Rutgers Jewish Film Festival
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WCC Organ Competition
Offer Full-Tuition
Homeowners Can Take Steps to Help Mitigate Runoff, Flooding
PSO Presents Finnish Violinist in Britten Concerto
Passage Theatre Presents Blues in My Soul
Stars as PU Women’s Volleyball Tops Brown, Now 6-1
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Princeton is always ready to show off its unusual assemblage of geniuses, and last week’s announcement of the 2022 MacArthur Fellowships, known as “genius grants,” once again gives bragging rights to Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS).
This year’s MacArthur recipients included four scholars with local connections who, along with the 21 other recipients, have demonstrated “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for selfdirection,” according to the MacArthur Foundation.
In addition to the public acclaim, each recipient will receive a no-stringsattached grant of $800,000, increased from $625,000 last year, to be awarded over the next ve years. The Foundation states that Fellowship recipients, from age 35 to 69 this year, “show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future.”
Princeton University Mathematics Professor June Huh, 39, Fields Medal winner earlier this year and formerly a visiting professor and fellow at IAS, was cited by the MacArthur Foundation for “discovering underlying connections between disparate areas of mathematics and proving long-standing mathematical conjectures.”
“Mathematics is an exploration,” said Huh in a MacArthur website video. “There are different types of pleasure one gets by doing mathematics. And most of it is, I think, very similar to the kind of pleasure that artists get when you discover that you can actually communicate something that is so subtle and intricate.”
Huh received his B.S. (2007) and M.S. (2009) from Seoul University and his Ph.D. (2014) from the University of Michigan. He served as a fellow and visiting professor for multiple stints at IAS, held an appointment at Stanford University (2020-2021), and officially joined the Princeton University faculty in 2021.
“June Huh is a rare and distinctive talent with an inspiring combination of mathematical genius and creativity,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber.
The MacArthur Foundation announcement noted, “With his innovative approach and fruitful collaborations with
Three incumbents — Debbie Bronfeld, Susan Kanter, and Dafna Kendal — and two new candidates — Margarita “Rita” Rafalovsky and Lishian “Lisa” Wu — are competing for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) in the upcoming November 8 election. Voters will be asked to select just three names for election to three-year terms.
The five candidates, coming from a range of different backgrounds and worlds of experience, have aired their views in a number of different forums, media reports, and public statements over the past few weeks. Most striking in their communications so far has been the clash in perspectives between those who are on the Board and the challengers who are calling for change.
All of the candidates have many ideas for improvement and progress for the schools in the coming months and years. All recognize the damaging effects of the pandemic and the need for increased attention to student and staff mental health needs. They all acknowledge the need for continued efforts to achieve equity and transparency.
All three incumbents, seeking to continue their work on the Board, are
complimentary of school leadership, proud of the work of the Board and the district throughout the pandemic, and feel that the district is moving in the right direction towards better communication and transparency and making sure that budgets are balanced with scal prudence and that achievement gaps are being addressed.
All ve candidates were asked to respond by email to two questions that touch on concerns that have been
prominent in recent discussion and debate about the school district and its future direction: the rst regarding school rankings, with some reports that Princeton’s scores have been declining; and the second about how to address mental health challenges in the schools.
The questions and the candidates’ responses follow:
Question No.1: Could you comment on recent concerns — fueled by rankings, test scores, etc. — that PPS might be
Jonathan Lee Walton says that Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) helped to shape him, starting more than 20 years ago when he enrolled as a young divinity student, and now he will have a chance to return the favor.
Walton, currently Dean of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity in WinstonSalem, N.C., has been elected by the PTS Board of Trustees to be the Seminary’s eighth president, effective January 1, 2023, succeeding President M. Craig Barnes, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
changed my life,” said Walton in a October 17 telephone interview. “It is one of the communities that helped to shape me. It provided me the opportunity to explore intellectual worlds and traditions that I knew not of. And it expanded my horizons in many ways.”
Walton, 49, who will be PTS’ rst African American president and rst nonPresbyterian president, is an ordained Baptist minister. He continues to serve his “two beloved alma maters” — Morehouse College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and
“Princeton Theological SeminaryFALL SPLENDOR: The Fall Family Fun Weekends continue at Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road through the end of October, on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees share their favorite fall activities in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
the season w ith music, merchants,
Fall Fest vendors will take over our courtyard with a wide range of goods including vintage, textiles, handmade works from artisans, crafters, jewelers + apparel artists.
Plus, Princeton Shopping Center businesses will be fall-ready and waiting for your support. Plan to enjoy lunch + snacks throughout the day at one of our many dining options.
Guyot Walk Fall Cleanup and Planting : On Saturday, October 22 from 1-4 p.m., help remove weeds and replace them with native plants between the green flags marking renewal areas at Jefferson Road, Carnahan Place, and Harris Road along the path. Email maryclurman2@gmail.com with questions.
Dedication Event for Debra Mercantini : The Princeton Environmental Commission (PEC) and the municipality are having a dedication in recognition of this municipal employee and longtime secretary to PEC, who died earlier this year. The dedication is Wednesday, October 26 at 2 p.m. at Barbara Boggs Sigmund Park, Hamilton Avenue and Chestnut Street. A dogwood tree will be planted, along with a plaque in her honor. Survey on Food Waste and Organics : The municipality is considering changes to the residential waste collection system to contain costs and decrease the carbon footprint. A survey to share feedback is available at accessprinceton@princetonnj.gov. Community Visioning Survey : The next phase of surveys related to Princeton’s effort to update its Master Plan is available through October 31. Visit princetonnj. gov for the link.
Holiday Gift Drive : Princeton Human Services seeks donors for holiday gifts to go to needy children, up to age 12, not to exceed $75 (one to two gifts). Donations for gift cards are also sought. Visit princetonnj.gov/753/Holiday-Gift-Drive by November 18.
Poll Workers Needed : For the upcoming election on November 8, as well as voting locations beginning October 29. Compensation ranges from $200-$300 per day. Minors ages 16-18 can also work a full day at the polls on election day. Apply at (609) 989-6522 or by emailing BoardofElections@mercercounty.org.
COVID-19 Care Kits for Princeton Families : Low/moderate income families in Princeton can get these kits, which include tests and materials to respond to COVID-19, such as one-use thermometers, an oximeter, and extra household items. They are available for pickup at Princeton Human Services by calling (609) 688-2055. Certain eligibility requirements apply.
Free Vision and Dental Services for Low Income Residents : The municipality is offering these services for low-income Princeton residents impacted by the pandemic. For application information, visit Princetonnj.gov.
Flu Shot Clinics : Several clinics are being held throughout the fall at different area locations. For a full list, email healthdepartment@princetonnj.gov.
Gas Leaf Blowers : Are now permitted through December 15 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and through 5 p.m. Saturdays. No use permitted on Sundays or Thanksgiving.
With films in English, He brew, Arabic, Spanish, Cata lan, Russian, French, Polish, and German, the 23rd An nual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival is decidedly inter national in scope. Festival
Director Karen Small and colleagues watched 150 films before coming up with
the final 15, 10 of which are being screened at the Regal Cinema in North Brunswick October 30-November 6. Eight more are available vir tually November 8-13.
