Local Couple Steps in to Purchase Home of Elaborate
Model Railroad 5
Council Supports NJ Climate Superfund Act 7
Har Sinai Temple Closing its Doors After 168 Years 11
Herman Melville, D H Lawrence, and the Etna Woman 15
Princeton Pro Musica Closes Season with Musical Depiction of Historical Figure 16
PU Men’s Heavyweights Excel at Eastern Sprints, Now Aiming to be in Title Mix at IRA Regatta 25
Sparked by Donahue’s Versatility, Leadership, Hun Boys’ Lax Caps Late Surge with Prep Title 28
Earning and Learning, Local Students Work in Youth Employment Program
Forty-four Princeton teenagers are getting ready to embark on a host of summer jobs, from child care at Princeton Nursery School (PNS) to clerical and administrative positions at area community organizations to a variety of jobs with local government and nonprofits — all under the auspices of the Princeton Human Services Department’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
The Human Services Department pairs these students, from age 14 to 18, with local organizations, Princeton University, and others, and the employers sign up to accept the youths for eight weeks, from July 7 to August 29.
The employers provide their young recruits with work experience, and coach them through the process, ensuring that they understand and meet all work expectations, explained Human Services Director Rhodalynn Jones. “The program has been tremendously successful,” she said, with 70 applications received and a record number of students hired this year.
“The Summer Youth Employment Program is a powerful example of what happens when a community invests in its young people,” said Jones. “Local employers open their doors, and in doing so, help shape the next generation of workers and leaders. It’s a win for our youth and a win for Princeton.”
PNS Executive Director Leanna Jahnke emphasized the value of this program to the student participants and to the organizations where they work. “For us at Princeton Nursery School, SYEP is often a full-circle moment, as several of our SYEP high school employees are former Princeton Nursery School alumni,” she wrote in an email. “SYEP is an opportunity to uplift our alumni and local PHS students by giving real resume-building work experience in addition to mentorship from our teachers and staff.”
She continued, “As a year-round program, it is a win-win experience. Our SYEP interns support the summer experience for students by
Rail Service Resumes as NJ Transit Strike Ceases
As of Tuesday morning, May 20, the three-day strike by NJ Transit engineers had been settled, restoring service to commuters and travelers from Princeton Junction and elsewhere into New York City’s Penn Station.
But the agreement reached Sunday between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and NJ Transit is labeled “tentative.” Terms will be sent to the union’s 450 members for their consideration, according to BLET. Contract language and dollar figures are to be announced to the public after the members have a chance to review.
The agreement also requires a vote by the NJ Transit Board at their next regularly scheduled meeting, which is June 11.
“While I won’t get into the exact details of the deal reached, I will say that the only real issue was wages and we were able to reach an agreement that boosts hourly pay beyond the proposal rejected by our members last month and beyond where we were when NJ Transit’s manager walked away from the table Thursday evening,” said Tom Haas, BLET’s general chairman at NJ Transit, in a statement on
BLET’s website. “We were also able to show management ways to boost engineers’ wages that will help NJT with retention and recruitment, without causing any significant budget issue or requiring a fare increase.”
Since train service has been restored, the supplemental bus service that was operating from Hamilton train station and other locations has been discontinued.
The Northeast Corridor line that serves Princeton Junction runs between Trenton
and New York City.
tion’s third largest
The strike was the first in more than four decades.
Seeking higher wages, the membership of BLET had recently voted down a tentative agreement reached between NJ Transit and the union’s leadership. The two sides met with federal mediators from the National Mediation Board on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, before reaching a deal on Sunday night.
Three Veteran NJ Journalists Reflect on The Decline of Traditional News Media
The times have changed. The internet has usurped the dominance of traditional “legacy” media. The public’s trust in media has declined. The current administration has been attacking the press, targeting reporters, co-opting and suing major news organizations, distorting daily press briefings, threatening PBS and NPR.
But “our mission hasn’t changed,” said John Mooney, founding editor of NJ Spotlight News, who was one of three veteran
journalists leading a May 19 forum on the erosion of traditional media, hosted by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO).
“The way we do our jobs, the way we get information, report on a story, write the story including both sides of the story — all of those basic tools — haven’t changed at all,” said Nancy Solomon, senior reporter for WNYC and founding managing editor of New Jersey Public Radio.
THE WAY IT WAS: Visitors enjoyed an array of activities at the Corn Planting and Gardening event at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township on Saturday. Attendees share what they learned in this week’s Town Talk on page 6.
(Photo by Thomas Hedges)
NJ Transit is the na-
commuter railroad.
Chad Palumbo Stars in
Celebrating our Historic Roots, Celebrating our Historic Roots, in the Heart of Princeton in the Heart of Princeton
Road Closure Notice
The roads listed below in Princeton, New Jersey are scheduled to be closed on the following dates during the Princeton University Reunions weekend:
• Theater Drive, from Alexander Street to Woodlands Way will close at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22nd and remain closed until 12 p.m. Sunday, May 25th.
• Woodlands Way, between Elm Drive and Washington Road, will close at 7 a.m. Thursday, May 22nd and reopen at 12 p.m. Sunday, May 25th.
The roads listed below will begin closing at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 24, and will remain closed until approximately 11 p.m. during the Reunions Fireworks event:
• Faculty Road from Alexander Street to Broadmead
• Stadium Drive from Western Way to Fitzrandolph Road
Scholar Way from Washington Road to Jadwin Gymnasium
• FitzRandolph Road from Faculty Road to Prospect Avenue
• Sweetgum Drive from Faculty Road to Stadium Drive
• Broadmead will be restricted to event traffic only
While not a privately- owned University roadway, Washington Road between Prospect Avenue and U.S. Route 1 will also be closed during the fireworks display. Consequently, no traffic will be permitted between Campus Meadows Drive and Faculty Road.
Through traffic will not be permitted during the closures. A University staff member will be stationed at each road entrance throughout the closing, and local police will assist with the closure on Washington Road. Residents living on affected roadways may encounter detours, but will still be allowed to enter and exit as needed. Please plan your travel accordingly and consider using alternate routes to avoid delays and inconvenience.
As a reminder, the following University roadways are closed due to on-going construction:
• Ivy Lane
Western Way (from Ivy Lane to FitzRandolph Road)
Princeton University periodically closes its private roads for various reasons, including special events and routine maintenance. We understand that these closures may cause inconvenience and aim to minimize any impact or delays by providing advanced notice. Should you have any questions, please contact Robert Adams, Administrative Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety, Princeton University at 609-258-9701 or via email to radams@princeton.edu.
TOWN TOPICS
Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946
DONALD C. STUART, 1946-1981 DAN D. COYLE, 1946-1973 Founding Editors/Publishers Editor/Publisher, 1981-2001
Two Commencements For Rider Graduates
On Saturday, May 17, Rider University held two commencement ceremonies to celebrate the Class of 2025 at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. The ceremony was the 160th in the University’s history, as well as the final one for Rider’s president, Gregory G. Dell’Omo, who is retiring this summer.
At the morning’s graduate and doctoral ceremony, nearly 400 master’s and doctoral degrees were awarded. Choral composer Rosephanye Powell ’87 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music. During the afternoon’s undergraduate ceremony, nearly 800 stu -
dents earned their degrees, while U.S. Sen. Andy Kim received an honorary Doctor of Laws.
Kim, who has served as New Jersey’s senator since 2024, received an honorary Doctor of Laws during the undergraduate ceremony. In his speech to the graduates, he emphasized the need for greater empathy and its critical role in our society.
“It’s not just about what we try to do and accomplish in our lives, but how we treat people along the way,” said Kim, the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate and New Jersey’s first Asian American senator. “As you think of your next steps, I hope you think about what
you want to do for others and how you take on that responsibility.”
A total of 29 states in the U.S. were represented by the Class of 2025, including California, Texas, Maine and Kansas. Of the class’ 769 students, 72 percent hailed from New Jersey. Thirty students, or 4 percent of the total class, were international. Among the 11 countries they represented were China, Italy, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. Reflecting long standing trends in completion of bachelor’s degrees, this year’s class skewed female, who made up 57 percent of all graduates. About four in 10 graduates (41 percent) were underrepresented students.
Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin
Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 21 at Ficus Restaurant, 235 Nassau Street. May 28 at Hinds Plaza.
Food Pantry: Arm in Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, frozen proteins, and quality baked goods as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are available for those in need, and different social services agencies are on site. Mcl.org.
Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library” : Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.
Scholarship Opportunity : The Dr. Esther Wollin Memorial Scholarship Fund is available to Jewish female, full-time students who will be or are already attending Rutgers University and raised by their Jewish mother in a single-parent household in the Princeton Mercer Bucks Community. Eligibility is based on financial need. Submission deadline is June 2. Visit jfcsonline.org or call Joyce at (609) 987-8100.
Election Board Workers Needed : The Mercer County Board of Elections is recruiting new workers, who must be registered Mercer County voters or students 1617 years old. Bilingual residents are especially needed. The pay is $300. Apply at mercercounty.org.
Summer Registration for Community Pool and More : To sign up for pool membership, camp offerings, and summer programs, visit register.communitypass. net/Princeton.
HAPPY GRADUATES: Rider University awarded degrees to nearly 400 students at Trenton’s Cure Arena on May 17.
SAVED BY A SALE: The elaborate model train system at a house in Rocky Hill will remain in place thanks to its purchase by Princeton residents Melyssa and James “Murr” Murray. Murr, right, is familiar to fans of the long-running TV show “Impractical Jokers.”
Local Couple Steps in to Purchase Home of Elaborate Model Railroad
Princeton resident James “Murr” Murray is one of the hosts of the TBS television show Impractical Jokers
But the recent purchase by Murray and his wife, Melyssa, of a house in Rocky Hill that is home to a 5,000-squarefoot model train layout in its basement, is no joke.
The couple stepped in at the eleventh hour, buying the house the night before its previous owner was putting it on the market. What was likely to have been a hard sell — it is the weekly meeting place of the 60-year-old Pacific Southern Railway Club, whose 40 members use the basement to operate their elaborate system of trains, buildings, bridges, mountains, and rivers, and hold annual fundraisers for the public — has been avoided.
Murr started Impractical Jokers , now in its 12th season, with three lifelong friends. They compete to see who can best embarrass the others in public. Several episodes have been filmed in Princeton.
“I came home one day and the crew had painted my entire front lawn pink,” Murr recalled with a laugh. “We had yet to meet the neighbors. Luckily, they took it well. It all grew out a few months later.”
TOPICS Of the Town
The Murrays, who live 10 minutes away, had been looking at warehouse space for Melyssa’s growing company, No. 95 Candles. They also needed room for their charity, the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
“We had read stories about the house in Rocky Hill in The Wall Street Journal, Town Topics, and The Montgomery News,” said Murr, recalling the predicament of the owner, who hoped to sell the house after the passing of her husband, train club CEO Carlton Pate III.
Murr is a train fan who has fond memories of building a model railroad with his father in the basement of the Staten Island house where he grew up. He is clearly awed by the Rocky Hill basement set-up.
“This was one of America’s longest-running model railroad clubs that was running in the basement,” he said. “There are dozens of trains running underneath the tracks that you can’t even see. It represents decades of American history, based on real trains around America. There are fabrication studios, a conductor’s booth. They’re building a new wing. It’s just incredible.”
The fact that the club is a nonprofit, donating all of the proceeds from its annual open houses to the local fire company, also made an impression. The Murrays decided to buy the building.
They have left the basement as is, for the train club to operate, and are using the rest of the house for Melyssa’s business and their Alzheimer’s charity. They are remaining in their Princeton home.
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Melyssa, who is from Philadelphia, is a trained nurse who was set to start a nursing job a week before COVID-19 hit. “We thought it would be over in
Model Railroad
Continued from Preceding Page a week,” Murr said. “So she pivoted, went back to business school, got a master’s degree, and created No. 95 Candles, which took off. She now ships them out around the world, and does a lot of in-person events. As the company grew, it took over larger and larger portions of our home. She needed to expand.”
With the purchase of the Rocky Hill property last month, the house in Princeton feels a lot roomier. The couple met in Manhattan and moved to Princeton “because it was right in the middle, between New York and Philadelphia,” Melyssa said. “We looked at one house and bought it the next day. We love it here.”
Murr recently launched a new website for the train club (pacificsouthern.org), which people can join from anywhere in the world. Every two weeks, they will receive a video that he films in in the basement. All of the operations are nonprofit, he said.
forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.
Question of the Week:
“What did you learn here today?” (Asked Saturday at the Corn Planting and Gardening event at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township) (Photos by Thomas Hedges)
Future plans also include restarting the annual events, which had been put on hold, allowing access to the train layout.
“It’s not only a great cause. In this day and age, the one thing missing is mystery,” Murr said. “Everything about your life is publicly available. But every time you walk downstairs to see the train layout, you’ll see something new. It’s inventive and imaginative.”
The Murrays have joined the club, and were immediately made permanent members. “The club has had some rough times,” Murr said. “But my hope is to secure its future forever. I don’t want them to be in the situation again where their destiny is in others’ hands.”
—Anne Levin
JUNCTION
Jeroen: “We learned that the smaller of the two cows is a milk cow, but not anymore since her calf was born four years ago.”
—Jeroen Werdmölder, Leo Werdmölder, and Laura Wang, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Emily: “In the kitchen they cook the old fashioned way and they try and use as much as they can from the farm itself, like the garden and from their cows and chickens.”
— Emily MacKinnon and Selena Chirinos, Ewing
Gino: “We learned that by holding up a candle behind a chicken egg, you can see the outline of the infant chicken.”
—Sunny Han, Wyatt Huang, Luca Huang, and Gino Huang, Princeton
Tom: “They shell corn for feeding the chickens because they can’t chew it off the cob.”
—Emily Eckart and Tom Luo, Florence
Council Supports NJ Climate Superfund Act,
Demanding Oil Companies Pay Their Share
Princeton Council voted unanimously last week to support the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, a bill currently pending in the state legislature that would hold major fossil fuel companies financially responsible for expenses resulting from climate change.
Princeton is one of 33 municipalities that had supported the resolution as of Monday, May 19. Two states, Vermont and New York, have passed similar resolutions, and supporters of the proposal are seeking to make New Jersey the third.
The bill calls for “responsible parties,” large fossil fuel companies that are responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 1944, to be held liable for costs of funding “climate change adaptation and resilience projects instead of placing the burden on New Jersey taxpayers.”
The state treasurer would be authorized to determine the cost of these greenhouse emissions — on public health, natural resources, biodiversity, agriculture, economic development, flood preparedness and safety, and housing.
A Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program would be established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to collect payment from responsible parties and to disburse those funds for “climate change adaptation and resilience projects.”
Princeton Councilman Brian McDonald, who is the Council liaison to the Princeton Environmental Commission, noted that such a cost recovery program could be a potential source of funding for a number of Princeton’s priorities, including climate resilience initiatives, tree replacement and maintenance, and more.
“We have to do a better job managing stormwater, and this is a potential future source of funding for some of the infrastructure needs associated with increased volumes of stormwater,” he said. “Also, in heavy storms, we can lose trees in the public right-of-way, and this might be a source of funds to replace storm-damaged and storm-felled trees.”
Any New Jersey municipality in need of climate adaptation and resilience
would be able to apply for funds raised by the proposed bill, according to the Resolution, which points out that the state has experienced deaths and billions of dollars in losses from storms, like Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021, linked to climate change.
From 1980-2024, there were 74 confirmed weather/climate disaster events in New Jersey, with losses exceeding $1 billion each, according to the Resolution, which adds, “These costs do not include many others associated with climate change.”
The Resolution goes on to cite numerous effects of climate change on New Jersey municipalities, also pointing out that extreme climate events cost the U.S. $150 billion each year, according to a 2023 report, excluding costs related to loss of life, health care, and ecosystem damage.
The Resolution further notes that for more than 50 years fossil fuel companies have known about the direct connection between fossil fuels and global warming and “chose to deceive the public about climate science, downplay and distort the evidence of climate change, engage in a decades-long campaign against climate action, fund counterfeit science, and manufacture uncertainty with no scientific basis.”
The Resolution adds that the top 25 fossil fuel companies “have continually earned enormous profits and have the ability to pay for their share in damages and remain extremely profitable.”
McDonald stated that Princeton Council “believes that this is a good thing and encourages the state Assembly, Senate, and government to take action and pass it.” He added that the bill has “the strong support of most, if not all, of the Democratic candidates for governor.”
At a recent gubernatorial debate sponsored by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), Princeton Council President Mia Sacks, who was moderating the proceedings, asked the Democratic candidates if they would support the NJ Climate Superfund Act. The four candidates who were present, Ras Baraka, Stephen Fulop, Sean Spiller, and Steve Sweeney, all said “yes.”
—Donald Gilpin
Durham Boat Project
At Washington Crossing
To honor America’s 250th anniversary, the Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) and the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) have partnered to construct a full-scale, 40-foot replica of a Durham boat — the same type of vessel General George Washington and his troops used to cross the icy Delaware River on December 25, 1776.
The project will feature public programs and handson experiences leading up to the 2026 unveiling of the replica boat — an interactive centerpiece for Washington Crossing Historic Park’s tours, events, and educational programs.
“This project brings the bold spirit of Washington’s crossing to life in an unforgettable way,” said Jennifer Martin, executive director of Friends of Washington Crossing Park. “By combining historic craftsmanship with immersive interpretation, we’re not only honoring the past — we’re creating new opportunities for visitors of all ages to connect with the story of the American Revolution.”
This initiative, known as The Durham Boat Project, began this month and culminates in May 2026 with the launch and unveiling of the completed boat at Washington Crossing Historic Park’s Durham Boat Barn in Bucks County.
