, or club participation. The daily workouts will be held at the newly-built BBA outdoor basketball courts at 3752 Highway 27 in Princeton
There will be an open house at the BBA facility for parents and players on June 17 at 6 p.m. which will include an information session, games, prizes, and a sports give-away.
All players will be required to bring their own water, snacks and/or lunch for the applicable programs.
For more information, contact Kamau Bailey at (917) 626-5785 or at kamau.bailey@gmail.com.
Stuart Sports Camps Still Have Openings
The Stuart Country Day School is holding three sports camps on its campus at 2100 Stuart Road in Princeton in July and there are still openings for the programs.
There will be a field hockey camp for players in grades 3-9 being held from July 14-18 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., a girls’ tennis camp for players in grades 5-9 being held from June 30July 4 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and a girls’ basketball camp for players in grades 5-9 being held
from July 7-11 with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The camps are geared for beginners as well as experienced players.
One can log onto the Stuart website at www. stuartschool. org and go the Menu section in the upper right of the home page and hit the “Sports Camps for Girls” link under the Athletics section for more information about the camps.
NJ Wrestling Organization Holding Golf Event July 23
The New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is holding its 22nd golf outing, a shotgun/scramble, on July 23.
The event will take place, rain or shine, at Mercer Oaks Golf Club at 725 Village Road, West Windsor.
The goal of the chapter outing is to seek and raise contributions, donations, and gifts to provide wrestling camp and clinic scholarships to deserving youth who seek to improve and enhance their skills and love for the sport of amateur wrestling. As a result of those efforts, the chapter will also make contributions to selected veterans and relief organizations such as the NJ Vietnam Memorial, as well as children’s hospitals such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
The golf package includes brunch and registration (7:458:45 a.m.), green fees, cart, practice range, putting contest, locker, giveaways, prizes and silent auction as well as a buffet dinner.
The cost for foursomes is $635, individuals $170, dinner-only $75, and raffles $20. Players 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult player. Singles and pairs have to contact the golf chairman for arrangements. Foursomes are not required to do so.
Any golf questions should be directed to Chair Ken Bernabe at bernabekenjb@aol. com (732) 991-3984).
Tee, flag, and meal sponsorships are as follows: $300 brunch; $500 dinner; $200 flag; $100 tee. Mail all sponsorships to Ed Glassheim, golf assistant chair, 1210 Whitehouse-Hamilton Square Road, Apt. #3, Hamilton, NJ 08690. Or contact him at (609) 9475885 or glassheim@yahoo. com.
Golf registration and payment can be sent to Glassheim’s address with check payable to NWHF-NJ-GOLF by June 27, or pay by ZELLE to Bill Miron at (908) 872-3520.
Wednesday, June 18
Deadline is the Friday prior.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Obituaries
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Thomas Vincent Leverich of West Windsor, NJ, who died peacefully on June 4, 2025, at the age of 75.
Tom was born on August 12, 1949, in Rockville Centre, NY, to William B. Leverich and Marie R. Laliberte. He was a devoted husband to Michele, his beloved wife of 47 years, and a proud father to Jessica, Adam, and Emily.
Tom attended St. Pius X and graduated from Cathe -
Thomas Vincent Leverich (1949–2025) dral College in 1971. He built a meaningful and impactful career as a Senior Specialist for the Child and Adult Care Food Program with the Mid -Atlantic regional office of Food and Nutrition Service, USDA. A lifelong lover of folk music, Tom shared his passion with the Friends of Worship and was often found with a guitar in hand, strumming along to the songs of Peter, Paul, and Mary and many others. He was an avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers
and cherished memories of watching his favorite team play at Ebbets Field. Tom’s love of the game inspired him to play baseball throughout high school and college.
Tom’s lifelong passion was genealogy. He dedicated himself to researching and compiling the extensive history of the descendants of Rev. William Leverich (c.1606–1677) of England, New England, and Long Island, NY. His work connected Leverich family descendants across the globe and culminated in the coauthorship with Michael E. Leveridge and publication of A Godly Minister: The Reverend William Leverich of Great Britain, New England, and New York . His research can be found at leverichgenealogy.org.