Due to the pandemic, the festival was mostly virtual during the past two years. Being able to get audience members back in the theater together makes a difference.
“As someone who reviews the films and is also direc tor of the festival, I have seen many of the films on my home TV and then on a big screen with an audi ence,” said Small, who is also the managing director of Rutgers’ Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life, which spon sors the festival. “It adds so much. When you’re watching together, you laugh at the same places. You are part of the audience reaction, and it changes the experience.”
The festival begins Octo ber 30 with Cinema Sabaya, in Hebrew with English sub titles, the only feature being shown both in the theater and virtually. “This is a love ly film about Israeli and Arab women taking a film produc tion class together. It’s about how being behind a movie camera helps them talk about their lives and hidden emotions. The whole film is about this class,” Small said. “They’re from all different backgrounds. It recently swept the Israeli equivalent of the Oscars, and is Israel’s nomination to the Academy Awards.”
Opening day will also fea ture Love and Mazel Tov, described as “a German rom-com” in a press release about the festival. The film will be followed by a record ed interview with the direc tor, Wolfgang Murnberger. “For many of the in-person films, we have the filmmaker or a scholar on hand to talk about it after the screen ing,” Small said. “That adds a whole other dimension to that behind-the-scenes expe rience.”
Another screening that will have its director in at tendance is March 1968, a Polish drama making its East Coast premiere on Novem ber 3. “This is such an inter esting slice of history that is
really not well known,” said Small. “It’s a drama based on a young couple, and through their eyes, we see this antisemitic anti-Zionist purge going on, under the Communist government. Jews lose their jobs, and are basically kicked out of the country.”
Shedding light on a new or unknown story is a goal of the festival. “Many of our films don’t make it to theaters or streaming plat forms,” said Small. “Some one said to me that they love watching a film at the festival and then being able to talk about it with people they might run into. All kinds of conversations
Continued from Preceding Page emerge from being part of this. And that’s what we’re trying to encourage.”
Among the other highlights is How Saba Kept Singing, about the late David Wisnia, who survived Auschwitz by entertaining his Nazi captors with his beautiful singing voice. Produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, the film follows the journey of Wisnia and his grandson Avi Wisnia back to his hometown and Auschwitz, where long-held secrets are revealed. Wisnia, who died last year at 94, was cantor for Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation in Trenton (now in Pennington) for 23 years.
Following its screening on November 6, the film will be screened for public middleand-high-school students as part of the Bildner Center’s Holocaust education program. Avi Wisnia will be on hand to speak to the students.
Other films focus on such far-ranging topics as singersongwriter Leonard Cohen, the practice of conversion therapy for ultra-Orthodox gay men in contemporary Israel, efforts to save the Dead Sea from drying out and disappearing, and the fight to include Orthodox women in the Knesset (Israel’s legislature).
“The festival has been around for 23 years, and it is has really become an institution in New Jersey,” said Small. “It is a cultural opportunity where people come together for this shared experience, to see Jewish life on film. But it’s not just Jewish life. It’s really all kinds of experiences seen through a Jewish lens. Anybody can come and participate. It brings the community together, and there is strength in that.”
For a full list of films, visit BildnerCenter.Rutgers.edu/ film.
—Anne Levin
The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Young Professionals Summit is Thursday, November 17 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Conference Center at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor.
The summit brings together networking, personal and professional development, motivational speakers, and educational workshops. Nominations are being sought for the Young Professional of the Year award (nominations close October 24), honoring a highly motivated young employee.
The keynote speaker is Rod Colon, CEO of Me, whose topic is “The Key to Networking, Branding, and Owning.” Additional speakers are Nivedita Candade, “Career Transition Through Purpose”; Priya Kartik, “Perfect Your Presence”; and Jennifer Wiley, “Build Your Personal Board of Directors: How to Network with Allies and Advocates.”
Tickets also include access to exhibitors, a breakfast buffet, and the award ceremony for Young Professional of the Year. For more information and to register, visit princetonmercerchamber.org.
A forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.“What are your favorite fall activities?” (Asked Saturday at Terhune Orchards) (Photos by Charles R. Plohn) Carl: “We definitely enjoy pumpkin picking and apple picking. This is the first time for the boys to be in an environment like this. The pony ride was a highlight. It’s great to see events like this again and have the children interact with other kids, because so much was missed because of COVID.” —Anthony (top), Carl, and Ethan Osborne with Tamara Joseph, Middletown, Del. Elizabeth: “Going with my family to Terhune Orchards and pumpkin picking and apple picking.” —Anna, Alex, Elizabeth, Robin, and Kevin Wilkins, Hamilton Devin: “I would say coming to the farm, enjoying a beautiful day like today, and going pumpkin picking. I also look forward to football season.” —Devin and Kai Clark, Burlington Zach: “Carving pumpkins.” —Tom, Zach, and Denise Muller, Hamilton
LOCAL FARMS LAUDED: Terhune Orchards, pictured here, and West Windsor Community Farmers Market are among those listed as top farmers markets in the U.S. and vegetables, including blueberries, bell peppers, cranberries, eggplant, spin ach, tomatoes, peaches, cu cumbers, squash, and sweet corn, as well as agritourism, floriculture sales, seafood catch, and seafood landings.
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher has recognized the West Windsor Community Farm ers Market and Terhune Orchards, each in Mer cer County, and Demarest Farms in Bergen County, for being listed by national publications as top locations in the country for their prod ucts and experience.
West Windsor Commu nity Farmers Market was voted the No. 4 commu nity farmers market in the country in a national poll by The American Farmland Trust and Farmers Mar ket Coalition. The market received the most votes for New Jersey and the Northeast. Travel + Leisure ranked Demarest Farms and Terhune Orchards among the top places for apple picking in the U.S. Demarest was ranked the No. 7, and Terhune was ranked No. 8.
“The residents and visitors of New Jersey have known for many years about the outstanding agriculture, produce, and on-farm ex periences that are available here,” said Fisher. “These award-winning operations are some of the finest ex amples of prominent farmrelated enterprises in the Garden State.”
New Jersey has approxi mately 150 community farmers markets through out the state each year. Many of those markets re main open on a weekly basis through October, and some up to Thanksgiving. The West Windsor market was founded in 2004 and of fers seasonal produce and food from local vendors at the Princeton Junction train station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on each Saturday, until the weekend before Thanksgiv ing.
Demarest Farms has been in operation since 1886 and is a pick-your-own farm that offers apples, pumpkins, and peaches during the re spective seasons and is in Hillsdale, about an hour out side of New York City.
Terhune Orchards is locat ed on Cold Soil Road and features dwarf apple trees accessible for all ages. Their apple varieties include Jona than, Fuji, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Stayman Winesap, Cameo, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Macoun varieties.