“The Seaport Boat Shop at Independence Seaport Museum is excited to partner with Friends of Washington Crossing Park to replicate the 40’ Durham boat in celebration of the country’s Semiquincentennial,” said Dave Dormond, director of the Seaport Boat Shop and Waterfront Operations. “This vessel symbolizes not only the effort and determination of those who fought for independence but also the skills and craftsmanship of local shipwrights who strived to build a stronger and more prosperous Philadelphia through its connection to the Delaware River.”
The replica boat will be built at ISM’s Seaport Boat Shop in Philadelphia using traditional materials and techniques wherever possible. In the spirit of public history and community involvement, the museum will host monthly Table Saw Talks, offering behindthe-scenes insight into the craftsmanship of wooden boatbuilding. These events will continue on the second Sunday of each month through May 2026.
The completed Durham boat will be permanently installed along a new interpretive trail at Washington Crossing Historic Park, designed in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and 106 Group, leaders in cultural heritage planning. This hands-on, ADAaccessible exhibit will allow visitors to climb aboard the boat and immerse themselves in the story of the soldiers who crossed the Delaware in a bold bid for American independence.
Once in place, the replica will become a dynamic centerpiece of the park’s interpretive programming, including field trips, reenactments, and guided tours. It will serve as a key element
COLLABORATIVE PROJECT: A replica of the boat that George Washington and his troops used to cross the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1776, is being built by Friends of Washington Crossing Park and the Independence Seaport Museum. Public programs will be held monthly leading up to America’s 250th anniversary next year.
of the Park’s Colonial Days and new Rescuing the Revolution field trip program, presented in partnership with Americana Corner’s Preserving America initiative. Each year, more than 10,000 schoolchildren will have the opportunity to engage directly with the boat, don period clothing, and participate in activities that bring Revolutionary history to life. Throughout the yearlong construction process, FWCP and ISM will also host pop-up events at key milestones, allowing visitors to lend a hand and contribute to this historic build.
On May 31 from 6-10 p.m., the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) puts a new twist on its annual Night Under the
Stars event, which celebrates the outdoor farm experience. Keeping with the “boots and blue jeans” theme, the fundraiser is a festival of local food, drink, and talent, all in the historic setting of Updike Farmstead.
The evening begins with craft cocktails and food courtesy of Venue 104.
The Dragonfly Band will entertain with party-rock and dance music in the Wojciechowicz Barn and the surrounding property. This year, the night features an interactive game of “Whodunnit?”
“We are excited to bring people together to celebrate all that Princeton and HSP has to offer,” said Kristen Lombardo, manager of operations at the HSP.
“This year, we’re especially
thrilled to introduce a mystery element to the event, giving guests the chance to work together to solve a crime. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new guests.”
Baxter Construction, Charles Schwab, Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty, PNC Private Bank, Hamilton Jewelers, Glenmede Trust, and McCaffrey’s Markets are all major event sponsors. Net proceeds support the Society’s mission of history education, provided via stewardship of historical collections, exhibitions, public programs, and co-curricular support for schools in the Princeton community and beyond. Guests must be 21 and over. Visit princetonhistory. org or call (609) 921-6748 for tickets.
A non profit organization that fosters strong and healthy young people of all identities by providing inclusive and youth-informed sex education and LGBTQ+ support for young people throughout New Jersey. They are committed to creating a lasting, positive impact on youth, their families, and communities – enabling young people to THRIVE.
Historical Society of Princeton Plans “Mystery Under the Stars”
Earning and Learning
continued from page one serving as classroom assistants and chaperones during our ice cream parlor hops, walking trips to Princeton Public Library, and our summer swim days at Community Park Pool.”
The SYEP workers earn $14.53 per hour, totaling more than $2,500 for the summer. Training for job readiness and career development, resume writing, practicing interviewing, and a job fair are all part of the program. And Send Hunger Packing Princeton provides the student workers with free meals throughout the eight weeks.
“It’s so beautiful to see these kids so dedicated to wanting better for themselves,” Jones added. “Many of them are from low income families — to be eligible for the program families cannot exceed 400 percent of the federally stipulated poverty line for 2024 — and this gives them that little leg up. It’s a wonderful thing.”
She noted that many of the students in the program in previous years remained successfully employed after the summer program ended, working their way up in the organizations.
During the school year, Princeton Human Services oversees a range of additional youth development programs. Under the category of early prevention programs for middle school students is Academic Success Today, providing academic and social support as well as positive role models for students; and Super Teens Acting Responsibly (for middle school girls to discuss important topics like wellness, bullying, peer relationships, and substance abuse.
Human Services’ offerings in the Outreach category include the Advocacy for Youth Program designed to equip ninth and 10th grade students with the tools they need for a successful transition to high school, and the World of Work for Youth and Princeton Youth Project programs designed to be gender-responsive to support the needs of high school students by providing job skills training, leadership workshops, tutoring, SAT prep, college tours, and individual guidance.
Three Human Services programs in the Leadership category are the Princeton Student Board, Teen Advisory Group (TAG), and Growing Up Accepted as an Individual in America.
AMERICAN FURNITURE EXCHANGE
The PSB members, high school seniors, work together to create fun, drugfree events for their peers. As part of their commitment to civic engagement, select PSB students also join the board of the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance.
TAG students work with a skilled program facilitator, meeting for weekly educational sessions on important topics that affect their lives.
TAG students create presentations for fifth and eighth grade students on the risks associated with alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
GAIA high school students meet each week to develop workshops and presentations on inclusion, diversity, bullying, and other important topics, which they present to second and seventh grade students, with an overarching goal of promoting peace, stopping hate, and combating bullying.
For more information, visit princetonnj. gov/1490/Princeton-YouthDevelopment-Programs.
—Donald Gilpin
Rider Furniture
Journalists Reflect
continued from page one
The third panelist, awardwinning New Jersey political columnist Charlie Stile, agreed. “The fundamental issue is still there, explaining to people what they can’t see for themselves, sometimes exposing, when you can, the malfeasance and corruption that undermines the political process, the democratic process, and the faith people have in government,” he said.
The Monday evening forum, held at the Center for Modern Aging Princeton on Poor Farm Road, drew more than 50 people, many with questions and comments to contribute to the 80-minute discussion.
In his introductory remarks, PCDO President Jeff Oakman warned about “the dangers to the free press and free expression in this country,” emphasizing, “particularly in an election year, it couldn’t be more important to have accurate, objective information that people can use to understand what’s happening in the state and in the country.”
In welcoming the three speakers PCDO Programming Chair Jean Durbin noted, “We read your words. We listen to your words. You help us think and explain the events happening in our lives.”
The three journalists talked about their early days in the field and what it was that inspired them to devote their lives to this challenging career.
Stile recalled growing up by the Jersey Shore “in a
home that was consumed by news,” where his father would make him run downtown in Cape May to get The New York Times. “I’d bring it back and we’d read it religiously, and argue over it religiously. The news was always in the atmosphere as part of our lives, part of our discussion.”
He went to The College of New Jersey, planning to become a teacher, but visited the college newspaper one day and his future career was determined. “At least in my household, the news was all-consuming,” he said. “It was guidance. It was power. Once I dropped in on the newspaper, I didn’t want to do anything else. That’s how I got started.”
Stile started his professional career as a cub reporter covering the municipal government in Ocean City. “The Zoning Board, I didn’t even know what zoning was,” he said.
Stile, who now writes two widely read columns per week on a variety of state political issues, has written for The Princeton Packet, The Times of Trenton, and The Record over the past 40 years.
Solomon grew up reading newspapers and watching TV news every day. After high school she went to Portland, Ore., and went to work as the first woman on the local road crew. When she got promoted to the municipal sewage department she was required to come in to work a half hour early, and she would sit with her colleagues and read the paper each morning.
She often got into arguments with the men she
was working with over what they were reading in the paper. “I could see the influence the newspaper had over what they thought about, and I became more and more interested in becoming the person who was writing those articles,” she said. “Eventually I decided to give it a try, so I went to college, and I wasn’t sure I could write, but I could, and that was the beginning of becoming a journalist.”
Her first professional news job was working for a small northern California paper, where she wrote three or four stories every day, took photographs which she developed and printed, then laid out the women’s page.
Solomon has produced more than 100 stories for NPR. She also hosts “Ask Governor Murphy,” a monthly call-in show, where she recaps her conversations with the New Jersey governor on a variety of timely topics.
Mooney, whose father was a New York Times reporter and editor, was not interested in journalism until he went to college, and heard that the college newspaper was looking for writers, and decided he should start building his resume in hopes of getting a job after graduation. His first story assignment was about four plants that had been stolen from the science laboratory.
“That was my first crime story,” he said, “So I wrote the story, and two of the four plants were returned. Talk about influence. I can change the world, one plant at a time. That spurred my interest.”
Around the same time,
the Watergate scandal was happening. “Watching this go on and seeing the role of the Washington Post, and watching the movie with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford — I wanted to be one of them. I saw the noble cause of journalism, and it dawned on me: that’s what my father has been doing for the past 20 years.”
Mooney described starting at a small weekly paper, then moving up the ladder to the Bergen Record, then the Newark Star Ledger before starting Spotlight in 2010.
All three journalists agreed that though many of the fundamentals of their work have endured, many aspects have changed.
“The nationalization of politics has changed things and is affecting the way we cover the governor’s race,” said Stile. “This isn’t going to be about New Jersey Transit. It’s not going to be about the school funding formula. The main issue is: Are you for or against Trump? Are you a Trump partisan or are you going to fight Trump? The New Jersey governor is the most powerful chief executive governor in the country, and that is how that person is going to be selected. It’s a shame. There are so many important issues that need to be addressed.”
Solomon described a new political environment of “tribalism,” with the three New Jersey Republican congressmen — Jeff Van Drew, Chris Smith, and Thomas Kean Jr. — refusing to speak with her. “I can’t get their attention. They will not respond to what they
see as liberal media. How am I going to cover you and be fair to you if I can’t come to your events, and I can’t cover your campaign speeches?” she asked.
Stile described ”a brand new dimension” of hostile partisanship in a recent confrontation with Jack Ciattarelli, current Republican frontrunner in the upcoming gubernatorial primary. “Even Chris Christie would answer the questions. If he was pissed off, he’d let you know, but he answered the question. This is different.”
Along with the somewhat gloomy commentary on a decline in the traditional press and resulting negative effects on democracy, there were many bright spots during the course of the evening’s discussion — “a bit of hope tonight about what we see happening,” as Durbin requested in her introductory remarks.
Solomon noted a “dedicated listenership that supports what we’re doing” and a doubling of contributions to NPR in a recent fundraising campaign. All three panelists expressed admiration for the rising generation of young journalists, and they noted the abundance of new tools and information sources that journalists today have access to.
“You want to be part of making your town and the world a better place,” said Solomon in reflecting on her career. “You see things that are wrong that you want to change. Journalism is a great way to engage with those ideas and do that work, and hopefully you can have some influence.”
—Donald Gilpin
“Pride on the Plaza” Dance Party June 6
“Pride on the Plaza,” a community disco dance party featuring live music, will be held Friday, June 6, from 7-10 p.m. on Hinds Plaza to kick off Pride Month in Princeton.
The event is the fifth annual celebration of LGBTQ Pride by the library and its community partners, and the first to be presented in this format. As the organizers approached the fifth year of planning the Princeton Community Pride Picnic, which has been held at a different venue each year since it began during the pandemic, it was decided to reimagine the event and make Hinds Plaza its permanent home.
“Pride on the Plaza,” an all-ages event, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the disco era and features music by the EAMC Disco Funk Machine. Attendees are encouraged to wear clothing inspired by the era. The event will also feature an appearance by drag artist Divinity Banks who will host a contest for best outfit in three categories: pride, disco era and disco/pride mashup.
“Pride on the Plaza” is copresented by the library, the Municipality of Princeton, the Arts Council of Princeton, McCarter Theatre Center, HiTops and Princeton University’s Gender + Sexuality Resource Center.
In the event of rain, “Pride on the Plaza” will be moved to the Community Room.
Tell them you saw their ad in
“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a fair and fiscally responsible contract settlement that provides a generous wage increase for BLET members while saving taxpayers and customers the burden of fare increases,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement following the decision. “This agreement reflects the commitment of both the BLET and NJ Transit to remain at the table engaging in productive conversations, and I commend them both. Most importantly, it ensures the resumption of rail service for the 100,000 people who depend on our rail system on a daily basis.”
Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit president and CEO, thanked customers for their patience and said it was important that the deal did not involve raising fares.
Rider University Board Names New President
The Rider University Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed John R. Loyack as the institution’s next president after a comprehensive, national search. Loyack, a leader in both higher education and the corporate sector, will assume the presidency this summer following the retirement of Gregory G. Dell’Omo, the university’s president since 2015.
ability to navigate complexity, inspire community and champion innovation will guide Rider forward, ensuring its ability to thrive.”
Loyack most recently served as president of Alvernia University in Reading, Pa, from 2019 to 2024, where he led a universitywide transformation, expanded the university’s regional footprint, launched new academic programs in high-demand fields and led a $60 million fundraising campaign, the most successful in the institution’s history. Under his leadership, Alvernia achieved its first top national ranking and saw record-setting incoming student enrollment. His profound belief in the transformative power of a college education led to the development of increased experiential learning opportunities for students and new community partnerships.
“I appreciate the BLET leadership’s collaboration at the bargaining table and continuing to negotiate in good faith to get to an agreement,” he said. “I also want to recognize the thousands of NJ Transit employees who stepped up during this time to support our customers and minimize the impacts to the greatest extent possible.”
—Anne Levin
“John Loyack is a transformative, mission-driven leader with a record of innovation, strategic growth and unwavering dedication to student success, making him the ideal choice to lead Rider into its next chapter,” said Joan C. Mazzotti ’72, chair of the Rider University Board of Trustees. “As higher education is facing profound challenges today, we believe that his proven
“I am deeply honored to be joining the Rider University family,” said Loyack. “Rider has a strong legacy of educational excellence, engaged student learning, and regional impact. I look forward to working collaboratively with the University’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Board of Trustees to advance that legacy and shape an even more vibrant and successful future.”
Prior to his tenure at Alvernia, Loyack served as executive vice president for business and administration at King’s College in WilkesBarre, Pa. In that role, he successfully implemented financial and strategic reforms that returned the institution to solvency. He also took essential steps to grow
the institution by developing new academic programs and catalyzing urban redevelopment in Wilkes-Barre that expanded the college’s positive impact and footprint in the community.
Loyack’s professional background also includes more than 15 years of executive experience in the energy, manufacturing and nonprofit sectors, consistently driving growth and operational excellence.
A native of Pittston, Pa., Loyack holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from King’s College and an MBA from Lehigh University. He is a certified public accountant and an advocate for community engagement, having served on numerous nonprofit and educational boards throughout his career. Rider University will host a series of welcome events and listening sessions in the months ahead as part of the presidential transition. Loyack will officially assume office on July 7.
Farmers Market Reopens At Princeton Junction
The West Windsor Community Farmers Market is open for the season, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Thanksgiving. More than 50 local farms and vendors will be on site, rain or shine.
New are various New Jersey brewers, distillers, and hard cider makers; potters, and woodworkers. The weekly knife/blade/tool sharpener will be on hand. New farms and vendors include Kafe Ojala, Living Smart Granola, Nutty Novelties, and The Salt & Savor Apothecary.
Among the returning vendors are Jeff’s Organic Produce, Jammin’ Crepes, Gorgeous Goat Creamery, LoRe Pasta, Catalina Empanadas, Bebe’s All Natural, Pineapple Pink, Stefan’s Pure Blend, and Tico’s Juice Truck. Other offerings include sustainably caught seafood, pastured eggs, freshly milled oats and flours, pickles, sauces, jams, cheese, sourdough breads and pastries, cookies and baked goods, pastured meats and poultry, glutenfree and vegan savory and sweets, hot sauces, Lebanese salads, and much more.
The market was organized entirely by community members in 2004 to connect consumers directly to the people who produce their food. The overall market accepts and doubles SNAP up to $25/card per day toward fruits and vegetables.
Entrance to the market is at 877 Alexander Road, West Windsor. Visit wwcfm. org for a complete roster.
New Hope Fireworks And Drone Shows
The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce and Visit New Hope have announced the return of New Hope Summer Series, Fireworks and Drone Show. Shows began May 16 and will continue on June 6, July 11, August 1 and September 5. Each date will include a fireworks and drone show, plus the family-friendly block party with music and local vendors. Festivities will include local artists and crafters, live art with New Hope Arts, live music, food from Italian Cucina, and more.
The outdoor block party will shut down and take place on Stockton Avenue (between Bridge and Ferry streets) from 5-9 p.m. Stockton Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic between Bridge and Ferry Streets starting at 2 p.m. and open only to pedestrians.
“This year’s New Hope Summer Series, Fireworks and Drone Show is all about creating an immersive and memorable experience for locals and visitors alike,” said President of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce Michael Sklar. “We’re proud to celebrate summer in such a special way. Last year, the response to the fireworks was truly amazing and the drone show let us elevate our game. This year, our volunteers worked for months to raise money to add the season-long drone show and we are very excited about it. We have been getting calls for months asking if the program will continue. It is a win-win for our small businesses and merchants — and a win-win for tourism for Visit New Hope and Bucks County.” New Hope Summer Series, Fireworks and Drone Show is one of the town’s signature programs that started in 2023 and has expanded in 2024. The program aims to spotlight New Hope, Pa., as a top tourist destination and is designed to bring in visitors to the town on weekends from May to September. Visit newhopecelebrates. com for more information.
Think Global Buy Local
John Loyack
Har Sinai Temple Closing its Doors After 168 Years in Local Jewish Community
In the past two decades, one out of five Reform synagogues in America has closed its doors. Soon to join the list is Har Sinai Temple, which was founded in Trenton in 1857 and moved to Pennington nearly two decades ago.
Changes in demographics are generally credited for this spiritual shift. While the closing of Har Sinai marks the end of an era for the local Jewish community, it has presented an opportunity for reflection, said Rabbi Jordan Goldson, who has led the congregation for the last five years.