Tom is survived by his wife, Michele Bouchard; his children, Jessica Leverich Rando (Carmine Rando), Adam Leverich (Rebecca Scott), and Emily Leverich (Carlos Villanueva); and four step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Jo Leverich Lenihan (Edward Lenihan); sister-inlaw, Mary Leverich (wife of the late William F. Leverich); and many loving nieces and nephews.
Tom’s legacy is one of integrity, kindness, resilience, and love.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, 202 Stockton Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520. Barlowzimmer.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Tom’s memory to a charity meaningful to you.
Loretta Joy DeRochi
September 12, 1937 –June 5, 2025
come to the Israeli Consulate in NYC, where they tried to recruit her to move to a kibbutz in Israel. She accepted their invitation to the kibbutz, but always her own person, bought her own passage on a freighter to cross the Atlantic. And as always, she was the life of the party on the freighter (so smitten was the First Mate that he proposed marriage to her).
But she continued on to the kibbutz in Israel, where she fit in well. Being the social person she was, Laurie also used every opportunity to see the sights and meet new people. Once, on a lark, she rode a horse to the Jordanian border and exchanged pleasantries with a border guard. But that proved to be her undoing. Soon after that she got a visit from the Israeli secret police, who had been keeping an eye on her. They expelled her from the kibbutz for her suspicious behavior. Apparently, in addition to her horseback riding, the nice Arab boy she was dating was the nephew of the only Arab member of the Israeli Knesset!
Undaunted, that set her off on a two-year hitchhiking / working tour of Europe, and being Laurie, there were many other adventures. Always intrepid, one of the wildest was her run-in with the East German police, when, again on a lark, she poked her nose into East Berlin, just to see what was there. She had to pound her fist on some bureaucrat’s desk to get her passport back.
But finally, her funds exhausted, she returned home to Princeton, only to start saving money for her freighter passage back. Her plans changed however when she met Steve, another PU grad student (she accepted her first date with him for New Year’s Eve, on the condition that they went to her list of parties). Six months later, they were married, and Laurie lost her wanderlust and devoted herself to making their home.
the fish in a large aquarium. Laurie piped up, asking, “The black ones too?” Ethnicity and racism were completely foreign concepts to Laurie. Instead, she had an open heart and a willingness to help anyone with a problem, as well as volunteering her time for many organizations over the years. She was valued for her excellent organizing skills, especially in raising 10s of thousands of dollars for the Princeton Hospital. As result of all this, as well as just being Laurie, her life was filled with many steadfast friends, friends that could count on her to help them any time.
But now after her 60 years of marriage and that full 87 years of life, her light is extinguished, leaving a void in our hearts that will never be completely filled.
Laurie was the daughter of Ernest and Josephine D’Andrea, and had a brother, Ernest (Chubby) D’Andrea, all now deceased. She is survived by her husband Steven; her three children, Andrea, Jonathan, and Elisa; and five grandchildren, Aidan, Lucia and Dominica Moix, as well as Charles and Jack Welles.
There will be a graveside Commitment Service for her at St. Paul Parish Cemetery, Princeton, NJ, at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025. Family and friends are invited immediately afterward to join in a Celebration of her life at her home. Her residence was at 704 Georgetown Franklin Turnpike (Route 518), Skillman, NJ 08558.
Extend condolences and share memories at thekimblefuneralhome.com.
constructive criticism, and motivation to embrace independence to anyone who chose to step through her open door and into her heart.
Our Family grew through mom’s generous spirit — she leaves behind Shirley Jason, and Heather Resslar Yu along with her many circles of friends, her nursing class of 1962, her “up on the hill” friends, her library and book club friends. Ann was super tight with her paternal Collson cousins with whom she maintained lifelong bonds and a love of card playing.
Ann was a staunch humanitarian and was steadfast and expansive in her support of people from all walks of life. Ann was energetic and she loved to swim, dance and cook. Throwing together a meal for 5-25 was never a problem and all were welcome to her table.