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Ser vice, New Jersey with its al most 10,000 farms across 750,000 acres, ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. in production of several fruits
Agriculture plays a sig nificant role in maintaining a strong economy and pro vides numerous career op portunities including farm production; agribusiness management and market ing; agricultural research and engineering; food sci ence, processing, and re tailing; banking; education; landscape architecture; ur ban planning; energy; and many more.
Visit findjerseyfresh.com for more information.
On Saturday, Novem ber 5 at 2 p.m., Lawrence Township Historian Dennis Waters will lead a tour of the historic pole farm. The event, which is back by popular demand, is spon sored by Morven Museum and Garden.
In 1929 AT&T set up an 820-acre plot in Mercer County as a Pole Farm. All telephone calls from the United States to Europe were routed through this site. In 1952, to speak to a cousin in England, for example, you would talk to a series of operators. and your call would be trans mitted over short wave and converted to telephone sig nal in London. Waters will explain why. In 1965, the Pole Farm was the largest radio telephone station in the world, before undersea cable replaced the short wave radio transmission.
Details on where to meet, etc. will be provided in the week prior to the walk. Rain date to be announced, if necessary. Visit morven.org for details.
Princeton Community Housing (PCH), serving the community’s affordable housing needs for 55 years, has announced the raising of over $2 million in private support for the construction of 25 new affordable rental homes in Princeton.
The new homes, with an anticipated completion date of spring 2023, as well as enhancements to the Holly House neighborhood of Princeton Community Vil lage, also developed and managed by PCH, are the result of the organization’s successful Home Means Hope campaign.
PCH supporters recently
gathered at Morven Muse um & Garden in Princeton to celebrate the fundraising effort. It was also announced that a new $75,000 match ing donation is being offered to help cover the additional project costs caused by infla tion and supply chain issues.
Three organizations — Arm In Arm, Jewish Fam ily and Children’s Services of Greater Mercer County, and the Princeton YMCA — were recognized for their support of PCH and the res idents of its communities. The groups were presented with PCH’s CARE Award, for Compassion, Assis tance, Respect, and Equity.
“We are thrilled to cel ebrate the new homes, the enhancements, and the opportunities that will be provided for many addi tional neighbors thanks to the generosity of all who have supported this cam paign,” said Edward Trus celli, executive director of PCH. “While PCH has 466 affordable rental homes and counting, our reach extends beyond homes to provide access to an array of so cial services to support our residents. This is the PCH difference.”
“It means a great deal to me to know that I can af ford this housing”, said PCH resident David Anderson. “Affordable apartments are stable apartments, and sta bility makes all the differ ence for growing children.”
Three more sessions re main in “Mindful Eating for Your Health” with Dr. Joseph Wieliczko. Upcom ing classes, which are spon sored by Eating for Your Health, are October 24 and November 7 and 14.
Mindful eating is not a diet. Wieliczko teaches that mindful eating means eat ing with awareness so that we can change our relation ship with food and with our selves.
The series began last week.
Upcoming sessions focus on understanding how to cope with cravings; learning about mindful eating tech niques including the eight types of hunger, different ways to slow down the eat ing process, and six basic steps to eating mindfully; and how to lower stress levels using various mind ful eating and mindfulness practices.
Donations are suggested upon registration. Visit suppers.wildapricot.org/ event-4982000.
Celebrate the season at Princeton Fall Fest on Sat urday, October 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Princeton Shopping Center. The event will feature more than 90 makers and merchants, live music, and fall-themed offerings from Princeton Shopping Center business es.
Fall Fest will take place in the outdoor courtyard where booths of specialty vendors will fill the center’s green space with vintage textiles, upcycled apparel and accessories, children’s
items including books, handmade works from arti sans, crafters, jewelry, and more.
Live music throughout the day includes local favorite The Ragtime Relics from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., folk duo Emily Drinker and Rob Tait from 12 to 2 p.m., and School of Rock House Band from 2 to 4 p.m.
Princeton Shopping Center businesses will be fall-ready with goods and goodies that appeal to all ages. Plenty of free parking. For more information, visit princetonshoppingcenter. com.
“Where quality still matters.” 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147
riderfurniture.com Mon-Fri 10-6; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5
Holiday season is almost upon us! Get your shopping done early at princetonmagazinestore.com. We have the latest and greatest gifts for any Princetonian!
“Geniuses” continued from page one others, Huh is reinvigorating the field of geometric combinatorics and inspiring a new generation of mathematicians.”
Melanie Matchett Wood, 41, who received her Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton in 2009 and is now a professor at Harvard University specializing in number theory and algebraic geometry, “combines a breadth of mathematical approaches” to “reveal new ways to see fundamental properties of numbers,” according to the MacArthur Foundation.
“Wood is revealing new properties of natural numbers that are relevant to other mathematical conjectures and theorems, thereby setting the stage for new discoveries in number theory in the future,” the MacArthur Foundation wrote in its announcement of the awards.
Wood investigates foundational questions in pure mathematics, with her research often springing from questions in arithmetical statistics.
She received her B.S. (2003) from Duke University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics (2004) from the University of Cambridge before earning her Ph.D. at Princeton (2009). She was a researcher at the American Institute of Mathematics (2009-17), and served on the faculty of Stanford University (2009-11), the University of Wisconsin at Madison (2011-19), and the University of California at Berkeley (2019-20). In 2020 she joined the Harvard
University faculty and became Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Monica Kim, 44, a member of IAS’ School of Social Sciences in 2015-16 and currently associate history professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, was acclaimed by the MacArthur Foundation for “uncovering new insights into U.S. foreign policy in the context of global decolonization after World War II” and for illuminating “our understanding of U.S. foreign policy during and after the Korean War.”
“Through her scholarship Kim is expanding the perspectives from which we view American foreign policy — past, present and future,” the MacArthur Foundation wrote in its announcement.
Kim received her B.A. (2000) from Yale University and a Ph.D. (2011) from the University of Michigan. She was an assistant professor at University of Albany-SUNY (2012-14) and at New York University (2014-20) before taking her current post as associate professor in U.S. international and diplomatic history at the University of Wisconsin.
Her 2019 book, The Interrogation Rooms of the Korean War: The Untold Stories, uses interviews with interrogators and evidence from U.S. and international sources in four languages to examine the incarceration and interrogation of prisoners of war (POWs) during the armistice negotiations.
Her current book project, The World That Hunger Made: The Koreas, the United States, and AfroAsia, discusses economic
development as a tool of foreign policy and international influence.
“As a historian, I am forced to reckon with a fundamental principle: the stories we tell about war affect if and how we can imagine a radical peace,” said Kim, as quoted by the MacArthur Foundation.
Reuben Jonathan Miller, 46 — sociologist, criminologist, and social worker, IAS member in the School of Social Sciences in 2016-17, and now a professor at the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice — has explored “the long-term consequences of incarceration on the lives of individuals and their families, with a focus on communities of color and those living in poverty,” the MacArthur Foundation noted.
In an interview with the MacAthur Foundation, Miller described how his research “started off as an intellectual curiosity and something of a moral and ethical impulse,” but, as a volunteer chaplain at Chicago’s Cook County jail, “when I got there I was confronted with the realities of mass incarceration. What sprang from an ethical curiosity and a moral impulse turned into something very personal.”