“People have very fond memories of those times in Trenton,” Goldson said.
“At our service [last] Friday night, we went around the sanctuary, and heard from people who had been members for 70 years. There was another century of history prior to that. So, on the one hand, people feel there is this long, long history, and it’s sad that it can’t continue. But people also realize that things change. Even the ancient temple in Jerusalem is no longer around, and that was a pretty vibrant place.”
The closing also presents an opportunity for renewal. Har Sinai is donating its Torah scrolls to congregations across the globe, from East Windsor to Taiwan.
“One of our Torahs is going to stay locally, at Beth Chaim in East Windsor, because theirs is in disrepair,” Goldson said. “The other four are going to Asia and
Europe. That is part of the inspiring story. We’re part of a world Jewish community.”
One of the scrolls is going to a congregation in Israel that started two years ago. “It’s mostly Ukrainian and Russian refugees, and they’re now ready to have a Torah,” Goldson said. “They just left Eastern Europe, which is where most of our ancestors came from. So it’s full circle, from Europe to us and back.”
Additional Torahs will be sent to congregations in Spain, Portugal, and Taiwan.
“The last one is going to a congregation that started up and is now vibrant in Taipei, Taiwan,” Goldson said.
“Some of the congregants are ex-pats, and some have been living in these places for 25 years. There are also local people who have been exploring Judaism. We’re helping these emerging communities bring Judaism to new places. And people are inspired that we’re able to do that.”
Har Sinai began in 1857 when the Har Sinai Cemetery Association was formed, first at a tract at the corner of Liberty and Vroom streets in Trenton. The first permanent home was a little brick chapel, purchased from Lutherans, on the west side of North Montgomery Street according to a history of the temple.
By 1929, the congregation was in its longtime home on Bellevue Avenue, designed by architect and member Louis S. Kaplan, who would
go on to design the War Memorial auditorium a year later. Har Sinai remained at the Bellevue location until 2006, and was the only Reform congregation in Mercer County.
Goldson cites different factors for the closing. Larger synagogues are growing, while smaller ones are shrinking, especially in terms of young people.
“It depends on where a congregation is in its life cycle, for one thing. I think people are moving to be closer to bigger populations,” he said. “I think younger families are looking for places that have more programs. For that, you need more people and more resources. Our congregation had shrunk, with very few under the age of 50. Also, people who would have stayed home, or in the area, until they passed away, are moving to where their kids are. So we’re losing members that way.”
Members of Har Sinai come from as far north as Belle Mead, and as far south as Levittown, Pa. They are dispersing, joining other congregations.
“There is sadness,” Goldson said. “But on Friday night, my message to the congregation was that we have been a force for good in the time we’ve been here. We’ve produced rabbis and cantors, and have done a lot in the community, and they’ve been a part of that. Now, they need to go forth. It’s not the end. It’s the beginning of a story somewhere else.”
—Anne Levin
Community Foundation Awards Grants to Local Nonprofits
The Princeton Area Community Foundation is awarding $487,500 in 2025 Summer Initiative grants to 21 local nonprofits for camps and programs that help prevent learning loss and provide affordable childcare for working families.
These grants mark the third year in a row that the Community Foundation has helped fund these initiatives, which feature a combination of academic lessons, focused on reading and math, and fun activities, such as sports, swimming, arts and crafts and field trips. Many of the programs offer meals and transportation for young people.
The Summer Initiative grants were awarded through the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grants Fund, which thrives thanks to the philanthropic support of many individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners, including Johnson & Johnson. This year, community philanthropists also answered a call to donate additional funds to the initiative, with particularly generous contributions from several longtime supporters.
“We have terrific nonprofits in our region whose staffs work tirelessly to ensure that children get academic support over the summer and working parents have childcare when school is out of session,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation president and CEO. “We’re able to help fund these wonderful summer programs because of generous donors in our community, and we’d like to thank everyone who contributed to our grants program.”
Among the organizations awarded grants are the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, Capital Harmony Works, Greater Somerset County YMCA (Princeton), HomeFront, HomeWorks Trenton, Mercer Street Friends, Princeton-Blairstown Center, Princeton Community Housing, Princeton Public Library Foundation, RISE, Trenton Circus Squad, UrbanPromise Trenton, and the YWCA of Princeton.
Police Blotter
On May 10, at 1:26 p.m., patrol officers were dispatched to a State Road business after receiving a report of a male, estimated to be in his 30s to 40s, wearing a white hat, a large black jacket, gray pants, and black and white shoes. The individual was accused of shoplifting two razors and one package of Nicorette gum, with a total value of $198.97. Officers have identified a possible suspect and the investigation is continuing.
On May 7, at 12:08 p.m., a Mulberry Row individual
reported that a former coworker stole his vehicle. The person reported that he allowed the coworker, a 43-year-old male from Piscataway, to borrow his $40,000 car approximately two months ago but had not heard from him since. The coworker was later arrested by the Edison Police Department and subsequently transferred to Princeton. He was processed at police headquarters and charged with motor vehicle theft before being transported to the Mercer County Correctional Facility.
On May 6, at 9:03 p.m., a person at a construction company reported that scaffolding that belongs to his business was stolen from a residence on Prospect Avenue. The person reported a monetary loss of $6,000. There are no suspects at this time.
On May 6, at 3:32 p.m., a Stanworth Lane resident reported that, sometime between January 1 and May 6, an unknown person or persons stole her jewelry, valued at $1,550, from her apartment. There are no suspects at this time. Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released.
The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.
Responding to Rebuttal of Advertisement Placed by Ad Hoc Committee of Historians
To the Editor:
As Dan Chamby’s rebuttal to “Historians in Defense of Historic Princeton,” rehashes some of the flimsiest arguments favoring the massive luxury project proposed for the former Tennent-Roberts site [“Writing Rebuttal to Message in Advertisement Placed by Ad Hoc Committee of Historians,” Mailbox, May 14”], I’m delighted, as one of the historians he upbraids, to respond.
His letter calls the severe shortage of affordable housing in Princeton a threat to our democratic heritage. Absolutely correct. Yet the project he supports provides the absolute minimum of affordable housing, 20 percent of all units.
An alternative plan presented to the Municipality offers 100 percent affordable housing, with less density but more affordable units than the proposed complex. The affordable units in the complex revert to market price in 30 years; the alternative offers affordable unit residents a pathway to home ownership.
The alternative plan attacks the affordability crisis head on and promises to welcome scores of lower-income families into historic Princeton as they deserve, as neighbors and friends. The proposed project with its close to 200 luxury — yes, luxury — units will worsen the very inequalities the rebuttal purports to deplore.
Yet the Municipality has summarily rejected the alternative proposal while handing the current developer a $40 million PILOT, shifting the extra tax burden onto hardpressed homeowners.
Let’s face it: the proposed project is an extremely dense high-end complex being disguised as a noble advance for social justice to win public favor. We’re supposed to believe that the surest way to build more affordable housing and combat inequality is to build four times as much luxury housing! And on a massive scale! This double-talk shamelessly exploits the great cause the rebuttal claims to uphold, while it hoodwinks Princetonians of goodwill.
The rebuttal charges us historians with fearmongering about “destructive” effects in historic Princeton. The project, it claims, will be “additive,” an enhancement. But one of those additions is a 261-vehicle underground garage that threatens to cause severe flooding to vulnerable historic homes and sites. I’d call that destructive. Another addition is the project’s vehicle entrance and exit on hazardous, traffic-heavy Route 206, a federal highway, the potential havoc spilling into an 18th-century street. Still another is a complex built atop a hill that will loom like the Bastille over historic homes and sites at the bottom of the hill, including Albert Einstein’s former residence. How is any of this (and much more), in the rebuttal’s word, “palliative?”
The rebuttal spares us the ballyhooed “walkable” features of the project, hyped elsewhere as if hundreds of new
residents won’t need to drive to shop for groceries, see a doctor, purchase hardware and household supplies, and more, exacerbating an already nightmarish traffic problem.
Unfortunately, the rebuttal’s conclusion insinuates that we historians, ignoring Princeton’s history of residential segregation, may be racially motivated. It’s the tired old, discredited NIMBY smear jacked up a bit.
Can’t we talk about repudiating and correcting that oppressive racist history in more direct, creative, and even radical ways, using all our Princeton brains and imagination, instead of falling for the cloaked designs of regressive profit-driven luxury development?
SEAN WILENTZ
Edgehill Street
Hoping to See Vision Zero Initiative in Action Where It Counts — where the Rubber Meets the Road
To the Editor:
Seconding the letter of appreciation for Stuart Mitchner by Marilyn Aronberg Lavin [“Writing in Praise of Stuart Mitchner’s Weekly Book Review in Town Topics,” Mailbox, May 7], and with May being Bike Month, I’m inspired to pay homage by writing in his style — at times reminiscent of a jazz improvisation.
I’ll riff on a theme offered by Buzz Stenn’s recent letter about traffic and pedestrian/bicycle safety [“Noting That Pedestrian-Vehicular Safety Depends on Appreciation for Sensitivities of All Involved,” Mailbox April 23], and his earlier suggestion to enhance crosswalk visibility by using chartreuse instead of white for zebra stripes [Mailbox, Aug 7, 2019].
Until then, I’d only thought of chartreuse in the context of a spectacular national park in the French Alps near Grenoble. There, a monastery gave rise to the legendary liqueur known as an “elixir for long life” — though perhaps the true elixir is the monks’ habit of brisk daily walks. None of the monks, to my knowledge, are named Felonious — the disillusioned protagonist of Steely Dan’s “Midnite Cruiser,” whose dreams of a better future, perhaps including well-lit, pothole-free streets, seem to recede year after year.
I pictured a teenage Donald Fagen taking piano lessons at Westminster Choir College or maybe auditing a jazz theory class at Princeton Adult School. Are there any good album covers featuring crosswalks besides the Beatles’ Abbey Road ? Is it good or bad that I can still recall my first conspiracy theory — “Paul is dead”? And what of the eternal riddle: was the chicken crossing the road simply playing chicken with an oncoming car?
Looping back to Buzz Stenn’s main point — he identified “four mutually antagonistic actors” contributing to declining pedestrian safety. His letter echoed the old “Watch out for the other guy” slogan and added, “Be considerate of him.” But he left out a fifth, uncomfortable truth: public policy failure.
Take “car bloat,” for example — reckless U.S. policies have enabled the trend toward ever-larger vehicles. Heavier cars and trucks inflict more severe injuries on pedestrians and cyclists, kick up more particulate pollution from tires and brakes, and degrade roads faster. They’re a win for
Get ready to ride! Get Ready to Ride!
We are celebrating National Bike Month! FOR THE 20TH YEAR, five times in May we will wait at a randomly chosen Princeton street corner to give the first 6 bicyclists who ride by
$60 in gift cards from local businesses. Participating businesses include:
Whole Earth Center • bent spoon • small world coffee • Labyrinth Books
Nassau Street Seafood • Blue Point Grill • Witherspoon Grill • Kristine’s
Mediterra • Eno Terra • Teresa Caffe • Terra Momo Bread Company
Yankee Doodle Tap Room • Nassau Inn • Miya Table & Home
Meeting House • Triumph Brewing • Orvana • McCarter Theatre
Homestead Princeton • Princeton Tour Company
Tipple & Rose • Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar
Princeton Soup & Sandwich • Olives
Jammin’ Crepes • Hinkson’s • LiLLiPiES
Princeton Record Exchange
Olsson’s Fine Foods • jaZams
Princeton Recreation Department
Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop
automakers, a loss for everyone else.
Then there’s Vision Zero — a data-driven initiative with the admirable goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries. A decade ago, I gave a presentation to Princeton Future and mentioned that New York City had adopted Vision Zero. An emeritus engineering professor in the audience scoffed at the idea that lower speed limits would ever be tolerated — or enforced.
But speed matters. Policymakers and engineers are supposed to prioritize safety over speed. That’s why groups like Walk Bike Princeton are watching the redesign of the Harrison Street corridor, especially with added traffic from the new Alice and Avalon apartments.
If you’re looking for Vision Zero in action, you might find it on a municipal website or at a planning seminar. But the real hope is to see it where it counts — where the rubber meets the road.
STEVE KRUSE Cedar Lane
Proposed High Rise Development Project at Stockton Street Needs a Substantial Rethink
To the Editor:
I am a 20+ year resident of Princeton. I am very sympathetic with recent Town Topics letters advocating for the retention and enhancement of the historic character of our lovely town. The economics of this Stockton Street development “deal” suggest long-term problems for all town residents which should be equally considered. As I understand it, the Princeton Municipal government has agreed to provide a substantial “gift” to the developer in the form of a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), which is usually offered to develop challenged or blighted areas offering long-term tax reductions and forgiveness. There are many ways to calculate the long-term impact on the town, but importantly, according to the town’s numbers, the PILOT offers a huge tax break of $30 million (see the town’s memorandum posted online and dated December 6, 2024). Over the last five years, average rent inflation has significantly exceeded 4 percent. If we use a more modest number averaging the last 10 years of 3.8 percent rent inflation (tradingeconomics.com/united-states/rent-inflation), the value of the tax break is even higher at roughly $40 million. This massive gift and the PILOT program will lead to two key problems: 1) School Funding: Not one penny of tax revenue appears to be committed to schools in this proposal despite the 238 rental units bringing many new learners into our great but crowded school system; and 2) Over time this “‘gift” to the developers and the shortfall in tax revenue to the school system will lead to all taxpayers making up the difference in this and other areas of municipal spend.
For comparison, Avalon Princeton, the 280-unit development on Witherspoon Street, would appear to demonstrate clearly that no subsidies are needed for a rental development like this. To make things even clearer, the proposed rental rates of the new Stockton project will be 20-30 percent over the current published rates at Avalon! Hardly a ‘blighted’ area — clearly not requiring financial incentives from Princeton. Allocations for school services that will be incurred are essential. Funds should not be used as a “plug” to fix recurring poor financial decisions by the Princeton Municipal Government. Finally, do note that the PILOT is based on a designation of this area as an “Area in Need of Redevelopment” that is “blighted.” Last time I looked, none of the areas included in this site could be considered blighted. It is Marquand Park without landscaping. The density of this development is proposed to be over 15 times that of the surrounding neighborhood and will surely create additional traffic havoc.
This project needs a substantial rethink.
STEVE SNYDER Farrand Road
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.
@pop_princeton
ADISTINCTIVE DINNERSERIES
Hosted at The Farminary, Princeton Theological Seminary’s 21-acre sustainable farm, this series features scholars, activists, and artists interviewed over dinner. They are paired with a world-class chef who prepares the meal with a portion of the produce coming straight from the farm. Each event is capped at 24 people for a more intimate experience.
No big presentations. Just big ideas and delicious food.
COMING UP
Keri Day
July 3, 2025 at 6pm
Womanist & Black Feminist Eco-spiritualities
with Chef Rachel Pennington
This conversation with Dr. Keri Day will weave together theology, ecology, and social ethics, highlighting how spiritual practices rooted in Black communities offer pathways to ecological healing and liberation.
KC Choi
August 7, 2025 at 6pm
The Theology and Ethics of Food with Chef Dana Klitzberg
This conversation with Dr. KC Choi will examine how what we eat reflects deeper questions of identity, justice, and community. By bridging religious thought with everyday ethical choices, the discussion invites even non-religious listeners to consider how food shapes our moral lives and social responsibilities.
Author Audrey Truschke
Audrey Truschke, the author of India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent, will introduce her book on Thursday, May 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Registration is requested for this event; a form is at princetonlibrary. libnet.info/event/13579690. Truschke is a professor of history and Asian Studies director at Rutgers UniversityNewark.
Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade, according the publisher (Princeton University Press, $39.95). “In this magisterial history,” states the publisher, “Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India — which includes today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan — and the people who have lived there.”
A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilization to the twenty-first century, this narrative chronicles important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. Throughout, it describes how the region has
Chronicles History of India been continuously reshaped by its diversity, religious and political innovations, and social stratification. Topics include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism; the Vedas and Mahabharata; Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire; the Silk Road; the Cholas; Indo-Persian rule; the Mughal Empire; European colonialism; national independence movements; the 1947 Partition of India; the recent rise of Hindu nationalism; the challenges of climate change; and much more. The book presents a wide range of voices, including those of women, religious minorities, lower classes, and other marginalized groups. Truschke received her Ph.D. in 2012 from Columbia University. Her teaching and research interests focus on the cultural, imperial, and intellectual history of early modern and modern India (c. 1500-present). She is the author of Culture of Encounters, which investigates the literary, social, and political roles of Sanskrit as it thrived in the Persian-speaking, Islamic Mughal courts from 1560 to 1650; Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India’s Most Controversial King , (published in India and Pakistan as Aurangzeb: The Man and The Myth ); and The Language of History: Sanskrit Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule
Edward Tenner Explores Unintended Consequences
How did the addition of lifeboats after the Titanic shipwreck contribute to another tragedy in Chicago harbor three years later? Why have scientific breakthroughs so often originated in the study of shadows? How did the file card prepare scholarship and commerce for the rise of electronic data processing? Why have Amish artisans played an important role in manufacturing advanced technology? Why was United Shoe Machinery the Microsoft of the 1890s?
Surprises like these, Edward Tenner believes, can help us deal with the technological issues that confront us now.
International bestselling author Tenner is joined in conversation by editor and publisher Peter J. Dougherty on Tenner’s book, Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge: Essays in Unintended Consequences. The joint presentation by Labyrinth Books and the Princeton Public Library will be held at the Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, on Wednesday, June 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Since the 1980s, Tenner, Princeton Class of 1965, has contributed essays on technology, design, and culture to leading magazines, newspapers, and professional journals, and has been interviewed on subjects ranging from medical ethics to typography. Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge — named for one of the paradoxes that can
result from the inherent contradictions between consumer safety and product marketing — brings many of Tenner’s essays together into one volume for the first time, accompanied by new introductions by the author on the theme of each work. As an independent historian and public speaker, Tenner has spent his career deploying concepts from economics, engineering, psychology, science, and sociology, to explore both the negative and positive surprises of human ingenuity.