Ann Marie Collson Johnson was born in Berkshire, New York, on August 6, 1940 to Eleanor Blanche Chaffee Collson and John Hilton Collson.
Despite being diagnosed with on-set dementia over eight years ago, Laurie continued to live a full life until the very end, dying peacefully with her family around her.
Born and raised in Princeton, she lived over 87 years, and what an 87 years they were. Laurie was no ordinary woman. She was the most strong-willed, adventurous woman you will ever meet. And up for anything her friends could conjure. In her early twenties, because of her infectious laugh and boundless enthusiasm, she counted many Princeton graduate students as friends (and several as would-be-suitors). They sang folk songs together in the basement of the Peacock Inn, skied together (she was a founding member of the Princeton Ski Club), and folk-danced together. Through this dancing, she met a group of Jewish students, who liked her and invited her to work on their farm commune on weekends. This led to an invitation to
She kept their three children on a very short leash, but she had their back at every turn. For instance, when her young son was being bullied by an older boy on his school bus, Laurie, true to form, did not complain to the school or call his parents. One day, she followed the bus to the bully’s stop and confronted him on the bus (she got a thumbs up from the driver as she left). Problem solved. You did not mess with Laurie’s kids.
Laurie was also a feminist before there were feminists, always sticking up for her female friends, not with placards, but in her daily life. Once, when an Air Force sergeant refused to let his immigrant wife drive his prized Pontiac GTO, Laurie taught her how to drive and helped her get a driver’s license. Another time, when an overbearing officer offered his wife a quarter to leave an Air Force outing, Laurie offered her a dollar to stay. And she told a brideto-be in Switzerland that her intended was cheating on her, just days before the wedding. And she didn’t suffer fools gladly, especially men. Once, on a guided tour of the Alabama governor’s mansion, Governor Wallace bragged that he himself fed
August 6, 1940 –January 26, 2025
“A disposition is more valuable than gold.”
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ann Marie Collson Johnson on January 26, 2025.
Ann leaves behind her beloved Husband, Thomas Johnson during their 63rd year of marriage.
Ann leaves behind her three children, Tamber (Stephen) Tosca (Scott), Terence (Sandra), and grandchildren Julia (Yordi), Sadie, Anna, Campbell, Calvin and her recent delight greatgranddaughter Eva.
In addition to being MOM to the 3 Ts she was also “mom” to many others during her life. She was a a terrific sounding board offering unvarnished opinion,
Ann was willfully independent and adored her early farm life with her grandparents. Although Ann was an “only child,” she was never alone. Outgoing from day one, she led an adventurous life in upstate New York surrounded by her Collson cousins. Ann embraced the energy of joining and belonging throughout her life. By the fourth grade her father’s career carried the family to Lakewood, NJ, where Ann completed her high school education. She continued into a five-year nursing program at Hartwick College, graduating in 1962. At this point Ann and Tom had become much more than the fast friends they were upon meeting in the fourth grade. Ann married Tom, her high school sweetheart, in 1962 and traveled west so Tom could attend Art Center College of Design, eventually relocating to Motor City where Tom worked for Ford and Ann focused on raising their young and growing family.
By 1968 Ann and Tom had returned to New Jersey, settling in Hopewell. Ann’s favorite and final home. The kids working their way out of the nest, Ann returned to nursing and eventually started her own medically related business. Both as assistant director of Nursing at New Jersey Neuropsychiatric and at the helm of her company, Insurance Assistance, she continued fearlessly to untangle intractable issues while always keeping her focus on the prize — helping others.
Her disposition did indeed prove more valuable than gold as the riches of her friendships attest.
An educated medical professional Ann faced her prognosis with strength and dignity, mothering us even the morning she left us on January 26, 2025. It is that strength and her steady love that will guide us through our days without her.
Continued on Next Page
Ann Marie Collson Johnson
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Dorothy C. Fullam of Princeton, NJ, and West Brookfield, MA, passed away on June 6 at the age of 92. She was a model of kindness to all she met and was devoted to family and the organizations she supported to persevere the best of the past, make land available for public enjoyment and promoting first generation women attending colleges.