His book Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration (2021) draws on historical and theoretical research and 15 years of ethnographic fieldwork in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities.
Miller received a B.A. (2006) from Chicago State University, an A.M. (2007) from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. (2013)
from Loyola University Chicago. He was an assistant professor at the University of Michigan (2013-2017) before joining the University of Chicago faculty in 2021.
“Miller is modeling a way to write about his subjects that refuses to reduce them to their hardships, and he is illuminating how the American carceral system reshapes individuals’ lives and relationships long after their time has been served,” the MacArthur Foundation wrote in describing Miller’s work.
In announcing the 2022 awards, MacArthur Fellows Director Marlies Carruth stated, “The 2022 MacArthur Fellows are architects of new modes of activism, artistic practice, and citizen science. They are excavators uncovering what has been overlooked, undervalued, or poorly understood.” She also noted that they offer “new ways for us to understand the communities, systems, and social forces that shape our lives around the globe.”
—Donald Gilpin
Integrated design firm JZA+D has recently announced the appointment of Pam McStay to lead the fi rm’s marketing efforts. At the same time, the Princeton-based firm has also announced internal promotions for staff architects and designers.
and Giardina have already been successfully overseeing design and construction of multiple workplace projects since 2018, including complex projects involving adaptive reuse and other highly specialized challenges.
“Nancie and Julia rise to meet every challenge, designing environments that reveal and reinforce corporate brand identity while providing a productive and invigorating place for work,” said Zinder. “Their experience, dedication, and creativity make them ideally positioned for these new leadership roles.”
These include the elevation of Richard Perry to principal, Benjamin Grace to senior associate, Julia Compton to associate, Taylor Kinsey Toms to associate, and Nancie Giardina to senior interior designer.
According to JZA+D’s partners, architects Joshua Zinder and Mark A. Sullivan, the recently announced internal promotions derive in part from a longstanding commitment to mentorship and nurturing emerging talent.
“Fostering career development, honing essential skills, encouraging networking, and providing opportunities for gaining practical experience at every project phase should be priorities for partners and practice leaders,” said Zinder, who is also immediate past president of AIA-New Jersey.
“These efforts produce benefits that resonate in each of our projects to aid our clients, to the firm itself, and to the profession more broadly.”
In their elevated roles architect Compton and interior designer Giardina will be a focused team to support the continued development and growth of JZA+D’s office and workplace sector. According to Zinder, Compton
On October 5, at 3:43 p.m., a caller reported that three unknown individuals entered a Nassau Street store, shoplifted several items, and fled on foot. The store suffered a monetary loss of $475. The Detective Bureau is investigating.
On October 5, at 8:12 a.m., an individual reported that the catalytic converters were taken from two of his work vehicles on State Road between 7:30 p.m. on October 4 and 8 a.m. on October 5. The Detective Bureau is investigating.
On October 5, at 7:35 a.m., a Clay Street resident reported that a U.S. Postal Service package containing prescription medicine was taken from the front porch of her residence on October 4 between 11:46 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Detective Bureau is investigating.
On October 1, at 12:07 a.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle stop for making an improper U-turn, failure to obey a traffic signal, and failure to keep right, the driver, a 46-year-old male from Plainsboro, was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed, charged accordingly, and released.
Unless otherwise noted, individuals arrested were later released.
Westminster Choir College of Rider University is inviting those interested in serious study of the organ to apply, and audition, for six full-tuition scholarships.
Prospective organists will try out during Westminster’s Undergraduate Audition Day on February 4, playing a work by J.S. Bach or another baroque composer, as well as a piece by a romantic, 20th century, or living composer. Accomplished pianists who have never played the organ, but would like to learn how, are encouraged to apply along with experienced organ students.
“One thing Westminster administration wanted to do was make it possible for piano students to audition, even if they haven’t done much or
any organ study,” said competition director Robert McCormick, a 2001 graduate of Westminster and the current organist and choirmaster of Saint Mark’s Church near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. “They can audition on piano, and if they are at an appropriate level of proficiency and have a willingness to learn, it can work.”
Making the transition from piano to organ “is hard, but a talented student can certainly do it if they want to,” he added.
Serving as judges along with McCormick are Steven Pilkington, associate professor in Westminster’s Department of Choral Studies, Music, and Sacred Music; Clara Gerdes, director of music at Most Holy Redeemer and
Nativity Parish in New York City; and Thomas Gaynor, assistant organist and choirmaster for Saint Mark’s Church.
“The new competition presents an incredible opportunity for prospective students who are interested in playing the organ to study at Westminster,” said Jason Vodicka, associate dean of Rider’s College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of music education at Westminster, in a press release. “Organ is a critical part of Westminster Choir College’s history and can be selected as a primary instrument for the Bachelor of Music Education program or the Bachelor of Arts in Music program which includes tracks in sacred music, music history, and music
theory, among others. I am thrilled that the University has chosen to support organ study this way.”
Rider and Westminster merged in 1992. In recent years, Rider has attempted to sell Westminster’s Princeton campus. In 2020, Rider moved Westminster’s programs to its Lawrence Township campus, an action which has been legally challenged.
Some buildings at the Princeton campus are occasionally still used, including Bristol Chapel, where Westminster’s largest organ is located. The Casavant organ, also known as the Scheide organ, was moved to Rider along with a few practice organs.
Offering the scholarships is part of an effort to revive interest in the instrument. “There has been a pause in organ studies at Westminster, because of what has been going on there, as well as the pandemic,” said McCormick. “In general, there are fewer organ programs today than in the past. So I think one of the hopes is that this might be a program that will give consideration to piano students who want to work hard and learn organ as their primary instrument.”
Serving as organist and choirmaster in Philadelphia is a full-time job for McCormick, but his situation is not the norm. “It’s harder to make a living as a fulltime organist these days,” he said.
Those interested in competing must apply by January 15, to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Music Education of a Bachelor of Arts in Music with organ as their primary instrument. Piano or voice can be selected as a second primary instrument.
“One thing that could be good about this program is that somebody can major in music education with the organ as their primary instrument, which could prepare them to teach school music and maybe have a part-time job as a church organist.”
—Anne LevinBATTLING THE INVASIVES: A group of volunteers, including Emma, shown here, recently assembled at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Preserve in Princeton in riparian project areas to knock back re-emerging invasive shrubs and vines along the lake shore in preparation for an upcoming planting session on October 22. For information on volunteer opportunities, visit fopos.org/getinvolved or email info@FOPOS.org.
Mercer Oak Realty and Princeton Property Management have announced that they will take the name of their affiliate, Princeton Property Partners. The three companies have been coordinating their operations to benefit their clients for years.
“Mercer Oak Realty has served our commercial brokerage clients for over 20 years in the Princeton region,” said Chief Executive Officer Aubrey Haines. “In that time, we have created sister companies Princeton Property Partners and Princeton Property Management to invest and develop in projects in downtown Princeton and to manage and construct commercial and residential properties around the Princeton Region. Rebranding the names of our entities to Princeton Property Partners recognizes our dedication to bring a full range of services to our clients under one roof.”