Tenner is a distinguished scholar of the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago and has been a Junior Fellow of the Harvard Society of Fellows and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow. A former executive editor for physical science and history at Princeton University Press, he has been a visiting lecturer in the Humanities Council and a visitor in the Princeton departments and programs of geosciences, English, sociology (FRS 151, “Understanding Disasters”), and information technology policy, as well as in the Institute for Advanced Study and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is author of Why Things Bite Back, and The Efficiency Paradox.
Dougherty is editor-at-large of The American Philosophical Society Press, and Fox Family Pavilion Scholar and Distinguished Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on the board of trustees of Ithaka. Following his years in commercial book publishing in New York, he worked as an editor at Princeton University Press, which he directed from 2005 through 2017. He has served as president of the Association of American University Presses, on the board of the American Association of Publishers, and on the faculty of the University of Denver Publishing Institute. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2023.
Book Tells How the Pinelands Became Protected and Preserved
William J. Lewis, a lifetime resident of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, as were multiple generations of his family before him, has written Preserving the Pines: New Jersey and the Origins of Environmentalism. Lewis will speak about the unique New Jersey area on June 1 at 3 p.m., at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.
In the early 20th century, a connected group of men and women led by Dr. V.E. Vivian fought for and won a better future in Whitesbog Village, a town in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, at a time when the air, land and sea were riddled with pollution, with few protections. Because of their efforts, 1.1 million acres of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve became the largest protected and preserved open space on the East Coast.
With numerous color images dedicated to Vivian, author Lewis chronicles and
celebrates the educators and historians who started New Jersey’s conservation movement and successfully crusaded for a better, cleaner world. (The History Press, $24.99, paperback)
Lewis is the author of New Jersey’s Lost Piney Culture ; Adventure with Piney Joe: Exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens; and South Jersey Legends & Lore: Tales from the Pine Barrens and Beyond . He shares his adventures on social media networks under the name Piney Tribe. After proudly serving as a U.S. Marine, Lewis graduated from Rider University and founded an environmental nonprofit to get youths outdoors. He has served in leadership roles for both government and New Jersey nonprofit organizations. He preaches exploration without exploitation and teaches children to be tomorrow’s environmental stewards.
Edward Tenner
Herman Melville, D.H. Lawrence, and the Etna Woman
In an interview in this Sunday’s New York Times, the actor Ed Helms ( The Office ) says his favorite reading experience took place on the subway, clinging to a pole with one hand and reading Moby-Dick on his cell phone with the other. It’s a connection that might have amused Herman Melville, who was riding the elevated subway to and from his job as a customs inspector until his retirement in 1886, five years before his death. I wish he were around to write a response to D.H. Lawrence’s wildly conflicted tribute to the “deep great artist” who wrote Moby-Dick, “a very great book” that “commands a stillness in the soul, an awe” that Lawrence found hard to match with the author, a “rather tiresome New Englander” — “Oh dear, when the solemn ass brays! brays! brays!”
My guess is that besides savoring words of praise from a brilliant colleague, a man with Melville’s wonderfully inventive sense of humor would laugh at the “solemn ass,” and, if it were possible, post Lawrence a copy of his sketch “Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!” about “the loudest, longest, and most strangely musical crow that ever amazed mortal man.... a wise crow; an invincible crow; a philosophic crow; a crow of all crows.”
Braying and Bleating
When it comes to braying, however, Lawrence is in a class by himself in the Taormina poems from Birds, Beasts and Flowers (1923), where he seems to be rehearsing for his energetic wake-up calls to Poe, Whitman, Hawthorne, Melville, and others in Studies in Classic American Literature (1925). In “The Ass,” there’s even a Lawrentian translation of the “long-drawn bray of the ass in the Sicilian twilight — All mares are dead!!Ohh!Oh-h-h!Oh-h-h-h-h—h!!I can’t bear it, I can’t bear it, I can’t!” Not to mention Lawrence’s Sicilian “She-Goat” bleating for him to come down and untie her when the herd goes by at dawn: Merr—err—err! Merr—er—errr! Mer! Mé! ” Lawrence being Lawrence, he answers her in his own tongue: “Wait, wait a bit, I’ll come when I’ve lit the fire.”
The Etna Woman
I hadn’t read Lawrence’s Taormina poems at the time I lived there, from midFebruary to April 1963. My discovery of Birds, Beasts, and Flowers was six years away in a graduate seminar on his poetry.
One Sunday in early March I found myself sharing a flight of very steep steps with a black-clad “peasant woman” — my first impression until I got a better look at
her and she began expounding on life and death, hellfire and heaven, mathematics, science, and philosophy in excellent English, with what sounded like a slight German accent. Since she was sweating and out of breath, I helped her carry the large pail of water she was toting, she gripping one end of the handle, I the other. She lived in the village of Castelmola, which looks directly across at Mount Etna and straight down on Taormina, the emphasis on down because Taormina itself is very high up.
After we reached the top of the steps, she led the way to a small brick hut perched on a ledge all its own, where for the better part of an hour we sat looking out on the Ionian Sea and the white crest of Etna.
The description of the woman’s face in a letter to my parents — a “brimstone burnt-gold color from years of sun” — may have been influenced by her frequent references to the volcano and the fire at its core. The way she gazed at the white summit suggested a long-term relationship, as if she knew it and it knew her.
thousands of people who had burned in the fires of its eruptions and been buried alive in its lava. One of the few things she said that I later wrote down word for word was that Catholics are “marionettes and God a fake puppetmaster.”
Shocks of Recognition
The first thing she asked was what I “did with my life.” When I told her I was a writer, she asked Why do I write, and what about ? Having admitted that she’d done “much reading” when she was young, she said she trusted that I didn’t write “romances” about how beautiful everything is. Speaking in a strong, but halting voice, she said she hoped I would show that there were two heavens, one for stupid people who think it is going to come after they die and one for people who know that it is now and that if there is a real god he must be God and the Devil both together. When I said something about the beauty of Etna, as if the volcano were a close friend it would have been rude not to admire, she told me to think of the thousands and
Six years after the incident with the Etna woman, I read Lawrence’s Taormina poems for the first time, struck by the way certain lines echoed that strange conversation. From “Peace”: “My heart will know no peace till the hill bursts.... Forests, cities, bridges gone again in the bright trail of lava.” From “Almond Blossom”: “Flying not down from heaven, but storming up, strange storming up from the dense under-earth.”
From “Purple Anemones”: “ Who gave us flowers? Heaven? The white God? Nonsense! Up out of hell, from Hades; Infernal Dis!” From “Snake”: “Being earthbrown, earth-golden from the burning bowels of the earth on the day of Sicilian July, with Etna smoking.”
Perhaps the most striking echo came from “Hibiscus and Salvia Flowers,” Lawrence’s response to “red-decked socialists” marching one Sunday on Taormina’s Corso in their “yellow shoes.” After extolling “dragon-mouthed salvia with gold throat of wrath! Flame-flushed, enraged, splendid salvia,” Lawrence longs “to be a bolshevist and set the stinking rubbishheap of this foul world afire at a myriad scarlet points, a bolshevist, a salvia-face to lick the world with flame that licks it clean.”
Melville in Taos
Writing about Melville two years later in Taos, New Mexico, Lawrence closes his essay by quoting the last sentence of Moby-Dick , the sinking of the Pequod :
“Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed; and then the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago.” After declaring Melville’s novel “one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world, closing up its mystery and its tortured symbolism,” Lawrence riffs on Doom: “Something seems to whisper it in the very dark trees of America. Doom! Doom of what? Doom of our white day. We are doomed, doomed. And the doom is in America. The doom of our white day. Ah, well, if my day is doomed, and I am doomed with my day, it is something greater than I which dooms me, so I accept my doom as a sign of the greatness which is more than I am.”
Never mind what Melville would think about someone reading Moby-Dick on the subway in the year 2025, what would the man who died in 1891, a little over 30 years before Lawrence declared the Pequod “the ship of the white American soul,” make of this coda? — “Melville knew. He knew his race was doomed. His white soul, doomed. His great white epoch, doomed. Himself, doomed. The idealist, doomed. The spirit, doomed.... But Moby-Dick was published in 1851. If the Great White Whale sank the ship of the Great White Soul in 1851, what’s been happening ever since?”
1923
1923 is the year Lawrence’s Taormina poems were published in America by Thomas Seltzer. Thanks to Taylor Sheriidan’s extraordinary series 1923 , it’s no longer possible to mention that year without taking into account works Americans may have been watching and reading around the same time, as I did a month ago writing about Charles Chaplin’s The Pilgrim , where the Tramp escapes from prison onto a train bound for Desert Gulch, Texas, the state that borders New Mexico, where Lawrence was in Taos writing his scathing, soulful Studies in Classic American Literature
Some friends who heard of my encounter with the woman who knew Mount Etna jumped on my reference to the possibility that she had a German accent. What if I’d been talking with Lawrence’s widow Frieda on that memorable Sunday in March 1963? A nice thought, in a column already top heavy with nice impossible thoughts; in fact, Frieda died in Taos in August 1956, 26 years after Lawrence, who died in Vence, France, on March 2, 1930.
—Stuart Mitchner
Exploring Michener Art Museum as the historical site of the Bucks County Jail
The Short Line by acclaimed artist jackie sumell uses detoxifying plants like clover, sunflower, and willow in a garden bed that traces the footprint of "the short line," a former corridor of jail cells.
The Short Line has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage as part of the multi-year community engagement initiative Behind These Walls: Reckoning with Incarceration.
On view May 30, 2025 through the Fall of 2026
jackie sumell working in the Solitary Gardens on Andry Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Maiwenn Raoult
PROSECCO CELEBRATION
Celebrate National Prosecco Week (yes, it’s a real thing!) with us.
Prosecco is the most beloved sparkling wines in the world hailing from the north eastern corner of Italy near Venice, in an area spanning the Veneto and FriuliVenezia Giulia.
One of the biggest differences between Prosecco and other sparkling wines is how it’s made.
Prosecco uses the “tank method” which enlists the use of some very high tech fermentation tanks. The tanks were first developed during the industrial era in the late 1800s and are capable of producing wines with up to 4 atmospheres of pressure!
Join us for a festive, Prosecco-paired tapas and cicchetti event, the Italian way!
Princeton Pro Musica Closes Season with Musical Depiction of Historical Figure
rinceton Pro Musica took on a challenge this past weekend with its final performance of the season. Connecting back to World War II, the 100-voice vocal ensemble presentcomposer James McCarthy’s Codebreaker: The Alan Turing , an oratorio for chorus, soprano, and orchestra depicting scenes from the life of famed mathematician, inventor and codebreaker Alan Turing. Turing’s incalculable role in history was rooted in his responsibilities during World War II for cracking naval Enigma codes and his invention of a machine to significantly speed up the decryption process and anticipate enemy moves. Considered one of the great intellectual feats century, Turing’s invention was credited with saving millions of lives during the War. Writing that there are few people who have “achieved so much of profound consequence for humanity in so little time,” McCarthy approached setting Turing’s life and accomplishments in musical form as a “portrait of a living, breathing human being and not the musical equivalent of a marble monument to a Great Hero.”
In Sunday afternoon’s concert at Richardson Auditorium, Pro Musica Artistic Director Ryan J. Brandau opened with a one-movement string piece of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The 1977 Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten was a tribute to a composer from Turing’s time and a connection to the era and country in which the events of the oratorio took place. The 15 string players assembled for this performance began Cantus quietly, as conductor Brandau allowed the music to unfold on its own. The musicians initially played with almost no vibrato, but as the work progressed, the musical fabric became warmer.
Joining Pro Musica and the orchestra for Codebreaker was soprano Margaret Carpenter Haigh, often singing the character of Turing’s mother. With a libretto compiled by the composer from unpublished writings of Turing and his mother, as well as the verses of American and English writers, the work was divided into three sections, each representing a different event or period in Turing’s life. It was clear from the outset that McCarthy’s
musical style could change on a dime, with the “war section” especially infused with energetic music capturing what McCarthy called the “spirit of brilliant young minds working together to one end.” The composer also well captured the tragedy of Turing’s life through arias poignantly sung by Haigh, especially the closing “Mother’s Lament” for the death of her son.
Led by Brandau, Pro Musica began Codebreaker with a majestic block of sound and crisp diction in more chipper musical sections. A cappella choral sections, which tended to move the narrative along, were well-blended, in particular a setting of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s formal apology in 2009 on behalf of the British government for the “inhumane” treatment of Turing following the War. A setting of the Wilfred Owen’s poetry showed particularly rich harmonic writing, stretching the sopranos into high registers and with chords that gelled well. Turing’s own musing of “can machines think?” was heard cleanly from a cappella chorus accompanied by low strings, and a De Profundis choral soliloquy, taken from the writings of Oscar Wilde, expanded in hymn-like fashion with the voices of Pro Musica well balanced.
McCarthy superimposed former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s declaration of war over an orchestral interlude leading to powerful movements conveying war, decisively presented by both singers and orchestra. Relentless rhythmic repetitions depicted the brutality of battle, the urgency of the times and the precise mechanics of the codebreaking technology, and Brandau built tension well throughout it all. The orchestration included solo winds and brass, with each instrument adding varied colors and shadings to the musical palette.
Pro Musica brought the oratorio further to life with a post-concert demonstration of an actual Enigma cipher device which audience members were able to try out. Seeing the complexity of this machine in action, combined with McCarthy’s interpretation of Turing’s life and accomplishments, was a fitting tribute to an individual who may well have saved humanity in an incomprehensible time.
—Nancy Plum
Princeton Pro Musica has announced the 2025-26 season, which will include a “Bachtoberfest” in October, a holiday concert in December, and performances in honor of the United States’ 250 th Anniversary in the spring of 2026. Information Pro Musica’s upcoming season can be found by visiting princetonpromusica.org.
Performing Arts
“VIENNESE CELEBRATION”: Pianist Esma Pasic-Filipovic is the soloist in the Westminster Community Orchestra’s final concert of the season in the Cullen Center on the former Westminster Choir College campus May 31.
Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss On Orchestra’s Program
The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO), conducted by Ruth Ochs, will present their final concert of the season on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m. at Hillman Hall, in the Cullen Center, on the Westminster campus, Walnut Lane. There are no tickets required; a suggested admission of $10/person cash will be collected at the door.
Titled “Viennese Celebration,” the concert will feature soloist Esma Pasic-Filipovic performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in Bflat Major, a movement from Shubert’s Unfinished Symphony, an orchestration of Schubert’s “An die Musik,” and Johann Strauss Jr.’s Emperor Waltzes.
“It is an honor to perform with Esma. She is an important performer and teacher in the area, and she was a great and supportive colleague at the Conservatory,” said Ochs. “When she and I spoke about a collaboration, she recommended Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. No Viennese celebration would be complete without Schubert, who was born in the city, and some music of Johann Strauss Jr.” Danielle Sinclair joins the orchestra to share an orchestration of Schubert’s familiar song, “An die Musik.” Sinclair is a beloved member of the Westminster Conser vatory’s voice faculty. nist from Bosnia and
Herzegovina (the former Yugoslavia) has built a career as a soloist, chamber musician, and Radio Sarajevo recording artist. Formerly a member of the piano faculty at Westminster Conservatory of Music, Rider University, she also served as director of the Honors Music Program. She is an adjudicator for several organizations and is a member of the board of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association. She currently serves as piano department head and a member of the faculty at the Newark School of the Arts. Under her guidance, her students have won numerous competitions. Now in her 20th season as the WCO’s music director, Ochs has led the group in performances of major orchestral and choral-orchestral works. Under her leadership, the orchestra continues to feature ensembles and soloists from the Westminster Conservatory and highlight works by local and under-represented composers. Ochs is currently a senior lecturer in the Princeton University Department of Music, where she is in her 23rd season as the conductor of the Princeton University Sinfonia. The Westminster Community Orchestra, now in its 39th season, is a community ensemble made up of professional and gifted amateur musicians from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Email conservatory@rider.edu for more information.
Princeton Symphonic Brass To Perform Summer Concert
The Princeton Symphonic Brass, under the baton of Lawrence Kursar, will hold its annual Summer Concert on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Middle School Auditorium, 95 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro. This summer’s eve concert features Americana, jazz, pop, and light classical in a spacious, state-of-the-art performance space with ample free parking. For the first time, the band will feature a special guest artist, trumpeter Liesl Whitaker.
Whitaker joined the Army Blues of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in 2000, becoming the first woman to win a lead position in a premier U.S. military jazz ensemble. She repeated this feat with the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band in 2012. She will appear as soloist on several new arrangements crafted for her and the Princeton Symphonic Brass.
The Princeton Symphonic Brass is comprised of eleven brass players, two percussionists, and a conductor. This all-star group includes some of the finest musicians from the top musical ensembles near Princeton and has a repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to today.
Meticulous Renditions
Of Beatles’ Classics
State Theatre New Jersey presents The Fab Faux on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. The band performs A Hard Day’s Night and Abbey Road in their entireties. Joining The Fab Faux are The Hogshead Horns (with Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears and SNL band alums) and The Creme Tangerine Strings..
With a commitment to an accurate reproduction of The Beatles’ repertoire, The Fab Faux treat the seminal music with respect, and are known for their painstaking recreations of the songs. Far beyond a cover band, they play songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “I Am the Walrus” in complete partperfect renditions; and such harmony-driven songs as “Because,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Paperback Writer,” reproduced not only note-fornote, but with extra vocalists to achieve a double-tracked effect.
out the year, and is free for members of the nonprofit cinema and their children. It is made possible by the Garden’s community partners at jaZams, McCarter Theatre Center, Color Me Mine Princeton, and the Princeton Public Library.