She was born on May 9, 1933 to Dorothy Dane and Harold C. Cochran in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, where her family lived for generations. She attended Warren High School in Warren MA; Pine Manor Junior College in Brookline, MA; and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. She worked at Guaranty Bank of Worcester after college.
In 1968 Dorothy (known as Dotty to everyone) married Walter F. Fullam, whose family also came from West Brookfield. They made their home in Princeton but continued to spend summers in West Brookfield. After his death in 2000, she continued to return to her family home each summer in Massachusetts.
She embraced all things Princeton including: the Historical Society of Princeton, McCarter Theatre, D&R Greenway, Nassau Presbyterian Church, the Nassau Club, Morven, Drumthwacket, and the Woman’s College Club, an organization dedicated to financially supporting young women in college. Through her work with the family, the Cedar Ridge Preserve was established in Hopewell, NJ.
Dotty also kept and grew all her connections to West Brookfield. She was a lifetime member of the First Congregational Church and a member of Old Sturbridge Village for over 70 years, where four generations of her family have worked. She was a member of the Village Council of Ambassadors. This is a job she took seriously and with enthusiasm. She always engaged anyone she met in a discussion about the Village and an invitation to visit. She was also a founding member of the Jedediah Foster Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in West Brookfield. Her support for Lady Doak College, in Maduri, India, stemmed from her connection to Reverend Joseph Gaylord, whose daughter Helen cofounded the college for women in 1948.
Dotty attended decades of Adams Family Reunion Picnics at the Rock House in West Brookfield. As a longterm member of the Trustees of the Reservation, she and Walter established the Rock House Preserve. In addition, she continued to support the East Quabbin Land Trust, which recently established the Little Marshy Meadow pocket park in West Brookfield.
Preceded in death by her husband and stepson, Caleb, she is survived by her stepson W. Ross Fullam and his wife Wendy and stepson Francis A. Fullam and his wife Patricia, as well as five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her cousin, Ralph Cochran, and his family.
We
She left a legacy of kindness to all. She demonstrated this every day and was loved by many for her generous and thoughtful good nature. She kept track and acknowledged the birthdays of hundreds of people. And every kindness to her was acknowledged with a swift and heartfelt thank you note. Family was paramount to her and she remained the center of activities and gatherings. She was a blessing to all who knew her and will be sorely missed.
Funeral arrangements will be under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton. There will be a graveside service at Princeton Cemetery on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. Later this summer there will be a memorial service for her at the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Women’s College Club of Princeton, PO Box 3181, Princeton, NJ 08540. The East Quabbin Land Trust (P.O. Box 5, Hardwick, MA 01037), designated to the Little Marshy Meadow.
Ernest Van Patten
James Ernest Van Patten, 85, of Princeton, NJ, passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
James was a devoted husband to Gillian Sterling, who passed away in 2020, and a loving father, stepfather, grandfather, and mentor to many. Though he was a celebrated painter and influential art educator — known for his hyperrealist work represented by Ivan Karp at OK Harris Gallery in New York and Plus One Gallery in London — those who knew James best will remember him for something far more enduring: the way he showed up for others.
Edward Charles Kopp III
Edward “Ted” Charles Kopp III, 91, passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
He was born in Princeton, NJ, graduated from the Hun School, and attended the University of Richmond, VA.
He was a United States Air Force Veteran who served during the Korean War. He was the past Chief of Princeton Fire Department who served for over 50 years with Mercer Engine No. 3.
He was an avid golfer and member of the Springdale Golf Club for over 40 years.
Ted was a historical novel buff, and loved nature, gardening, and birds.
Predeceased by his parents Edward Charles Kopp Jr. and Miriam Hepler Kopp; he is survived by his children and spouses Stephen and Susan Kopp of Charleston, SC, Cynthia and Jim Meeker of Montgomery, NJ, and Julia and Anthony Santoro of Princeton, NJ; six grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral
Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Princeton Fire Police, 13 Chestnut Street, Princeton NJ 08542.