Sab Russo, company president, said, “Since deepening our service offering, we have acted as one company. Now, we are going to recognize that combination by operating under a single brand: Princeton Property
Partners. Our vision continues to be the premier strategic partner for sophisticated real estate clients in Central New Jersey and across the tri-state region. The commercial real estate world is continually reinventing itself. We are doing the same to stay ahead of market trends.”
The team worked with Ewing-based StimulusBrand Communications, a strategic brand marketing and advertising agency, to develop positioning around the new name and an all-new brand mark. Additional marketing efforts are underway including new property signage, new website, sales collateral, presentations, print and digital advertising, public relations, social media, and more.
Princeton Property Partners has offices in Ewing and Princeton. The company manages several commercial assets in downtown Princeton and over 250,000 square feet of commercial and multifamily space around the Princeton region. The company has operated as a brokerage entity for over 20 years and its brokers have closed over $2.2 billion in commercial real estate transactions in the Princeton Region and across the U.S. and in Europe.
A Princeton tradition!
Theological Seminary continued from page one is a member of the Humanities Advancement Council, and PTS, where he earned his M.Div. in 2002 and his Ph.D. in 2006 and has been on the board of trustees.
Before coming to Wake Forest, where he holds the Presidential Chair in Religion and Society, Walton served on the faculty at Harvard Divinity School and was the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and the Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University.
A PTS October 14 press release described Walton as “a gifted preacher” and “a social ethicist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of evangelical Christianity, mass media, and political culture.” He is the author of two books, Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism (2009) and A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World (2018), as well as many articles in academic journals, books, magazines, and newspapers.
“Theological education is at an inflection point,” said Walton in the PTS press release. “The church is changing. Society is changing. So we need clear-minded, faithinformed professionals who can speak hope, equity, and healing in all fields of human endeavor.”
Walton discussed some of his priorities, affirming his commitment to flexibility, accessibility, and amplifying the voices of the faculty, as he leads PTS in the coming years. “We have to think about new and creative ways to offer the rich, lifetransforming competencies of theological education to more learners and to get our faculty involved at even greater levels into public discourse around religion and society and politics and social change,” he said.
“We have to think about new models of learning,” Walton continued, noting that the pandemic had accelerated certain trends in higher education, and theological education in particular. “Princeton Seminary is known for being a residential institution, but the thought of people uprooting
their families, coming and spending three years or longer to pursue a degree, is not quite as sustainable as it once was.”
Walton went on to emphasize some of the challenges in the larger society that are reflected in the religious community. He noted that “disaffiliation” is on the rise, “people not affiliating with communities of faith in the way they did in previous generations.”
“This has impact,” he said. “It impacts church budgets. It impacts professional opportunities for clergy. These are some of the trends and challenges that theological education has to address, and we know from public health data that there is a relationship between disaffiliation and isolation, anxiety, and depression.”
He continued, “Coming out of this global pandemic, we know that mental health, particularly for our young people, is a national crisis, which the resources of theological education and communities of faith are well equipped to address. We just have to find new and creative ways of engagement. Princeton Seminary has much to teach and much to learn from other industries such as public health, entrepreneurship, community development. I want us to be a part of those conversations in helping to heal this next generation.”
Walton expressed his excitement about returning to the seminary and the town where his three children were born and “the precious people that I’ve been blessed to know” who have
“enriched my intellectual and spiritual life.”
He stated, “It’s about the community of Princeton Seminary and the larger community. The entire town, whether we’re talking about professors or dining hall workers, classmates or custodial staff — the beautiful people who constitute the community past and present have enriched my life in innumerable ways. Every time I set foot on Nassau Street my heart beat slows down a little, and it almost feels meditative. It calms my spirit being in this community that meant so much to me.”
Walton praised the PTS faculty and emphasized his eagerness to work with them. “I’m really excited because the faculty at Princeton Seminary is as diverse and dynamic as it’s ever been, and these scholars are bringing intellectuals to campus to engage the spiritual and social worlds of our students,” he said. “I look forward to being part of those conversations and opening up the campus to the larger Princeton community.”
Praise for Walton, as quoted in the PTS press release, poured in from many different quarters. “Dr. Walton’s profound commitment to scholarship and strong leadership experience perfectly position him to advance Princeton Seminary’s mission to serve as a vital and engaging hub for pastoral formation, Christian theology, and leadership generally,” said PTS Board of Trustees Chair Michael Fisch.
Calling Walton’s selection “a historic appointment,” Princeton University African American Studies Professor Eddie Glaude stated, “I have had the blessing to witness the career of Dr. Walton. From his time as a graduate student to his leadership roles at Harvard and Wake Forest, I have marveled at his skill and grace. I know he will bring to Princeton Seminary visionary leadership for these complicated times. He will model excellence for the students and faculty, and he will help lead the way.”
Former PTS Board of Trustees member the Rev. Ruth Faith Santana Grace added, “I could not be more hopeful and encouraged about the future of Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Walton represents Princeton Seminary’s vision and willingness to lean into this moment in history — by forging a new road, a road that seeks to rise to the challenges of a time such as this.”
—Donald Gilpin
you forget your at home?
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Just how serious is the problem of flooding and stormwater in New Jersey?
“It’s catastrophic,” said Mike Pisauro, policy director of The Watershed Institute in Pennington, this week. “And I don’t use that word loosely. As development continues in New Jersey, and as storms are getting worse, water has less and less places to go.”
According to the website statesatrisk.org, more than 300,000 people in New Jersey are living in areas at elevated risk of inland flooding. Heavy downpours have increased since 1950, and they are becoming more frequent.
Focusing on local flood ing dangers, The Watershed Institute’s Chief of Opera tions Sophie Glovier gave a presentation last week at Princeton Public Library titled “The Race to Address Flooding in Princeton.” Glovier provided informa tion on what residents can do to help mitigate the issue.
“There are a series of practices,” said Pisauro, who helped prepare the pre sentation. “Reducing lawns and transferring to native vegetation is one thing. Deep-rooted plants take up more water than lawns,
and get more water into the ground.”
Creating rain gardens, installing rain barrels, and reducing impervious sur faces by using pavers or bricks instead of concrete or asphalt on driveways or sidewalks are also recom mended. On the municipal website (princetonnj.gov), the section on stormwater management says that popu lation growth and develop ment are major contributors to the amount of pollutants in the runoff, as well as the volume and rate of runoff from impervious surfaces.
“Management of stormwa ter is not only critical to our environment, it is critical to our own health and wellbeing,” it reads. “Simply capturing stormwater runoff and discharging it into our streams can be detrimental to us and our environment because it fails to recharge our groundwater aquifers, causes downstream flood ing, erodes the streambanks and scours the streambed, and dumps sediment and pollutants into our streams.”