On June 21 the Garden will screen Toy Story, Pixar’s 1995 groundbreaking theatrical debut and the first feature film to be computeranimated. The film on July 12 is The Goonies , one of the key films of the 1980s that revels in the independence and imagination of kids. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
On August 16 the Garden will present The Secret of Kells , a work of animation which brings to life the tale of a 9th century Celtic manuscript, “The Book of Kells.”
The Garden is located at 160 Nassau Street. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or at princetongardentheatre.org/family.
Youth Orchestra Marks 65 Years with Concert
presents its 65th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. This milestone performance showcases the talents of GPYO’s Concert and Symphonic Orchestras, led by conductors Judith Morse and Joseph Pucciatti, and will feature a wide-ranging program that spans centuries and continents.
Highlights include performances by Cassidy Shae, winner of the 2024–2025 Maestro Matteo Giammario Concerto Competition, and professional accordionist Klajdi Cerriku. The Concert Orchestra, led by Morse, will perform works by Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov, SaintSaens, Piazzolla, and Carlos Gardel. Pucciatti leads the Symphonic Orchestra in music of Liszt, Khachaturian, and Haydn.
The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO)
The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) provides training and performance opportunities for students seeking challenging musical ensemble experiences, while cultivating a lifelong appreciation of the arts. Tickets are available at tickets.princeton.edu.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for kids 16 and under. They are site in advance, or at the
The Fab Faux was born in 1998 when Will Lee (who’s played with all four Beatles), bassist for Paul Shaffer’s CBS Orchestra on the Late Show With David Letterman , decided that he was determined to organize the greatest Beatles band without any props like wardrobe, fake accents, and wigs, and focus on the intricacies and soul of the music.
Rounding out the lineup are Jimmy Vivino, music director/guitarist for Conan and longtime music partner of Levon Helm, John Sebastian, and Laura Nyro; lead-singing drummer/producer Rich Pagano (Rosanne Cash, Roger Waters); guitarist, Frank Agnello (Marshall Crenshaw, Phoebe Snow); and multiinstrumentalist, Jack Petruzzelli (Joan Osborne [producer, Love And Hate ], Patti Smith). All five principals contribute vocals.
The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit stnj. org for tickets, which range from $73.26-$118.86.
Garden Theatre Announces Summer Family Matinees
The Princeton Garden Theatre has shared its Summer 2025 lineup for the $5 Family Matinees program.
The series plays on one Saturday morning at 10 a.m. each month through -
BEATLES COVER BAND: The Fab Faux sing songs from two Beatles’ classic albums at State Theatre New Jersey on May 31.
MUSIC IN THE TENT: The Princeton Festival’s annual season of musical events is held on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, June 6-21. Starting with “ICONS: The Voices that Changed Music on June 6, followed by Renee Fleming performing with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on June 7, the festival continues with music from Broadway, Baroque, a Motown revue, dance, and much more. Visit princetonsymphony.org/festival or
“Selma Burke African American Art Show” at Phillips’ Mill Phillips’ Mill Community Association in New Hope, Pa., has announced a new exhibition, “ The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show,” paying homage to one of
America’s most notable sculptors and art educators of the 20th century, an artist who called New Hope home for the last 40 of her 95 years. This exhibition will feature more than 60 works by many African American artists Burke
mentored, taught, and inspired, including James E. Duprée and Kimberly Camp. It will be on view May 31 through June 29
is held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art collections, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York, and Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen.
Award-winning artist Camp, also featured in the show, fondly remembers Burke’s generosity. “Selma Burke was extremely generous to us back in the ’70s and ’80s, letting us know we could come to her studio. I can remember meeting her at a National Conference of Artists meeting. She was very involved with the organization’s Philadelphia chapter,” recalls Camp, a former president and CEO of the Barnes Foundation and founding director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Experimental Gallery. Camp’s paintings and distinctive dolls have been exhibited in over 100 shows, including the Smithsonian and a recent exhibition at the Hunterdon Art Museum. Camp will display three dolls at Phillips’ Mill, including a possible tribute piece to Burke herself. “I love that Phillips’ Mill is doing this tribute to Selma Burke because women artists, especially Black American women artists, are often tossed aside,” said Camp. “Most museum collections still have not made progress in this area.”
Kuscin Named Director of Programming, Events at ACP
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has announced the appointment of Melissa Kuscin to director of programming and events. She previously served as the organization’s programming and marketing manager.
Melissa Kuscin
and exhibited artwork with the Arts Council. She moved to New York City post-graduation to pursue a career in graphic design and worked as a digital art director in the fashion industry for 10 years before deciding to pursue a career focused on the arts. Now in her Marketing and PR role with the Arts Council, she is able to help promote fellow artists and diverse community programming.
The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.
Flemington Fine Artisans Show at Stangl Factory
A show and sale of exceptional handmade art and craft by outstanding area artists
Born in Mooresville, N.C., in 1900, Burke rose to national prominence through her contributions to American art, namely her artwork and dedication to teaching others. She became an integral figure of the Harlem Renaissance, founded the Selma Burke School of Art, and earned her MFA from Columbia University. She later founded the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., and eventually settled in New Hope, leaving an indelible mark on the local arts community through her leadership at the Solebury School and Robert McClellan’s New Hope School of Art. In 1977, she also founded the Bucks County Sculpture Show, which is still held annually.
Burke’s work can be found in major institutions, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the James A. Michener Art Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. She is perhaps best known for her relief portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which became the model for the dime.
The exhibition showcases a range of contemporary and historical works by Burke-mentored and -inspired artists, including c New Hope resident Duprée. “James was invited to exhibit in the show ‘Artists for Goode’ (1984–85),” recalls Mary Flamer, PMCA Board Member and chair of the Selma Burke Show Committee. “Ms. Burke attended the event and immediately took a liking to him, supporting his later exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem.” Duprée’s work
Joining Duprée and Camp are more than two dozen artists whose works have been loaned directly or sourced from essential collectors such as Trenton arts champion Lawrence Hilton. Expect to see works by Chakaia Booker, Adjoa Jackson Burrowes, Frank Bowling, Wendell Brooks, Willie Cole, Lamerol Gatewood, Lonnie Holley, Curlee Raven Holton, Kenneth Lewis Sr., James Little, Vivian McDuffie, Lisette Morel, Nell Painter, Janet Taylor Pickett, Danielle Scott, Danny Simmons, Ron Tarver, and Mickalene Thomas. The exhibition also features historical works by renowned artists such as Faith Ringgold, Romare Bearden, Edward Bannister, Thornton Dial, Herbert Gentry, Richard Hunt, Wifredo Lam, Norman Lewis, and Hale Woodruff.
Flamer is excited to be bringing this exhibition to Phillips’ Mill, introducing many of these esteemed artists, whose works are included in museums, collections, and galleries internationally, to the local area for the first time. She notes that over the years, Black artists like Selma Burke have helped preserve the nation’s history and culture. “Art explains things that sometimes words can’t,” said Flamer. “Through her art, Selma portrayed strong figures, many Black women, which challenged stereotypes and celebrated Black art, history, and culture.”
The “Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show” runs May 31 through June 29. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is $7; free for PMCA members. Most artwork will be available for purchase.
Phillips’ Mill Community Association is located at 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa. For more information, visit phillipsmill. org. or call (215) 8620582.
An ACP press release notes, “If you have attended an ACP event, admired one of the many murals around town, received a newsletter from the Arts Council, or engaged with ACP on social media in the past decade, chances are you’ve experienced Melissa’s creative vision and dedication firsthand. Throughout her tenure, Melissa has been instrumental in developing inspired arts and cultural programming that reflects the diversity and unique interests of the Princeton community.”
Kuscin’s contributions include spearheading programs such as Princeton Porchfest, the Princeton Sketchbook Club, monthly poetry and spoken word open mic Story & Verse, the Hometown Halloween Parade, and BYOB Series, to name a few. She co-coordinates ACP’s public art program and well-known seasonal art markets, Sauce for the Goose and the Princeton Art Bazaar, with Artistic Director Maria Evans. She partners often with fellow nonprofits, University groups, and individual artists to bring programs to life.
In her most recent role as programming and marketing manager, Kuscin led the Arts Council’s 2021 rebrand and website overhaul. Since 2018 she’s managed ACP’s digital, print, and social media presence, increasing the organization’s Instagram reach by more than 200 percent.
In her new role, Kuscin will expand her leadership in developing vibrant community-centered programs, while deepening partnerships and fostering opportunities for all ages to learn, create, and grow.
“Melissa brings not only years of experience and deep institutional knowledge to this role, but also an unmatched enthusiasm for connecting people through the arts,” said Adam Welch, executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton.
“Her creativity and passion for community building are the heartbeat of so much of what we do. We’re thrilled to see her step into this new chapter.”
Assuming the marketing/ public relations associate role at the Arts Council is Fiona Clark, who grew up in Princeton and has been involved with ACP from a young age, taking classes as a child. Over the years, she has been an artist-inresidence, painted murals,
The Flemington Fine Artisans Show returns to the historic Stangl Factory, (4 Stangl Road, Flemington, on Sunday and Monday, May 25–26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This curated event brings together 27 artists and makers, offering a diverse array of handmade goods, including jewelry, ceramics, artisan woodwork, home décor, fiber art, one-of-a-kind clothing, photography, and paintings.
Admission and parking are free.
‘50 Over 50” Exhibit at Kris Giacobbe Photography Kris Giacobbe Photography, a local photography studio committed to empowering women, has announced the “50 Over 50” gallery exhibit, an event celebrating 50 extraordinary women, each age 50 and older, who embody resilience, strength, and beauty. The event will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Kris Giacobbe Photography, 108 Straube Center Boulevard, Suite I-20, Pennington. The “50 Over 50” campaign is a portrait series that shines a light on the diversity and vibrancy of women over 50, challenging outdated stereotypes about aging, especially for women. The gallery will showcase stunning images that reveal the unique stories, personalities, and spirit of the women featured. This evening is designed to be a night of connection, conversation, and community. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the women who participated, along with their friends, family, and supporters. Drinks and bites will be served in a warm, welcoming atmosphere with cocktail casual attire.
“As a woman who started my business later in life, and as someone who deeply values community, I created ‘50 Over 50’ to celebrate the beauty and strength that comes with age,” said Kris Giacobbe, founder of Kris Giacobbe Photography. “This exhibit is about empowering women to see themselves differently, to feel proud, and to inspire others to embrace aging as a powerful, beautiful stage of life.”
For more information, visit krisgiacobbephotography. com.
“MEMORY OF WATER II”: This work by Janet Taylor Pickett is featured in “The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show,” on view May 31 through June 29 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.
from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
Photography Exhibition
At Gourgaud Gallery
The Cranbury Arts Council and Gourgaud Gallery will host works by members of the Stonebridge Photography Club June 3 through June 27. An opening reception is on June 6 from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
The Stonebridge Photography Club provides a rewarding and enjoyable experience for community photographers wishing to improve their technical and artistic imaging skills. The club was established in 2000 in the Active Senior Development of Stonebridge in Monroe Township.
To promote the art of photography throughout the community, the club provides several activities, including workshops that are held periodically throughout the year; bimonthly competitions held with New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs; and field trips to local areas that provide an opportunity to share ideas.
According to a club press release, “Over the years we have had the opportunity to display the work of all members in our beautiful club -
house as well as in the Monroe Township Library, and now in Gourgaud Gallery. Members who win competitions will go on display in our dedicated room, hallways, and other locations throughout the Stonebridge clubhouse. We have special exhibits as well for members who do not wish to compete.”
The Cranbury Arts Council provides arts-oriented programs, workshops, and performances aimed at enriching the cultural experiences of the community. Their mission is to foster, support, educate, inspire, and promote artists and art appreciation.
Gourgaud Gallery is located in Town Hall, first floor, 23-A North Main Street. Cranbury. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit cranburyartscouncil.org.
”Einstein’s Brain” Exhibit Coming to Dohm Alley
A ribbon-cutting is planned for May 21 at 11 a.m. at Dohm Alley, next to 102 Nassau Street, for “Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a
Genius,” the second of two summer pop-up exhibits presented by the Princeton Einstein Museum of Science.
Meet “Einstein” at Dohm Alley on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when he is portrayed by Bill Agress. Kids can receive a free brain sticker, while supplies last.
The museum’s other summer pop-up exhibit, “Think Like a Genius,” is located near Concord Pet in the Princeton Shopping Center on North Harrison Street. Designed for families, the exhibit helps visitors understand how Einstein thought through problems.
Both exhibits are free and outdoors.
“Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a Genius” was developed for a general audience and will be on display in Dohm Alley starting May 21. Visitors will learn about the basic structure of the human brain, Einstein’s thinking processes, and what we have learned from examining Einstein’s brain.
The 2025 summer exhibits are sponsored by the
William Watt Family Foundation and the First Bank Charitable Foundation.
The Princeton Einstein Museum of Science is a 501(c)(3) museum under development in Princeton, aimed at visitors ages 8 years old and up. For more information, visit princeton einsteinmuseum.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 “Still & Wild” through June 1. 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” through June 14. “Being Present: Exploration of Abstraction” is on view May 17 through June 14 and “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 June 3 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
Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, Princeton University, has “The Most Formidable Weapon Against Errors: The Sid Lapidus ’59 Collection & the Age
of Reason” through June 8. Library.princeton.edu/lapidus2025.
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Historic Morven: A Window Into America’s Past” (ongoing). Morven.org.
The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, has “Held Together” through June 5. Catherinejmartzloff.com.
Silva Gallery of Art, Pennington School, 113 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, has “The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America” through June 6. Pennington.org.
Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has works by Karen Stolper through June 3. Works by Sophie Dennehy are at the 254 Nassau Street location through June 3. Smallworldcoffee.com.
West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Member Show: Your Visual Story Through Art” through May 31. Westwindsorarts.org.
“RUNRISE GLOW” This work by Mario Edini is featured in an exhibition by members of the Stonebridge Photography Club, on view June 3 through June 27 at Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An opening reception is on June 6
Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, May 21
1-3 p.m.: Weekday Land Stewardship Volunteer Session at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. Sponsored by Friends of Princeton Open Space. Fopos.org.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens : Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton at Ficus Restaurant, 235 Nassau Street. 6 p.m.: The Board of Trustees of Princeton Public Library meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7-8:30 p.m.: Author Charles T. Brown talks about his book Arrested Mobility at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Presented by Sustainable Princeton and Not in Our Town Princeton. Princetonlibrary.org.
Thursday, May 22
7:30-10 a.m.: “Exploring the State of Affordable Housing,” presented at a breakfast meeting of Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber at Cherry Valley Country Club, 125 Country Club Drive, Skillman. Moderated by architect Joshua Zinder; keynote by Josh
Bauers of the Fair Share Housing Center; panel discussion. Princetonchamber.org.
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.
5:30-7:30 p.m.: “50 Over 50: A Portrait Celebration Challenging Stereotypes About Women and Aging” at Kris Giacobbe Photography, Straube Center, 108 Straube Center Boulevard, Suite i-20, Pennington. Krisgiacobbe photograph.com.
Saturday, May 24
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Princeton Junction train station southbound side. More than 50 local farms and vendors. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.: Spirit of Princeton Memorial Day Parade, starts at the staging area of Nassau Street and Princeton Avenue, goes down Nassau Street and ends at Monument Hall parking lot. A Day of Remembrance ceremony follows at 1 p.m
at Princeton Battlefield State Park, 500 Mercer Street. Spiritofprinceton.org.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Land Stewardship Volunteer Session at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. Sponsored by Friends of Princeton Open Space. Fopos.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Hog Slopping and Weighing at Howell Living History Farm , 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Guess the weights of the hogs as they get their summer weigh-in and learn about keeping pigs. Free. Howellfarm.org.
12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Michael Montemurro Terhuneorchards.com.
7:30 p.m.: Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo with the Bergamot Quartet at Stanton Reformed Church, 1 Stanton Mountain Road, Stanton. Music by Lowell Liebermann, Daniel Binelli, Ledah Finck, Caroline Shaw, and Payton MacDonald. $25. RaritanRiverMusic.org.
Sunday, May 25
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Flemington Fine Artisans Show, at the Stangl
Factory, 4 Stangle Road, Flemington. 27 artists and makers offer handmade goods, jewelry, ceramics, artisan woodwork, home decor, fiber, clothing, photography, and paintings. SmallJoysStudio.com.
12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Barbara Lin Band Terhuneorchards.com.
Monday, May 26
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Flemington Fine Artisans Show, at the Stangl Factory, 4 Stangle Road, Flemington. 27 artists and makers offer handmade goods, jewelry, ceramics, artisan woodwork, home decor, fiber, clothing, photography, and paintings. SmallJoysStudio.com.
12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Sarah Teti Terhuneorchards.com.
Thursday, May 29 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Off the Chain Studios jewelry company takes part in the Nassau Artist Pop-Up at Small World Coffee, 254 Nassau Street. Over 150 chains and charms. 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.
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Sips & Succulent Gardens at Terhune Orchards , 330 Cold Soil Road. Lisa Miccolis of Bountiful Gardens leads a class in the winery on making a succulent garden. $55 includes the
class, a flight of Terhune wine, and all materials. Terhuneorchards.com.
6:30-8 p.m.: Princeton Festival Opera Workshop at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Princeton University Professor Rochelle Ellis and live opera singers demonstrate and discuss opera. Register at mcl.org.
Friday, May 30
12 p.m.: Pride flagraising event at Monument Hall , presented by HiTOPS and the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice. Princetonnj.gov.
1-2:30 p.m.: FOPOS Book Club discusses Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver at Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue. Led by Princeton University faculty member Diana Newby. Fopos.org.
8 p.m.: Andrew Dice Clay is live in concert at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39-$79. Stnj.org.