Ellen Regan Kerney
Ellen Regan Kerney, 89, died at home, in Lawrenceville, May 30, 2005. She was born in Trenton, NJ, June 12, 1935. Her parents were Elsie R. Kerney and James Kerney, Jr. She grew up in Trenton and Princeton. She attended Miss Fine’s School in Princeton. Convent of the Holy Child in Suffern, NY, and Bennett College in Millbrook, NY, and the Sorbonne in Paris. She lived in New York City and traveled extensively, mostly in Europe. She returned to Princeton in 1971. She was an avid tennis player and enjoyed reading and loved her golden retrievers. She is predeceased by her parents and her sister Mary Kerney Levenstein. She is survived by her brothers J. Regan Kerney and T. Lincoln Kerney, both of Lawrenceville; her nieces Cairistin Mills of Greenwich, CT, and Ruth McDaniels of Greenbrae, CA; three great-nieces; and two great-nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Princeton. Arrangements are under the direction of the MatherHodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented
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We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We
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We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
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We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
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We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
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With over 42 years of sobriety, James transformed his life from the inside out. Through his decades in recovery, he became a quiet giant in the AA community — not by preaching or advising, but by listening deeply, sharing openly, and walking beside countless others through their darkest hours. In Princeton, some jokingly called him the “unofficial mayor” because of the sheer number of lives he touched through love, honesty, and presence. His greatest masterpiece wasn’t painted — it was the way he learned to love, fully and without reservation. He wasn’t just a brilliant artist, he was a deeply human, heart-centered man who touched others well beyond canvas and classroom.
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
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James is survived by his sons David and Michael, David’s wife Laurette and their children, Jacquie and Tate; Michael’s wife Christina and their children Ismael and Elisa; and his stepson Daniel Williams and Daniel’s wife Michelle Steffens and their nephew William Beavin. jamesvanpatten.com.
Dorothy C. Fullam
James
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Text (only): (609) 356-9201
Office: (609) 216-7936
Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500
HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:
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Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130 tf
24/7 PROFESSIONAL NURSES AND AIDES
Personal care, nutrition, social activities, support, respite care & family relief. Live-in and live-out in the greater Princeton and other NJ areas.
Personal Home Care of Hillsborough (609) 216-5000 or (908) 306-0985 tf
TK PAINTING: Interior, exterior. Power-washing, wallpaper removal, plaster repair, deck staining. Renovation of kitchen cabinets. Front door & window refinishing. Excellent references. Free estimates. Call (609) 947-3917.
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BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & fine jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613. tf
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!
Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go!
We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
I was a live-in caregiver for a Princeton area family for over two years, looking for a new position. Many years of experience working in NY, NJ & CT. NY State Dept of Health Certified Home Health Aide. Complete references. Please contact Natia: (631) 332-8243. 07-02
WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?
A Gift Subscription! Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND! Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf
HOUSECLEANING: Experienced, English-speaking, great references, reliable with own transportation. Weekly & bi-weekly cleaning. Green cleaning available. Call Susan at (732) 873-3168. 07-30
HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860. tf
The Hidden Danger of Lead Paint in Homes
Lead paint, commonly used in homes built before 1978, poses a serious health risk especially to children and pregnant women. Lead exposure can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, and a range of physical ailments. The danger arises when the paint deteriorates, creating dust or chips that are easily ingested or inhaled.
If you suspect your home contains lead paint, don ’t panic but don’t ignore it. Hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor to confirm its presence. If lead is found, remediation options include encapsulation (sealing it with a special coating), enclosure (covering it with drywall or paneling), or complete removal by professionals. Never attempt removal yourself; improper techniques can increase exposure.
Living safely with lead paint is possible, but awareness and professional handling are key. Prioritize inspection and remediation to protect your household ’s health and ensure your home remains a safe haven.
Introducing: 3870 Princeton Pike Lawrence Township, NJ | $4,250,000