Additional steps home owners can take to reduce the dangers of flooding in clude maintaining a vehicle properly so that motor oil,
brake linings, exhaust, and other fluids don’t contrib ute to water pollution; nev er dumping litter, animal waste, or leaves into storm drains or catch basins; picking up debris along the street; and refraining from raking leaves into the street where they could run into and clog catch basins.
Princeton is taking many steps to reduce flooding, Pisauro said. The Princ eton Flood and Stormwa ter Commission is a group of residents that meets monthly to work on initia tives. “It’s part of a group we are moderating, bring ing together towns within the Stonybrook Watershed (Princeton, Lawrence, Pen nington, Hopewell, and East Amwell) to talk about how to share responsibility for all of this,” said Pisauro.
“Managing stormwater to reduce the impact of devel opment on local watersheds and aquifers relies on mini mizing the disruption in the natural flow, both quality and quantity of stormwa ter,” reads the Stormwater Management website. “By designing with nature, the impact of urbanization can be greatly reduced.”
—Anne LevinNobody expects to become addicted to opioids. But it can happen to anyone. Young or old. Athletes and grandparents. Moms-to-be. Luckily addiction recovery is within everyone’s reach. Talk to us about finding the treatment that is right for you or your loved one. Because smiling again is just a phone call away.
continued from page one slipping in the quality of ed ucation provided to its stu dents? (Do you think the sta tistics cited are valid? What are the most important ac tions to take to ensure that PPS remains one of the top districts?)
Bronfeld: Princeton Pub lic Schools are not slipping in the quality and quantity of education that our students are receiving. Our housing market is NOT being affect ed by changes due to certain statistics being cited. As a public school in a diverse community, we will always have a lot of work to do, to continue ensuring that the health and safety and aca demic excellence of our dis trict is available for all our students. I ran for the Board to ensure every student re ceived a free, equitable high school degree, because life after PHS is different for everyone, but I wanted to ensure they would always have their degree. We are not a magnet district; we are a diverse district that I am proud to live in. My son always mentions the breadth of an education he received at PHS. Several parents told me how impressed they were at PHS back-to-school night, with the caliber of our teachers and what learning opportunities their children would receive. Some statis tics I’ll share are 1 in 5 teens (20 percent) will experience mental health challenges by the time they are 18; PHS offers 28 AP subjects, how ever PHS students took 32 AP subject tests, 14 percent more subject tests than PHS offers; 86 percent of stu dents received 3, 4, or 5 on their 2022 AP exams; 18 percent of our student body is special ed; and 93 percent of the class of 2022 will at tend 2- and 4-year colleges.
Kanter: Data can be a valuable tool when examin ing a district’s success in sup porting students, but testing data is only one measure of a district. While a recent Niche ranking confirmed excellence we know exists in our schools, that does not mean there aren’t areas of improvement that need further examination. To en sure continued excellence we must support initiatives recommended in the Spe cial Education review, ex pand programming for our ELL students, continue the growth of Pre-K for our un der-resourced students, and encourage the development of programs like the research class, which challenges our students to study problembased issues. I am proud of the wide array of 29 AP courses available at PHS, but am equally proud of courses like Comparative Religion, Great Books, Racial Literacy, and Horticulture that engage and enrich our students, but which may not add to our “ranking.” In a next term, I look forward to receiving the results of an upcoming math, science, and computer science review that should provide better, more com prehensive support for our students, but also address long-needed enrichment materials for gifted learners K-8 and clarify how students are tracked for math at PMS. A district’s true excellence is measured by the success with which it educates its di verse group of learners, not just by the accolades or rank ings it receives.
Kendal: I don’t think that the quality of education in the Princeton Public Schools is slipping. Rankings are im portant, but they’re only one part of the story, and they can’t capture everything that contributes to the qual ity of a student’s school ex perience. And of course, the pandemic has made the col lection and evaluation of such data particularly diffi cult; most of US News and World Report’s key metrics, for instance, rely on data from 2016-2019.
Some more recent data that I consider particularly important reflect very well on PPS, such as the fact that for the 2021-22 school year Princeton High School had the second highest SAT scores out of all public high schools in the state and the highest SAT scores out of all public high schools in Mercer County, and the av erage ACT score of 29.8 was 10 points higher than the national average. Princ eton High School offers a rigorous curriculum of 28 AP classes, numerous ac celerated classes, and the opportunity for independent study. 89 percent of our students go on to college. In the last four years, we have sent PHS graduates to such highly competitive in stitutions as Rutgers (129), Princeton University (66), Cornell (32), and the Uni versity of Pennsylvania (22), as well as Harvard, Stan ford, MIT, Brown, and Yale.
Rafalovsky: The data is out there for everyone to see. There are multiple reli able signs that PPS is slip ping: our math state profi ciency scores declined year over year in several math subjects since before COV ID, and in national rankings PPS also declined (i.e. on Niche, PPS went from No. 16 nationally to No. 43, and in U.S. News PHS dropped from No. 94 to No. 490). A consistent performance decline in state scores can not be disputed, especially since our participation in testing was above 95 per cent. The decline in rank ings and scores confirms many parents’ concern that our schools’ standards have declined, classroom experi ence has deteriorated, and PPS has deviated from its core mission of a K-12 edu cational institution.
The Board holds the key to PPS recovering its place as a top district. As per the NJSBA, the BOE establish es school district policies and goals, including setting standards for the superin tendent to be used in rec ommending and evaluating staff. The BOE approves the curriculum and ensures that our schools are well run. A school district’s primary goal is to educate our chil dren. The BOE incumbents suggest that state scores, rankings, and parent feed back are unreliable ways of measuring the quality of our district’s academic per formance. If so, isn’t it the responsibility of the Board to come up with a satisfacto ry methodology to measure our schools’ performance? Why should the community be content with not knowing the outcome of our educa tional investments?
Wu: The BOE has been focusing on social agendas for too long, not quality of education. That’s why the students lack real educa tion. My suggestion is: “Fo
cus on the students. Make sure they’re getting real education.”
Question No. 2: The men tal health challenges of stu dents and staff — in many cases caused by and exac erbated by the pandemic — have been a recurrent theme in the ongoing discussion about our schools. Could you comment on these chal lenges and specify initiatives the Board could take to help meet these challenges?
Bronfeld: The Board has taken and will continue to take steps to support what ever is needed to balance educational needs with the mental health and wellness of our students and faculty. Stress and mental health issues have been a part of PPS for years, COVID made them part of our everyday dialogue. I feel, being able to speak so publicly about it will help students know they are not alone. The Board has approved resources, including Princeton Family Institute, to provide bilin gual licensed social work ers, full-time summer guid ance counselor coverage at PHS and PMS, Effective Schools Solution (ESS) to provide therapeutic mental health and tier-2 clinical services, and Insite Health Inc. to provide students fulltime telehealth access to psychiatric care at no cost (funded through Medicaid). Last week the district had two evening presentations on mental health: 1) spon sored by PHS PTO on teen mental health, and 2) ESS presentation on suicide pre vention for parents. I’ve said before, mental health is not a one and done, and as a Board member I will con tinue to ask our educators and students “how are you doing and feeling,” and I will ensure whatever support is needed is funded and found for our district.