Saturday, May 31
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Princeton Junction train station southbound side. More than 50 local farms and vendors. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Nightbird Vintage takes part in the Nassau Artist PopUp at Small World Coffee, 254 Nassau Street. Vintage clothing from the 60s-80s and more. Smallworldcoffee.com.
10 a.m.-12 p.m.: May Nature Walk presented by Friends of Princeton Open Space at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. Fopos.org.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Strawberry Festival at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Strawberry picking, tractor rides, children’s games, pony rides, and more. From 12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Audio Pilot Terhuneorchards.com.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Haying and Wagon Rides at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Learn how to make hay the oldfashioned way. Free. Howellfarm.org.
12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Audio Pilot Terhuneorchards.com.
4-7 p.m.: ArtWalk 2025 , fundraiser for West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. Familyfun walk featuring a scavenger hunt, live music, fitness challenges, massage therapy, arts and crafts, silent auction, food, and more. $25 per family or $10 individuals. Westwindsorarts.org.
MAY-JUNE
6-10 p.m.: Mystery Under the Stars at Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker road. A “whodunit” fundraiser for the Historical Society of Princeton to support its history education initiatives. Princeton history.org.
7:30 p.m.: Greg Giannascoli and Friends perform “Americana Meets Old Masters: Classical Favorites for Marimba, Vibraphone, and Piano” at Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse, 71 Main Street, Flemington. $25. RaritanRiverMusic.org.
8 p.m.: The Fab Faux perform the Beatles’ albums A Hard Day’s Night and Abbey Road in their entireties at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $73.26$118.86. Stnj.org.
Sunday, June 1
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Dairying at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Learn about milking the farm cow and more. Free. Howellfarm.org.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Strawberry Festival at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Strawberry picking, tractor rides, children’s games, pony rides, and more. From 12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series . Wine, food, farm strolls, and music from 2-5 p.m. by Kindred Spirit Terhuneorchards.com.
3 p.m.: Author William Lewis discusses his book Preserving the Pines: New Jersey and the Origins of Environmentalism at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.
4 p.m.: Bucks County Choral Society presents “Leonard Bernstein: From Broadway to Lincoln Center” at Lenape Middle School, 313 West State Street, Doylestown, Pa. Vocal writing for solo and choir. Buckschoral.org. 7:30 p.m.: Bass player Stanley Clarke performs at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, as part of the Jazz in June festival. Mccarter.org.
Monday, June 2 Recycling
Tuesday, June 3
9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick Program: Farm Animals at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Hands-on farm activity followed by stories and strawberry picking. $12. Terhuneorchards.com.
1-5 p.m.: Princeton Mercer Chamber Job Fair at Rider University’s Bart Luedeke Center, Lawrence Township. Princetonmercer.org.
Wednesday, June 4
7 p.m.: Author Edward Tenner discusses his book Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge: Essays in Unintended Consequences at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
Popular New Anej Skin Studio on Nassau Street Offers Range of Holistic Facial and Body Care
“
The world is too much with us: late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;”
—William Wordsworth William Wordsworth wrote these words long ago, and perhaps they are even more relevant today. There seems to be little time away from the onslaught of the world around us, and the stress it induces. Driven by the internet and social media, time to reflect, relax, renew or refresh is scarce.
IT’S NEW To Us
Jena Salzano hopes to help guide her clients through these times of uncertainty. While Anej Skin Studio focuses on helping treat a variety of skin conditions, owner Jena strongly believes in a holistic approach, one that can help relieve anxiety and bring a time of relaxation and even serenity to clients while they experience a skin procedure.
Highest Standards
“Stress is a big problem today,” she emphasizes. ”It affects all ages, and it can adversely affect the skin as well. By coming here, clients can have time for themselves and relax. We provide a haven for them, a time to let the cares slip away.
“This is a holistic studio,” she continues. “We help to bring wellness into your life. We try to help people and heal them with clean beauty. Everything we do and all our products are of the highest standards.”
The second of her two studios, Anej Skin Studio opened at 10 Nassau Street last November, following the establishment of her first location in Yardley, Pa., three years ago.
A licensed esthetician, Jena brings 20 years of experience to her discerning clients, many of whom have been with her since the beginning of her career at previous locations.
Primarily women and including all ages (“It’s never too late!” she reports), they come from all over
the Princeton area, including Hunterdon County. The treatments offered are very individualized, she points out, depending on each client’s specific needs and condition.
Each new client’s experience begins with a consultation with Jena or one of the other estheticians to assess the client’s specific situation and to determine the appropriate treatment for the best result.
Holistic Approach
“A holistic approach to skincare is paired with stateof-the-art technologies and sculpting massage for exceptional results,” she points out. “In addition to using a curated collection of active ingredients, we provide clients with a personalized home regimen to continue to obtain the best results.”
The studio is set apart in a number of ways, says Jena. By incorporating the highest quality products from Europe and South Africa, the focus is on reducing toxins and increasing circulation in the skin, both in the face and body.
“We do this both with our facial and body treatments,” she explains. “We also firm the face and body with special technological devices.
Dome, from Korea makes the skin look like glass. Our Princeton clients really love this.”
Jena emphasizes the importance of the holistic and wellness approach at Anej. “This is an important way we are set apart. While all our treatments are designed to deliver discernible results, our wellness offerings place a particular emphasis on holistic health, longevity, and the intrinsic connection between the mind and body.
“We aim to inspire our clients to integrate self-care practices into their daily routines, recognizing its significant role in overall wellbeing. This approach reflects a growing trend within our industry and globally, as individuals increasingly prioritize comprehensive wellness.”
Sculpting Facials
The 12-member staff at Anej includes experienced estheticians, many of whom have specialties. Among the many treatments offered at the studio are several different kinds of sculpting facials and others, all geared to treat special conditions. Some include the use of technological treatments, light therapy, and specific exfoliation and peeling techniques. Body sculpting treatments also offer a range of specialized procedures.
Many skin conditions can be treated, from teenage blem
ment, stress, and seasonal changes, for example, can all have negative effects. Frequent treatments bring the best results.”
Every Day
Jena is very encouraged by the response from Princeton
opportunity. It is really rare to be able to do something that helps people every day and can make a difference in their life.”
As she looks ahead, Jena Salzano wants to see Anej Skin Studio grow and prosper, and become known as “the place to come for the best facial and body care. You really have to experience what we offer to truly understand it. It is unique!” T he studio is open
Tuesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (609) 2507542 or visit the website at anejskinstudio.com.
—Jean Stratton
ADULTS • TEENS • CHILDREN
SPECIALTY SKIN CARE: “We are a results-driven aesthetic atelier specializing in facial sculpting massage, high tech treatments, and a curated selection of top skincare and wellness brands.” Jena Salzano, esthetician and owner of Anej Skin Studio, is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and experience with her clients.
The rivalry between the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team and Syracuse ended up being the marquee matchup in the NCAA tournament from 1992-2003.
During that stretch, the foes met 10 times in the NCAA tourney with Princeton going 4-6 overall against the Orange and 2-2 in national championship games.
When the two met last Saturday in the NCAA quarterfinals in Hempstead, N.Y., Princeton head coach Matt Madalon was excited to be part of another chapter in the storied rivalry.
“It was very, very cool; when I was growing up, it was Princeton-Syracuse,” said Madalon. “They were such dominant forces. Any time both of those programs can be back in prominence is always very special. We are both lucky to keep doing it at a high level.”
The 2025 edition of the matchup turned out to be very special as the teams produced a riveting rollercoaster ride that saw a late rally by third-seeded Princeton fall short as sixth-seeded Orange pulled out a 19-18 thriller before a crowd of 8,209 at Shuart Stadium.
The Tigers jumped out to a 5-2 lead only to see the Orange catch fire to tie the game at 9-9. Princeton scored two goals in the last 16 seconds of the second
quarter to forge ahead 1110 at halftime. Syracuse seized momentum in the third quarter as it built a 1611 lead. The Tigers clawed back with a 5-0 run to knot the contest at 16-16 and then went ahead 18-17 with 4:54 left in regulation. The Orange, though, tallied two unanswered goals and got a stop on a Princeton possession in the waning seconds to earn the victory.
While Madalon acknowledged that the game was viewed as an instant classic, he rued some miscues that kept the Tigers from coming out with the win.
“I have had no shortage of folks reaching out to me, telling me how great that game was,” said Madalon. “From a coaching standpoint, we made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes. When it comes down to it, Syracuse played a great game. There is nothing to take away from them. It was a really up-anddown game with almost 40 goals scored which is wild in itself.”
As the teams traded runs, the game turned into a chess match with the coaches adjusting on the fly.
“I think the conversations on any staff go on throughout the game,” said Madalon. “We were just trying to figure out how to move pieces around and get our best looks and be in the best position to make stops.
That is a heck of a team and they made plays all over the field. They did a great job.”
Madalon was not surprised to see the Tigers produce their great fourth quarter rally.
“That is a testament to the schedule we play throughout the year,” said Madalon. “You can’t go into these games expecting anything less than an absolute battle. Finding ourselves in that position is obviously not ideal. We knew we had a ton of lacrosse left. There was zero panic in terms of either huddle. It was everyone has got to make some plays when you have the opportunity. It is just make sure that you are executing and you are efficient about it. There were some incredible offensive plays during that stretch, both as a called game and an executed game, It was a really good job by coach Mitch (offensive coordinator Jim Mitchell) and his crew.”
Tiger junior midfielder Chad Palumbo had an incredible game, tallying a career-high six goals with two assists.
“I was hoping we could have gotten that win with a special performance like that from Chad,” said Madalon. “He was very opportunistic, he was very tough. He made some incredible individual effort plays throughout that game.”
the NCAA quarterfinals. The loss left the Tigers with a final
Another midfielder, freshman Peter Buonanno, made a number of big plays as he contributed three goals and three assists.
“We talk about getting better every day and he did just that in his first year here on campus,” said Madalon. “He just finished strong and what an awesome performance from him at the end of the year.”
The Tigers got a gritty performance from junior Andrew McMeekin at the X as he went 20-of-26 on faceoffs and scooped up seven ground balls.
hope they make great ones.”
In the wake of the loss, Madalon had no qualms with the effort he got from his players.
“It is tough in those moments to say anything,” said Madalon.“You want to stick together as long as you can as a team. This group did a heck of a job. It is in the Princeton lacrosse DNA in terms of never quitting and play through the full 60 minutes.”
build consistency and try to put yourself in a position to win any championship.”
With a number of sophomore and junior stars coming back, Madalon believes the program is in a very good position.
“The talent that returns is awesome,” said Madalon. “That is always the goalconsistency in level of play and recruiting. Hopefully we are going to continue to work it there.”
Madalon, though, knows that talent alone doesn’t guarantee another deep NCAA run.
“He battled up and down throughout the year,” said Madalon of McMeekin.“In terms of how he works, he is very consistent. He is a very hard worker and for him to just scrap and battle for us and come out on top there was awesome. Going into that game everyone was talking about how that was going to be a big part of it. We knew under the hood that he just kept going to work there and hopefully we could come out on the right side of it or least 50 percent.”
Princeton had a chance to force overtime in the waning seconds of the game but a Tucker Wade shot was saved by Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool.
“We are always looking for the highest percentage shot,” said Madalon. “We trust our guys to continue to make good decisions and
The squad’s Class of 2025 made a major impact as it helped Princeton regain its status as a postseason fixture, highlighted by a run to the NCAA Final 4 in 2022.
“This senior class had four NCAA tournament appearances, two Ivy tournament championship wins,” said Madalon, who got three goals in the loss from senior standout Coulter Mackesy as he raised his career-record total to 167. “It is a very special crew. They did a good job of cementing the standard that is now the expectation. That is always the goal of any program to
“It is lessons learned and how good you have to be and how consistent you have to be,” said Madalon. “It is really just to not take anything for granted. You never know when you are going to get your opportunity to play in a quarterfinal game let alone any playoff game. It is really hard to get there. We just have to get back to work. We know how hard it was to get there and we have to work a little harder.”
—Bill Alden
SIX SHOOTER: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Chad Palumbo works his way to goal in recent action. Last Saturday, junior midfielder Palumbo tallied a career-high six goals and two assists in a losing cause as third-seeded Princeton lost 19-18 to sixth-seeded Syracuse in
record of 13-4. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
PU Men’s Heavyweights Excel at Eastern Sprints, Now Aiming to be in Title Mix at the IRA Regatta
As the Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight crew raced against Brown in its final regular season regatta, the boat made a statement.
Despite missing some starters due to illness and injury, the Tiger top boat set a course record on Lake Carnegie with a blistering time of 5:20.8 over the 2,000-meter course to edge the Bears by .5 seconds.
“That was a very special race to get a course record,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes, reflecting on the May 3 regatta. “You need to have the perfect conditions, it has to be very quick, fast moving wind but not too rough to row well and we were right at that limit. But you also need great competition because you can’t do that in a time trial format by yourself. There was not more than three or four feet between them from the first stroke to the last. It was just truly an incredible battle. It took all 18 people at their max and this is a very special thing in this sport. That was a life moment for those kids to be part of a race like that and to execute the way we did against a Brown boat that that was ranked No. 1 in the East at that point. To step up and win it was a really awesome step forward for us, physically and mentally. We knew that would be important going into the Sprints because of the level of parity.”
Last Sunday, the varsity eight executed very well at the Eastern Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., taking third in its grand final.
“This is a pretty incredible year in the heavyweight league; if you looked at sprints, there were four boats straight across through the 1,250,” said Hughes, whose boat posted a time of 5:37.575 in the race won by Harvard
at 5:33.89 with Dartmouth taking second in 5:35.577.
“It was truly an incredible race. It is stuff I have not seen in sprints, boats one to six within five, six seconds. You could throw a blanket over them. That is just the way it has been in the heavyweight league this year. That was a really great learning opportunity to be in that kind of race, to have that kind of pressure, and be able to execute.”
In the team standings, Princeton piled up 34.00 points to finish second behind Harvard, who was first with 41.00, and ahead of Dartmouth, who came in third with 33.00.
“Harvard had a really strong day; we knew that they were strong going in and very good this year,” added Hughes, whose second varsity eight and third varsity eight each took second in their grand finals.
“They were the class of the heavyweight field but we are in the mix and that is exciting. The thing that is exciting for us to continue to build on is to get the remainder of the guys back fully. We have two weeks without school and hopefully some better weather.”
In reflecting on the season overall, Hughes credits senior Pat Long with helping to hold things together for the varsity eight as it has dealt with illness and injuries that have necessitated a reshuffled lineup.
“A massive shout out to Pat Long who is the stroke of the varsity this year,” said Hughes. “He has really stepped up and into a leadership role on that boat in a very positive and inclusive way. Pat recognized that there are some roles to fill here and he has done it in a great way.”
Another senior, Connor Neill, has played a key role in guiding the top boat.
“Connor has been our coxswain and he has done
a great job,” said Hughes. “He is a military guy. He is a ROTC guy and will go into his service right when he graduates. He brings a different kind of leadership and that has also been really great. Hats off to those guys, you have a captain but it always the senior class.”
The senior class has set a good example for the whole group.
“I think another thing this group has done well is that when you have a big team like this, success often comes with some very good following,” said Hughes. “There are times when you recognize that someone’s actions are worth stepping into and following to make the team successful. This group has been very good at being great teammates.”
The team’s younger rowers have given the Tigers plenty of depth.
“If you look at our 2V, there are five freshmen,” said Hughes, noting that freshman twins Dan and Matt Cashman have given the Tigers yeoman’s work this spring going between the 2V and varsity eights. “That is an awesome performance for a group of five guys in their first-ever Eastern Sprints to go in and execute as they did amongst all of the lineup changes that we had to manage for the three weeks prior to sprints to get everyone healthy and firing. That takes a lot of physical maturity and also a lot of mental maturity. I am really proud of those guys and excited for what they are capable of doing going forward.”
In managing the Tiger program, Hughes had gotten plenty of help from associate head coach Matt Smith and assistant coach Jason Elefant.
“I am just one small piece of the staff here; we have seen a trajectory of success with the program that has been very positive and fun
Princeton will wrap up
Association (IRA) national championship regatta from May
Pennsauken.
to be a part of and it is entirely because of the contributions and efforts of Matt and Jason,” said Hughes. “It would not be possible without them. I am eternally grateful for what they have done. I feel like they are not assistants they are co-coaches for sure. They see my gaps and they see my blind spots and they fill them. It is a team. It is very special and I feel very lucky.”
With Princeton wrapping up its season by competing in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta from May 30-June 1 on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, Hughes is utilizing a message delivered by late Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach upon the dedication years ago of the program’s “Celtic Pride” boat.
“Red said all you need to do to honor the Celtic Pride is work hard and be lucky and that is what I said to the team,” said Hughes. “That is going to be the goal for the next two weeks, you need to work hard and you need to be lucky. We need to navigate some really tight competitive racing and take advantage of the opportunities that come to us.”
—Bill Alden
SPRINT FINISH: The Princeton University
form in a recent race. Last Sunday, the Tiger
Eastern Sprints.
PU Sports Roundup
PU Men’s Golf Places
12th in NCAA Regional
Eric Yun led the way as the Princeton University men’s golf team finished 12th last week at the NCAA Amherst (Va.) Regional hosted by Liberty University at Poplar Grove Golf Club.
Freshman Yun carded a 4-over 214 in the threeround competition to finish tied for 30th individually.
The Tigers finished +28 as a group, posting their best team round in the final round where they shot +3 as a team. Oklahoma was team champion of the Regional at -10 overall. The other four teams advancing through to the NCAA Championship included Vanderbilt (-6), Tennessee (-5), Wake Forest (-1) and Pepperdine (+9).
PU Men’s Lightweights 3rd at Eastern Sprints
Battling hard in a tight race, the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight placed third in the grand final at the Eastern Sprints last Sunday on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.
Harvard placed first in the race with a winning time of 5:46.739 over the 2,000-meter course followed by Cornell at 5:49.285 with the Tigers taking third in 5:52.793.