Kanter: It is not shock ing that there is a national school-age mental health crisis in the wake of this unprecedented time. Dur ing my first term I am proud of how our Board has both advocated for and support ed initiatives to combat this issue. We have approved programs that educate stu dents, families, and teach ers as to the signs of some one who may need mental health supports, approved the services of Effective School Solutions that have provided health care pro fessionals to work directly with our students (including those students who benefit from these services offered in Spanish), and supported needed presentations on sui cide prevention at PHS.
Our Board has approved district partnerships with local health care providers, increased the number of in ternal district counselors, and supported new resourc es like Teen Mental Health First Aid. The November 22 Board meeting will highlight many of these initiatives to support our students during this unprecedented time. When I ran for my first term three years ago, I had been inspired by the district’s work on the Bell committee to combat mental health con cerns, but I know it will be incumbent on the Board over the next several years to sup port the district in continu ing to provide a wide array of supports for our students grades K-12 and to encour age self-care for our staff.
Kendal: The pandem ic was extremely diffi cult for staff and students, in ways we’re only beginning to comprehend. Princeton’s children spent much of the past two years by them selves learning from home via Zoom. As the students returned to in-person learn ing, there was an increase in mental health issues. In response, the Board and ad ministration moved quickly to hire an outside mental health provider to assist with student needs for the 2022-23 school year. This provider supplements ex isting services, providing such key offerings as pre sentations for parents and guardians, collaborating with community partners such as Trinity Counseling and others to provide ser vices to our students, and professional development for staff so that they are bet ter prepared to address is sues as they arise. Thus far, feedback indicates students and families are taking ad vantage of these additional resources, and we remain alert to other opportunities to assess and improve stu dent mental health in this difficult time.
Rafalovsky: In all can didate forums, the BOE incumbents stated that mental health (MH) is a pri mary area of concern. To help address the concerns, the Board recently voted to bring a vendor to PPS called ESS. This is good, but stu dents returned to in-person learning in 2020, and the pandemic’s MH effects be came quickly visible. I won der why we waited two years, especially since similar MH services have been offered
in other school districts in the country for many years.
Like all strategic initia tives, the MH program should have measurable goals to monitor its effective ness. To that end, I recom mend MH experts conduct a MH assessment of our dis trict to document a baseline that will enable us to moni tor improvement. I also be lieve that school-based MH services should be provided in collaboration with parents (where appropriate), and ef fectively leverage other com munity resources so recipi ents benefit from a cohesive, patient-centered experience. The MH program should in clude elements of preven tion, education, teacher training, as well as counsel ing interventions.
Wu: The mental health of every student should always be the top priority. Commu nication, communication, and communication will be the key factor, openness and talking to everyone — stu dent, parent, and teacher — are a must. We have to come together in UNITY.
Four of the candidates were profiled in previous issues of Town Topics. Wu declined to be profiled, but last week submitted the fol lowing candidate statement: “I was born in Taiwan. I have been living in Princeton since November 2015. I have two daughters, one son, and three grandchildren. TAKE BACK PRIDE is why I am running for BOE, because Princeton’s national rank ing dropped from 94th in 2009 to 490th in 2022 (U.S. News and World Report). First, we must focus on stu dents getting real education, NOT IDEOLOGY. And sec ond, the BOE should have a policy of openness and fiscal responsibility. Lastly, the BOE should be here for all students, parents, and school district personnel. Right now, there is a lack of unity between the BOE and students, parents, and school district personnel. So I am promoting my idea of ‘Unity for all.’ Please un derstand that English is not my first language. May god bless you and your family.”
—Donald GilpinTOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.
I met Debbie Bronfeld in 2009, when my family moved to Princeton and our younger sons were in class together at Littlebrook Elementary School. At that time, Debbie worked at Dress for Success and then later at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. Her career at nonprofit agencies dovetailed with her volunteer activities at Littlebrook PTO, where we worked on many events together.
Debbie then focused on volunteering full-time. She continued being an active PTO member at PMS and PHS, but she wanted to make more of an impact in Princeton. Her dual concerns for food insecurity and equity for all students led her to be a founder and board member of Princeton Children’s Fund. Additionally, she was an early volunteer and is a current board member of Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, and also is a volunteer at Housing Initiatives of Princeton.
Importantly, Debbie won her first of consecutive terms on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education in 2016. She currently chairs the Personnel and Equity committees, and is a member of the Operations and Student Achievement committees.
Debbie is committed to spending taxpayers’ dollars wisely, advocating for student achievement in the classroom and in extracurricular activities, and supporting teachers and staff so they can do their best possible jobs. Moreover, with six years of experience on the Board, Debbie has valuable institutional knowledge and an understanding of what programs and initiatives have been successful and where improvements can be made. She asks the difficult questions when discussing critical issues, and she votes with her conscience and intellect.
Please join me in voting for Debbie Bronfeld for reelection to the PPS Board. Her dedication, hard work, and compassion make her a leader in the school district and in our community.
JEANETTE TIMMONS Humbert StreetOn behalf of the Princeton Dog Park Alliance, I want to thank the Princeton Council for their support of a dog park in Community Park and off-leash hours at Quarry Park. Both ordinances will create much needed recreational opportunities for Princeton residents and their dogs. These spaces provide socialization and exercise opportunities for our dogs, which leads to better behaved pets. They also allow us opportunities to join together in community. Princeton has waited so many years for this to be developed, and we are grateful that the time has finally arrived.
A number of us have been gathering in Quarry Park every weekday morning with our dogs. For the past three years, we have met and allowed our dogs to run free and play without leashes in the park. We are very mindful about recalling our dogs when anyone walks by, so they
are not disturbed. Over the past three years, we have gathered almost daily, and there have been no incidents or complaints. Our dogs are well-behaved, respectful of each other and of other people, and are obedient. Dog owners know if they can trust their dog to be let off leash, and therefore self-regulate their participation in our gatherings.
We have also been careful to be respectful and conscientious neighbors. We always clean up after our dogs and have even picked up trash left by others to keep the area clean and pleasant for all users of the park.
We are grateful that Princeton is sanctioning our unofficial use of Quarry and look forward to partnering with the Council to ensure the success of this initiative.
CALVIN CHIN President, Princeton Dog Park Alliance Spruce StreetTo the Editor:
The Board of the Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library would like to thank everyone who joined us on October 15 for our 2022 Beyond Words evening to celebrate and support the library. Under a majestic tent at the Brick Farm Tavern, our guest speaker, David Wondrich, a James Beard Award-winning author, regaled us with entertaining stories about the evolution of the cocktail through modern American times. We extend our gratitude to the library’s leadership and staff for making the Princeton Public Library a Five-Star Library for six consecutive years, the highest national ranking by the Library Journal Magazine.
The success of Beyond Words 2022 event is a reminder of the central role the library plays in our Princeton community. How fortunate we are to have the library as a centerpiece of our town, serving as our gathering place, offering a safe space for our children to learn, and welcoming neighbors and newcomers with a warm sense of belonging.