In the team standings, Princeton tallied 30.00 points to finish second behind Harvard, who had 39.00 points. Cornell came
in third with 29.00 points.
The Tigers will wrap up their season by competing in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta from May 30-June 1 on the Cooper River in Pennsauken.
5 Senior Men’s Standouts Named Finalists for Roper
Five Princeton University senior men’s student-athletes, lacrosse star Coulter Mackesy, fencing standout Nicholas Lawson, water polo star Roko Pozaric, volleyball star Henry Wedbush, and track standout Harrison Witt, have been named as finalists for the William Winston Roper Trophy.
The Roper trophy honors is awarded annually to a Princeton senior woman of high scholastic rank who has demonstrated general proficiency in athletics and the qualities of a true sportswoman. It is presented by Mrs. William W. Roper and the Class of 1902.
The Roper Trophy will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on May 22.
5 Senior Women’s Stars Named Finalists for von Kienbusch
Five Princeton University senior women’s student-athletes, lacrosse star McKenzie Blake, open rower Katherine George, golfer Victoria Liu, distance runner Mena Scatchard, and water polo star Kayla Yelensky, have been named as finalists for the C. Otto von Kienbusch Award.
The Kienbusch Award is given annually to a Princeton senior woman of high scholastic rank who has demonstrated general proficiency in athletics and the
qualities of a true sportswoman. The honor is presented in memory of C. Otto v. Kienbusch ’06, friend and benefactor of women’s athletics at Princeton.
The von Kienbusch Award will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on May 22.
Six PU Senior Athletes Tabbed as Finalists for Sailer
Six Princeton University senior student-athletes have been named as finalists for the 2025 Chris Sailer Leadership Award in honor of Chris Sailer, Hall of Fame women’s lacrosse coach at Princeton from 1987-2022.
The finalists include women’s hockey player Mia Coene, men’s water polo player Isaac Rotenberg, men’s squash player Thomas Rosini, men’s track standout Avery Shunneson, wrestler Mikey Squires, and women’s volleyball player Gracie Wood.
The award, made possible by Lucy Small DeStefano ’99 S94 and Chris DeStefano ’94 S99, is awarded annually to senior student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to serving others.
The Chris Sailer Leadership Award will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on May 22.
5 Princeton Athletes Named As Finalists for Lane Award
Five Princeton University senior student-athletes have been named as finalists for the 2025 Art Lane ’34 Award, which is presented annually to recognize selfless contribution to sport and society.
GREAT EIGHT: Members of the Princeton University women’s open crew varsity eight are all smiles after they placed first in the grand final at the Ivy League Championships last Sunday. The Tigers clocked a winning time of 6:01.18 over the 2,000-meter course on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, edging runner-up and previously undefeated Yale (6:05.06) by 3.8 seconds. It marked the eighth straight victory for the Princeton varsity eight at the Ivy regatta. Princeton was second to Yale for the Sally P. Shoemaker Trophy and the Ivy League’s NCAA automatic qualifier by one point (45-44). Yale also earned the overall point title over Princeton (89-84). The NCAA Selection Show was slated for May 20 with Tigers expected to receive an at-large bid to the competition with will be held at nearby Mercer Lake from May 30-June 1.
The finalists include women’s track star Lexi Allen, women’s rugby player Erica De San Jorge, men’s heavyweight rower Sam Kleiner, men’s soccer player Issa Mudashiru, and women’s diver Maddie Seltzer.
The Art Lane ’34 Award will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on May 22.
Princeton Baseball Has 2 Named All-Ivy Princeton University star pitchers Jacob Faulkner and Andrew D’Alessio have been named as 2025 All-Ivy League performers.
Faulkner was named to the All-Ivy first team and D’Alessio was named to the All-Ivy second team.
Senior right-hander Faulkner led the way for the Princeton pitching staff, recording a 4.14 ERA with a 3.83 ERA in conference play. Faulkner, a team captain, made five starts and had 10 appearances for 47.0 innings of work in league play. He tallied 40 strikeouts against Ivy opponents and 55 on the year. Overall, Faulkner went 2-4 with two saves including a save over then-ranked No. 12 Wake Forest.
by
Senior righty D’Alessio recorded the team’s best ERA in conference play, coming in at 2.10 on his way to a 3-1 record in Ivy competition. D’Alessio, also a team captain was part of the combined 1-0 win over Harvard on April 11, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings with a careerhigh eight strikeouts. He went 4-4 overall with 33 strikeouts in 48 innings of work.
In addition, senior outfielder Caden Shapiro was also named Academic AllIvy for the second straight season.
SAVING GRACE: Princeton University women’s lacrosse goalie Amelia Hughes makes a save in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday night, junior Hughes made a season-high 16 saves in a losing cause as Princeton fell 19-10 at top-seeded North Carolina in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Tigers, who were making their first trip to the NCAA quarters since 2019, ended the spring with a 16-4 record.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Needling for Knee Arthritis
Redcord Neurac
With Junior Star Chung Leading the Way, PHS Girls’
Golf Wins Public A State Title
Kyuyoung Chung went through some ups and downs this spring on the golf course for the Princeton High girls’ squad.
“I’ve had rounds where I’ve played great and then I’ve had rounds where I’ve been like, wow, it feels like I’ve never touched a golf club in my life,” said PHS junior star Chung.
The final weeks were definitely more on the great side.
Chung placed second overall and led the PHS team to its first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state championship at Raritan Valley Country Club on May 13. Chung shot a three-over 76 and the Tigers’ 339 team score was 13 shots better than runner-up Ridgewood.
“It’s really exciting,” said Chung. “It’s our first time winning states. This year was also our first time winning sectionals, so definitely really exciting.”
PHS s enior standout Jacqueline Zang tied for third individually with a 79. Yasna Shahriarian shot 90 for a tie for seventh and Alice Ye was a stroke behind in ninth. Shreya Gaekwad, Princeton’s only other senior in the varsity lineup this year, shot 100 for 14th. The depth was too much for the rest of the field.
“It’s a testament to Kyuyoung and a testament to the rest of the girls because no matter what, they really believe in each other,” said Tiger head coach Jess Monzo. “And I think that’s what really sets them apart and helps them succeed as well as they do and have as much success as they have had this year is because they know deep down that they’re all good and if they don’t play well that someone else is going to pick it up for them if they happen to have a bad hole. Just the belief in each other really helped them perform at the top of their game all season.”
Experience was a huge factor in helping Chung and the Tigers down the stretch. They had already put to gether team wins in the Red Devil Invitational, Lady Bombers Tee-Off Classic, the Colonial Valley Confer ence Championship and the South Jersey Group A tour nament. Adding the state crown topped it off.
“I think it means every thing,” said Monzo. “Now it gives the girls so much confidence and it lets them know everything they’ve done over the last couple of years hasn’t been for nothing.”
Last year’s ending was still fresh in the memory of Chung and her teammates. Their 2024 season finished with them placing sixth at states. Chung was 38th
“Last year we were a little disappointed with our placing at states and so this year we definitely did set out to some degree to do better,” said Chung. “Last year definitely I don’t think at states any of us played as well as we wanted to play. So going into states this year, I think it was definitely on our mind, but I think golf by nature is a very mental sport
and so it helps to just sort of focus on your game and not think too much about past mistakes and things like that. But it definitely was a motivating factor.”
Chung’s mental fortitude was tested early. She overcame slow starts in each of her final two tournaments to be the low scorer for the Tigers in both. In the sectional tournament, she recovered from bogeys on her first five holes to place second overall. In the state final, she gave back shots even earlier unfortunately, opening the tournament on holes 16 and 17 with a double and triple bogey respectively.
“For me personally starting out in a not-so-great position tends to motivate me to do better, not repeat that,” said Chung. “In golf, I think staying in the present is very important because thinking about past mistakes really can affect your mentality and lead to future mistakes. So definitely I’m focusing on each shot individually, each hole individually. When I look at a new hole, I try to think of it as an opportunity to birdie, not a risk for a bogey.”
Chung responded to her slow start with a run of birdies when she played 18 and then started on the front nine. It put her right back into a spot of contention individually. When Chung is playing well, she is hard to beat.
“Confidence is a big factor,” said Chung. “So once I get that birdie, get a few pars in a row, it kind of gets me rolling, especially with my putting. Throughout my entire golf game, I’ve struggled with my putting and so a few good putts really, really does tend to help me. I had a few longer birdie putts which fell into the hole,
able to help the team win this year.
“It’s interesting because with individual summer tournaments, really all you have to do is focus on yourself,” said Chung. “It’s really nice with the team because you do have a community, but at the same time, at least for me sometimes there is that sort of added pressure of having to play well, not just for myself, but for the rest of my team. I remember last year I wasn’t particularly happy with how I played and to some extent it felt a little like I let my team down and so this year I was really happy to not repeat that.”
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Chung has been part of an excellent 1-2 punch this year with Zang. With a pair of golfers capable of top-five finishes every tournament, the Tigers have had a great starting point. Chung grew up admiring Zang and when she started to play tournaments in middle school, Zang is one of the players that inspired her to continue to develop her game. High school golf has solidified her development.
No
“Through team golf, I’ve gotten to know her so much better,” said Chung. “She’s really such a sweet person and she’s so committed to the team and even though she’s competitive and she has her individual drive, she still somehow is very community oriented which is great.”
to Jackie, she’s always been the person that I wanted to be.’ And we were talking, I said, ‘That’s great, but eventually you have to be you. You can’t be the next Jackie. It’ll be incredible if you are, but you need to be who you are first.’”
Chung made a name for herself over the last few weeks of the season to show her potential to score low in big moments. It sets her and the team up for a bright future as defending group champions.
improve,” said Chung. “For me personally, I don’t think really much changes. I think I just continue to focus on my game, continue to focus on really being present in the team. And I think we have a good shot next year, even though we are losing several good players.”
Like Zang will do next year at Carnegie Mellon, Chung hopes to continue to play in college. She’ll have another full summer schedule to continue to improve and come back even stronger next season, just as she grew from last year to this year.
“It’s just the maturity,” said Monzo. “As she’s gotten
“Going forward, I think we’re expecting our sophomores and our seeds three and four and five to really
It’s Chung whose example will be valuable to the returning players. Through the ups and downs of the season, she kept her focus on the next step and it worked out in the end with a historic finish for PHS.
“The end with golf, it’s really about numbers, right?” said Chung. “Even if you
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look at each individual hole, someone could go to the rough, you could lose your ball in the water or you could get on the green in two and then three-putt and you still end up with the same bogey. So I think at the end it’s really for me personally the numbers that speak for themselves. Sometimes I have rounds where it’s like, oh, I wish I putted it better, I wish I had done this, even if it is the same score. But in the end, the play thing is the play thing. And you know, my scores especially are what matters to me.”
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BRINGING THEIR A-GAME: Members of the Princeton High girls’ golf team show off the spoils of victory after they won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state championship at the Raritan Valley Country Club on May 13. Junior star Kyuyoung Chung led the way for the Tigers, placing second individually with a three-over 76. PHS posted a winning score of 339, 13 shots better than runner-up Ridgewood. Pictured, from left, are Alice Ye, Jackie Zang, Chung, Yasna Shahriarian, and Shreya Gaekwad. (Photo provided by Jess Monzo)
TRUTH MATTERS
Sparked by Donahue’s Versatility, Leadership, Hun Boys’ Lax
Luke Donahue wasn’t fazed as the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team found itself trailing Lawrenceville B 2-0 in the first quarter of the Prep state championship game last Thursday.
“It seems to be a theme this year, we take the first punch but this group of guys are some of the grittiest kids I have ever met and played with,” said Hun senior midfielder Donahue. “We have been battle-tested throughout the year with such a difficult schedule that we are really ready for anything they throw our way.”
The Raiders responded with a 5-0 run to seize momentum. Donahue scored the second goal of that surge on a feed from Jake Beck.
“Playing with Beck is awesome,” said Donahue. “The defense gets all caught up in guarding him and it helps everyone else around him shine. He is really good at showing that off.”
As the contest unfolded, it turned into a nail-biter as topseeded Lawrenceville showed plenty of fight, narrowing the gap to 6-5 midway through the third quarter and then drawing to within 9-8 in the last two minutes of regulation. The sixth-seeded Raiders, though, were able to get a late stop and then run out the clock to win by that 9-8 margin.
“I think we never really changed our mindset until the final buzzer,” said Donahue, who tallied two goals in the win as the Raiders ended the season with a 7-13 record. “It came down to the wire. If we had let up, obviously anything could have happened so I think we were pretty composed. We kept the same level-headedness throughout the whole game.”
Donahue acknowledged that there were some nervous moments as the Big Red had possession with less than a minute to go and a chance to force overtime.
“All of those thoughts are running through your head,” said Donahue. “You look at the guys around you and realize what you are playing for. It helps out a lot.”
The title means a lot to a scrappy Hun squad that started the season by losing five of its first six games.
“I think it is awesome,” said Donahue. “It is great for the program and coach [Joe} Donnelly in his first year. To get a statement win like this is really going to help us moving forward.”
Caps Late Surge with Prep Title
In Donahue’s view, playing as a unit was a key factor in Hun’s title run.
“I think one thing coach Donnelly harped on us the whole year was that we win together, we lose together, we do everything together,” said Donahue. “It doesn’t come from one individual making superstar plays, it comes from when we play together.”
The Raiders also benefited from a special team chemistry.
“Everyone says their team is close but there is definitely something special about us,” said Donahue. “We are almost too unserious at times. We are all having way too much fun with each other but I think that is the perfect thing you want to look for in a program.”
Donahue’s versatility and team-first attitude has been a plus for the program.
“I started at goalie, then played midfield and longstick midfield and then midfield again,” said Donahue. “Wherever the team needs me I am there.”
Hun head coach Joe Donnelly was proud of the way his team weathered the Lawrenceville rally.
“Lawrenceville is a great team,” said Donnelly. “They went on a pretty big run there and closed the gap but we were ready to play to our pace. We were prepared and we played as a team. We played as a unit for the entire game.”
The squad’s tenacity made a difference. “They are gritty, they don’t give up, and they play with a chip on their shoulder,” said Donnelly. “For being a prep school, I think we are extremely blue collar in the way that we approach everything, from the weight room to practices and our film sessions. There is so much attention to detail in what we do. They have done nothing but buy in and be excited about the progress.”
Donnelly credited Donahue with playing a major role in creating that vibe around the program.
“Luke is such a special player; he came in as a goalie, he played shortstick defensive midfield, he played LSM and he just went out and played offensive midfielder,” said Donnelly. “He is a perfect example of a team-first guy. He is not only a great leader, he is great on the field. He is great in everything he does. He is such a presence, not only on the field but in our school and community. He isn’t the most vocal leader on the team but
he is so much of a practice what you preach guy and sets the example for everyone. We have some younger guys on our team that are working in and getting some time and I am really glad that they got to experience Luke Donahue.” Hun got some great work from junior star Beck in the win over Lawrenceville as he tallied two goals and three assists.
“Beck has really stepped up, that guy has been one of the biggest guys that have bought into that team play set,” said Donnelly. “He is very much one of our vocal leaders on the team. When we need to set the tone, you want to be hands off with these kids. Practice time is the time for us to do the instruction. In the game, we want to make our minor tweaks and do the little things according to our game plan. He is very much someone that steps up and speaks up and is really directing what the kids need at that moment.”
As Hun went 4-2 down the stretch, the team stepped up collectively.
“One of the biggest things that we imparted on them early the season is that we have to do the little things right to achieve our big goals,” said Donnelly. “Early in the season it was a little bit tougher of a buy-in, especially playing those teams that we are playing. But the more time we spent together, the more we focused on the flashes of greatness instead of looking at the bad parts about our games or practices and focusing on the positive as a unit. The more and more we felt comfortable working with each other and knowing that when things go wrong, it is not going to continue to go wrong.”
Winning the Prep title was proof of concept for the Raiders.
“It is a symbol for the determination of this group,” said Donnelly. “You can put your head down after struggling early in the season and just give up but that is not this team. This team is one that was 100 percent bought in. This kind of resilience and grit is what is going to continue to help us grow as a program.”
Donahue, for his part, believes that fortitude paved the way to the title.
“It is really just adapt to what is thrown at you,” said Donahue. “This team is super resilient. This year is a testament to that with the rough start and then we finish with a state championship.”
—Bill Alden
TITLE TIME: Members of the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team celebrate after they defeated Lawrenceville B 9-8
Junior Francis Stars in a Losing Cause
As Hun Baseball Falls in Prep A Semis
With the Hun School baseball team trailing Peddie 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Prep A state semifinals last Sunday afternoon, T.J. Francis wasn’t about to give up.
Junior outfielder Francis ripped a triple to left center field to drive in T.J. Tift.
“It was just take a pitch the other way, let it get deep, find a gap and I did just that,” said Hun junior outfielder Francis, reflecting on his hitting approach.
Francis was hoping his triple would spark a dramatic comeback but he ended up getting stranded at third as Peddie pitcher Brody Buchner fanned the next three batters to shut the door on Hun.
“I thought it would spark us,” said Francis, who went 2 for 4 with one run, one RBI, and two triples in the defeat. “In the end we played our tails off.”
While the 7-4 loss stung, Francis is proud of what the Raiders accomplished this spring as it went 15-7 and tied the Hill School (Pa.) for the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title.
“We really came together,” said Francis. “To have a big loss to Gloucester Catholic in the first week, we pivoted from that and played our best the rest of the season. I think we all hung out a lot during the year and that helped our bonds get stronger. Towards the season we knew we could count on each other.”
Francis emerged as a strong performer for the Raiders this spring, hitting .413 with 23 runs and 19 RBIs after batting .111 with one hit in 2024.
“I started to try to take the ball the other way,” said Francis. “Last year, I was mainly pulling baseball which is why I didn’t really get much time.”
As Francis caught fire this
spring, he was moved into the leadoff spot in the Hun batting order
“It was definitely a change of pace for me,” said Francis. “I was batting fourth in the beginning. I started to get more comfortable.”
Hun head coach Tom Monfiletto sensed that the seventh inning triple by Francis could turn the tide for the Raiders.
“I did, especially with the guys that we had coming up,” said Monfiletto. “He (Buchner) upped his game and made some really, really good pitches. I wasn’t too upset with those at-bats.”
Hun had struggled against Peddie ace Buchner in two regular season meetings, falling 5-3 to the Falcons on May 1 and edging them 2-1 on April 4.
“We watched a lot of video of it and I thought our approach was much better today than it was in the first two starts,” said Monfiletto. “He is outstanding. He is an elite pitcher with elite stuff. He threw like it today. I have to give him a ton of credit. I would also like to give Peddie a ton of credit because I feel like they played a really, really good game.”
Monfiletto credited Francis with having a really good season for the Raiders.
“He has been unbelievable,” said Monfiletto. “We are so lucky to have him and whatever college scoops him up is going to be incredibly lucky to have him. He was such a bright spot for us all year long.”
In the loss to Peddie last Sunday, Hun’s pitchers found themselves in some tough spots.
“We weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be, we didn’t help ourselves out too much,” said Monfiletto, who got four innings from starter Kerrick Shannon with Aidan Heaphy, Sam Amodio, and Ben Herriott coming on in
relief. “However with the year that Kerrick had and the year that our staff had I am not going to think about it today. I am going to think about the bright spots that we had this year.”
As Hun won its sixth straight MAPL title, there were plenty of highlights this year.
“Some guys stepped up in major ways,” said Monfiletto. “I think there is a lot of room for improvement and having a lot of guys coming back is really exciting.”
The team’s senior group, which included Will Kraemer, Nico Amecangelo, Antonio Destribats, Zach Eisenberg, Aidan Barrett, and Grant Gastadello, stepped up in a number of ways.
“They were incredible, they are some of the best overall human beings that we have had here,” said Monfiletto. “They have contributed so much to the program, whether they played every day or they didn’t. They really gave absolutely everything that they had to the program and I am go -
ing to miss them a great deal. Even Nico, who wasn’t able to play this year and that was a bummer, just did whatever he possibly could to contribute.”
Monfiletto is excited about the direction of the Hun program.
“One of the themes throughout the year had
been how do you respond, and we are going to continue that next year,” said Monfiletto. “Guys that are going to be playing in college are going to continue that as well. I am really excited for the guys that are going to play in college and I am really excited for the guys that we have coming back.”
the view
“Taking from this, it is going to motivate us,” said Francis. “Losses only make us stronger so next year we are going to come back even stronger.”
—Bill
TURNING THE CORNER: Hun School baseball player T.J. Francis races home in a game last spring. Last Sunday, junior outfielder Francis went 2 for 4 with one run, one RBI, and two triples as top-seeded Hun fell 7-4 to fourth-seeded Peddie in the Prep A state semifinals. The Raiders finished the spring with a 15-7 record.
(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
In
of Francis, the returning players will come back hungry next spring.
Alden
Senior Riviello Comes Through in the Clutch But Hun Softball Falls In Prep A Semifinals
Brianna Riviello and her teammates on the Hun School softball team knew they were in for a scrap as they faced rival Lawrenceville for a third time this spring in the Prep A states semis last Thursday evening.
“We were expecting a tough battle but I think we were prepared,” said senior third baseman Riviello. “We practice hard enough.”
As the rivals battled on a turf field at the Jackson Adventure Sports & Entertainment complex, the teams had a hard time scoring as the game was knotted in a scoreless tie heading into the fifth inning with Hun’s Anna Murphy and Big Red hurler Emma Sung engaged in a tense pitcher’s duel.
Although third-seeded Lawrenceville broke through with three runs in the top of the fifth, the second-seeded Raiders didn’t hang their heads.
“It was a tough inning, one error stacked on top of another error but we rallied at the end,” said Riviello.
In the bottom of the sixth, Riviello stroked a single to
drive in a run as the Raiders narrowed the gap to 3-1.
“It was a just a mindset shift,” said Riviello. “I just thought you have to get it done.”
In the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders almost got it done as Payton Poandl belted a run-scoring triple but that ended the scoring as Hun fell 3-2.
“I think we could have come back,” said Riviello, who went 2 of 3 with one RBI in the defeat. “We made a couple of aggressive mistakes.”
While the loss stung as the Raiders ended the spring with a 14-2 record, Riviello was proud of how Hun competed this spring.
“This is my fourth MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) title win so I am pretty proud of it,” said Riviello, who hit .333 this spring with 12 runs and 10 RBIs. “We approached the season with a different mindset every game. We all did our best and I think it paid off.”
In starring for Hun, Riviello followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Christina, a 2022 Hun alumna.
“She definitely was a mentor, playing with her was so fun,” said Riviello, noting that her sister was at the game last Thursday. “I took that mentorship with some of the younger girls on the team.”
Hun head coach Kathy Quirk liked the way her girls fought against Lawrenceville.
“I was expecting a battle, I was very proud of Murphy and how she carried herself on the mound,” said Quirk. “In the fifth, there were routine plays that we just didn’t make. We never gave up. We just made a couple of mistakes with base running that we normally don’t do.”
Quirk credited Riviello with stepping up under pressure.
“She had been clutch for us a few times,” said Quirk. “I was very happy for her.”
The Raiders, though, didn’t come through enough into clutch despite getting eight hits against the Big Red.
“We just didn’t hit the ball today the way we have been hitting it,” said Quirk. “On Saturday, we beat up on Germantown Academy (a 14-0 win) which was unbelievable.”
In Quirk’s postgame message to her players, she praised them for what they accomplished this spring.
“I told them in our huddle that I never expected to be here or even win a MAPL championship,” said Quirk. “If we were .500, I was going to be happy this year. They believed in themselves. They had games where we weren’t expected to win and we won.”
The team’s senior quintet
of Emma [Eisenberg], Kailey [Jacobs], and Sophia Troiano along with Riviello and Murphy helped forge that belief.
“They are going to be very missed,” said Quirk. “Anna did a great job on the mound and Emma did behind the plate. Bri
Experience Exceptional Senior Living at
does a great job at third base, Kailey at shortstop and Ginger (Troiano) in left. I am just very proud of them. I am sorry that it had to end the way it did but that is the game.”
Riviello, for her part, is going to miss her Hun teammates.
“It is definitely the girls on the team,” said Riviello, when asked what stands out about her Hun softball experience.
“The relationships on the team, that is something you don’t forget.”
—Bill Alden
FINAL CUT: Hun School softball player Brianna Riviello makes contact in a game earlier this spring. Last Thursday, senior third baseman Riviello went 2 for 3 with one RBI as secondseeded Hun fell 3-2 to third-seeded Lawrenceville in the Prep A state semis. The loss left the Raiders with a final record of 14-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
School last Thursday. The Red Hawks finished the spring with a 6-12 record.
Academy’s Scott Skipper and Nikhil Shah 7-6, 6-3 in the final. The Panthers placed third in the team standings at the tourney won by MKA.
and pre-race briefing beginning at 6:45 a.m. The triathlon swim start and duathlon run start are slated to start at 7:00 a.m.
For race information and to register, log onto runsignup. com/Race/NJ/Princeton/ PrincetonTriathlon.
All participants will receive a shirt upon checking in on race day along with a medal upon finishing.
Beneficiaries of the event are Dare2Tri (a national nonprofit organization that aids disabled athletes), Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, and the Princeton High Triathlon Club. YWCA Firecracker 5K Slated for June 8
The YWCA Princeton Firecracker 5K is slated for June 8 at Veteran’s Park at 2206 Kuser Road in Hamilton.
Same-day registration begins at 7 a.m. with the race starting at 8 a.m.
There will be an awards ceremony starting at approximately 9 a.m. There will be awards for the overall male and female, top three male and female runners, along with the top male and female runners in 16 different age groups. For more info on the race and to register online, log onto YWCA Princeton’s Firecracker 5K (runsignup.com).
Michael Joseph Ingwerson be remembered fondly by his loyal customers, his fellow tennis players, and his many family members and friends.
Michael Joseph “Joe” Ingwerson, 71, of Princeton died on Friday, May 16, 2025 at home. Born in Evanston, IL he resided most of his life in Princeton, NJ.
A master mechanic and lifelong lover of cars, Joe was the owneroperator of Rocky Hill Automotive for many years. He was an avid tennis player and a passionate musician with an enthusiasm for blues and jazz. His musical achievements included playing the drums for the NYbased Red House Blues Band, as well as for Nexus, a NJ-area jazz quartet. He also enjoyed playing piano. Joe will
Son of the late Deles Denier and Jeanne Marie (Severt) Ingwerson, he is survived by three daughters: Cathryn Ingwerson, Erin Ingwerson, and Layla Ingwerson; two brothers: David Ingwerson and Kevin Ingwerson; two grandchildren: Nathaniel Wells and Ryker Elam; one niece, Amanda Ingwerson; and his ex-wife, Lori Ingwerson.
The funeral arrangements are private under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
Nelson Glass & Aluminum Co.
Truly Frameless Shower Doors
741 Alexander Rd, Princeton • 924-2880
The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector The Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector SUNDAYS 8:00 am: Holy Communion Rite I 10:00 am: Holy Communion Rite II
33 Mercer St. Princeton • 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church 904 Cherry Hill Rd • Princeton, NJ 08525 (609) 466-3058 Saturday Vespers 5pm • Sunday Divine Liturgy Pescantified Liturgy Wednesdays during Lent 6pm 930am • www.mogoca.org
-tionately known as Jim (and “Cass” as he signed his paintings), passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. Born on December 7, 1940 in Elizabeth, NJ, he was the son of the late James and Dorothy Cascio. Jim was a beloved, larger than life figure who touched the lives of many with his generosity and magnetic presence.
Jim grew up in Cranford and Mountainside, NJ, before establishing his home in Hunterdon County where he resided for the past 53 years. He served proudly in the United States National Guard in the 1960s after graduating from Nichols College in Dudley, MA. He went on to own Cassways Trucking, a tri-state tractor trailer company based in Garwood, NJ, building a family legacy.
A man of many talents, Jim was an artistic soul who became a skilled painter in oil, watercolor, and acrylics. He had a gift for capturing the essence of life in the area, becoming known for his renderings of farm animals and local landscapes. Some can be found hanging in restaurants in the Lambertville area, many of which were also immortalized by his paintbrush.
Jim’s love of animals extended beyond the canvas. He could often be seen in the company of his dogs, with whom he was inseparable. He enjoyed sharing stories about the Spinoni breed and his dogs in particular. He also loved horses and shared a passion for equestrian sports with his son, Stacy, and was a wellknown fixture at local horse shows.
An avid gardener, Jim grew his own produce and transformed his harvests into delicious meals. Not only was he a skilled cook, but also a consummate host. His holiday table was always bountiful to be shared with friends (old and new) and family alike, creating lasting memories for all who gathered.
Jim was a devoted family man. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Noel Reisdorf, and first wife, Tracy (Gruman) Cascio. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sally (Swenson) Cascio, whom he married on January 3, 1987. He was a loving father to his son, Stacy J. Cascio, and step-father to Ingrid Reisner and Erik Reisner. He was also a cherished grandfather to Tristen Cascio and Aiden Cascio, as well as step-grandfather to Anabelle Reisner and Madeline Reisner, He will be remembered fondly by his niece, Rachael. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A Celebration of Life service will take place at the family’s discretion in the fall. Burial in Rosemont Cemetery, Route 519, Rosemont, NJ was private.
For a tax-deductible memorial contribution in memory of James Cascio, checks may be made payable to LPHSA, Inc. (Lake Placid Horse Shows) and mailed
to 5514 Cascade Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Federal ID#82-5074078. Arrangements have been entrusted to the HolcombeFisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit Jim’s memorial page and guestbook below at holcombefisher.com.
John L. Hoover, III 1958-2025
John L. Hoover, III, 67, of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on April 18, 2025. Born in Norristown, PA, John spent most of his life in Princeton and graduated from Princeton High School in 1976. John continued his education at Ashland University and the University of Maryland. He had an enduring love for nature, the outdoors and especially the ocean — his happiest moments were spent down the shore. John served on the Avalon Beach Patrol for seven summers, keeping a watchful eye on the young children vacationing at the Helen Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children. He found joy in the camaraderie of his fellow lifeguards and excelled in singles and doubles South Jersey Lifeguard rowing races.
To advertise your services in our Directory of Religious Services, contact Jennifer Covill jennifer.covill@witherspoonmediagroup.com (609) 924-2200 ext. 31
As a cancer survivor in the early 2000s, John faced his battle with remarkable strength, courage, and determination, supported by the talented doctors at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. His resilience carried him through remission, allowing him many more years with those he loved.
John’s warmth and generosity were boundless. A gentle soul with an insatiable curiosity, he had a quiet wisdom that drew people in. He found joy in learning, music, laughter, and in the natural beauty of the world around him. In recent years he devoted himself to caring for his beloved mother, Jean, offering her companionship and unwavering love until her passing in 2024.
Preceded in death by his parents Jean H. and John L. Jr, John will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered as he leaves behind a family who cherished him: his sister and brother-inlaw, Curry H. and Scott Simmel; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Stuart G. and Carey Hoover, Eric D. Hoover, and Christian C. and Marianne Hoover; nieces and nephews Sarah and Whitney Reynolds, Alexandra and Samuel Stabert, Eric W. and Mary Hoover, Anne and Griffin Cardew, John R. and Sara Hoover, Grace B. Hoover, and several great nieces and nephews, all of whom carry his memory in their hearts.
Funeral arrangements will be private under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
well loved and well read since 1946
Town Topics CLASSIFIEDS
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Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
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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
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FURNISHED COTTAGE FOR RENT –10 MINS FROM PRINCETON
Charming, freestanding efficiencystyle cottage on a beautiful oneacre+ property just outside Princeton. Features include a queen-size Murphy bed, leather sectional, 70” TV, skylight, kitchenette, and full bath. Enjoy a private deck overlooking a creek.
The property offers patios, a fire pit, and a new outdoor basketball half court.
$2,300/month – all utilities included. Two friendly dogs live on the property – must be pet-friendly. Will consider shorter-term rentals.
Available now. Message John to schedule a viewing! (703) 4023204. 05-28
24/7 LIVE-IN CAREGIVER SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
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
REPAIRS NEEDED: If you’re able to fix, and hopefully pick up and deliver, tv/vcr combos, please leave message anytime: (609) 683-5456, fab4casper@yahoo.com. 05-28
Knotty pine bookcases a specialty! SKILLMAN FURNITURE CO. 609-924-1881
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.
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TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!
Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:
I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. tf
WE BUY CARS
Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131 Ask for Chris tf
MAGNIFICENT ESTATE SALE 105 AUDUBON PRINCETON
Thursday thru Saturday, 9:30-3:00
Antiques, MARGEY MORGAN photographs, ART, CARPETS, MEISSEN, SPODE, MINTON, MANY QUALITY BOOKS, DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES…
Please look at pictures on estatesales.net, MG ESTATE SALES. 05-21
HOUSECLEANING: Experienced, English-speaking, great with references, reliable with own transportation. Saturday and Sunday only. Call (609) 933-1437. 05-21
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
JOE’S LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON Property Maintenance and Specialty Jobs Commercial/Residential Over 45 Years of Experience • Fully Insured • Free Consultations Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com Text (only): (609) 356-9201 Office: (609) 216-7936 Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500 tf HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:
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. 07-30
FURNISHED COTTAGE FOR RENT –10 MINS FROM PRINCETON
Charming, freestanding efficiencystyle cottage on a beautiful oneacre+ property just outside Princeton. Features include a queen-size Murphy bed, leather sectional, 70” TV, skylight, kitchenette, and full bath. Enjoy a private deck overlooking a creek.
The property offers patios, a fire pit, and a new outdoor basketball half court.
$2,300/month – all utilities included. Two friendly dogs live on the property – must be pet-friendly. Will consider shorter-term rentals.
Available now. Message John to schedule a viewing! (703) 4023204. 05-28
24/7 LIVE-IN CAREGIVER SEEKING EMPLOYMENT 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
REPAIRS NEEDED: If you’re able to fix, and hopefully pick up and deliver, tv/vcr combos, please leave message anytime: (609) 683-5456, fab4casper@yahoo.com.
How Estate Sales Work
Estate sales are organized to liquidate the belongings of a person who has passed away, downsized, or is moving. Unlike garage sales, estate sales typically involve the entire contents of a home and are often managed by professional companies. These companies sort, price, and display items ranging from furniture and antiques to clothing and kitchenware.
The sale usually lasts two to three days, and prices may drop as the event progresses to encourage buyers. Beforehand, the estate sale company often advertises online and through local listings to attract a crowd. Shoppers can walk through the home and purchase items directly. At the end of the sale, any remaining items are donated, sold in bulk, or discarded.
The proceeds, minus the company ’s commission, go to the estate owner or heirs. Estate sales offer a practical way to clear a home quickly while helping others find valuable or unique secondhand items.
Woodrow Wilson’s Meticulously Preserved Family Home
82 Library Place, Princeton, New Jersey | callawayhenderson.com/id/R45ZB9 | $6,500,000
Presenting the meticulously restored home of President Woodrow Wilson, a spectacular Tudor Revival on the most iconic block in Princeton’s coveted Western Section. The award-winning project by architect Ron Berlin and Baxter Construction was a seven-year labor of love that created a welcoming home for future generations and rescued an irreplaceable piece of history. Burnished woodwork was revived, leaded glass windows repaired, fireplaces retiled, new multi-zone mechanicals and a generator installed, the chef’s kitchen expanded, and a stunning glass-roofed sunroom added to overlook the professionally landscaped grounds. The list is endless, and the result...extraordinary!