Many thanks to Princeton Property Partners, our Lead Sponsor, and Reed Smith, LLP, our Silver Sponsor, along with all of our other sponsors and corporate partners, for their support and belief in the mission of the Friends and Foundation. Only with the loyalty and generosity of all of our donors are we able to continue to support the library in expanding its collections and enhancing its programming.
A heartfelt thank you from us to all of you. We look forward to joining again this spring for our 2023 Book Lovers Luncheon with author Lynne Olsen. Stay tuned for more details.
ANDREA BRADLEY Governors Lane ROSALIND MUIR Littlebrook Road North Co-chairs, 2022 Beyond Words Co-chairs, Friends and Foundation Board
To the Editor:
The Board of Education (BoE) elections are coming up this November, and the campaign signs around the town make it quite evident. While three incumbent BoE members are running for another term, it is time for Princeton residents to take stock of how our school district has been trending in its performance. But first let’s take a look into why all residents should pay attention to this BoE election, regardless of whether we have kids going to Princeton Public Schools.
The ranking of a school district is an important measure as it is a good indicator of the learning and development among its student population. Every student matters, and a school district that takes that approach of no child left behind is the one we all should strive for — a great school district. Such a district acts as a magnet attracting the best school staff (teachers, musicians, coaches, administrators, etc.), and newer residents. It is a key factor in real estate values, which in turn funds (via taxes) the costs of public services to keep this town safe, resourceful, and beautiful. Hence it is of vital importance to Princeton residents to pay attention to the BoE elections, and more importantly to go out and vote to elect the right candidates.
Let us take a look at how our school district has been performing. For some years now, PHS has had a gradual downward trend in key measurable indicators. Some examples: Niche Ranking — from 16th place nationally in 2019 to 43rd this year; U.S. News — from a Top 100 (94th place) nationally in 2009, to 490th this year; Math
Proficiency — PHS 51 percent vs. Montgomery 70 percent and West Windsor 67 percent.
The “so what?” from all of this:
Our school district is very good and this is still a desirable place to live and raise kids. But it has the potential and resources to be truly great.
The school district is in the midst of a five-year strategic plan and it is important to set a clear strategy and specific measurable goals with action plans.
BoE plays a very important role of appointing the right school district leadership, and in giving the needed autonomy while holding the leadership accountable for delivering on the strategy.
This November we are presented with the choice of reelecting the three incumbent BoE members or to elect at least one, maybe two newer candidates.
Upon reviewing the qualifications of the newer challengers, Rita Rafalovsky stands out as the one who understands the concerns of many residents, and shares the vision of what is possible with all the great teachers and resources Princeton has to offer. Let us support her candidacy with our valuable vote.
VENKAT YADDANAPUDI Windermere WayTo the Editor:
On November 8, Princeton residents will vote for three candidates for School Board, and we urge you to vote for Susan Kanter. We enthusiastically endorsed Susan for her first term, and we just as enthusiastically support her for re-election.
Susan brings a breadth and depth of experience professionally, in our community, and most importantly in our schools, having served on and co-led the middle school and high school PTOs for 18 years and having served on our Board of Education for the past three years. Susan is passionate about education and the social-emotional well-being of our students, she worked with the district as it made hundreds of decisions to support our students and teachers through the pandemic, and she continues to work tirelessly to promote positive changes in the district.
Some of Susan’s top priorities include ensuring that the district meets the academic needs of all its students, that students feel supported and represented in their learning, and that its facilities are maintained and operate sustainably. As co-chair of the Operations Committee, Susan helped the district make important maintenance and improvement decisions and is making major strides in terms of sustainability and the district’s ability to meet the changing needs of a growing student body.
In these challenging times, Susan also stands out as a person who works extremely well even with people who possess differing viewpoints from her own, making her especially well-suited to School Board work. Anyone who knows Susan can attest to her proven ability to work well with teachers, parents, administrators, and the community.
Susan possesses an unwavering desire to help our schools be their best — for the good of the students and the community — and she puts in the time week after week working toward that goal. Princeton is lucky to have such a dedicated and competent person volunteering tens of hours per week for our schools. She is an excellent listener, easy to work with, and a doer; she works well on a team, she listens, and she is effective in getting things done!
Please join us in casting a vote for Susan Kanter on November 8!
BRAD ACKERMAN Christopher Drive LAUREN JAFFE Rosedale Road
SUKI WASSERMAN Meadowbrook Drive LORI WEIR Stuart Road East
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.
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Peter Singer will discuss his new edition of The Golden Ass (Liveright) with translator Ellen Fin kelpearl on October 26 at 6 p.m. This event, which is cosponsored by Princeton University’s Humanities Council and Center for Hu man Values, will be held at Labyrinth Books and online. For more information, visit labyrinthbooks.com.
Singer comments: “Think of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, throw in generous helpings of humor, sex, and magic, and you might get a rough idea of what The Golden Ass is like.” Singer was initially drawn to The Golden Ass because of its early portrayal of the life of an abused animal. He was surprised to discover that
what is arguably the first surviving novel is now little known and even less read.
A professor of bioethics at Princeton University, Singer is best known for Animal Liberation, first published in 1975 and widely considered to be the founding statement of the animal rights move ment; and for The Life You Can Save , which led him to found the charity of the same name. His other books include Practical Ethics and The Most Good You Can Do . In 2005, Time maga zine named him one of the World’s 100 Most Influen tial People. Finkelpearl is professor of Ancient Stud ies at Scripps College and a scholar of Apuleius.
Library Book Brunch With Akash Kapur Akash Kapur will be talk ing about his book Better to
Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville (Scribner) in the Community Room at Princ eton Public Library on Sun day, October 23. Doors will open at 10:45 a.m. for cof fee and pastries. The public should enter the Commu nity Room via the doors on Hinds Plaza. The talk will begin at 11 a.m.
Kapur will be joined in conversation by writer and producer Gilbert King. The event is offered both in-per son and virtually. To sign up to watch the livestream on Crowdcast, visit princetonli brary.libnet.info/event.
No registration is required to attend in person.
Writing in the New York Times Book Review, Amy Waldman describes Better to Have Gone : “A group bi ography, the investigation of a mystery, a meditation on searching and faith, and an act of love. . . . This is a haunting, heartbreaking story, deeply researched and lucidly told, with an almost painful emotional honesty.”
Kapur is the author of In dia Becoming: A Portrait of Life in Modern India and the editor of an anthology, Auroville: Dream and Re ality. He lives in Princeton.
King is the writer, pro ducer, and host of Bone Valley, a nine-part narrative podcast about murder and injustice in 1980s central Florida, from Lava For Good podcasts. His book, Devil in the Grove, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction in 2013. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Barbara DiLorenzo, whose first picture book for chil dren was Renato and the Lion , will be at Labyrinth at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oc tober 23, reading from her new book One Thursday Afternoon (Flyaway Books).
The event is for adults and children, who are invited to bring questions; there will be some show and tell. For further information, visit labyrinthbooks.com.
According to Kirkus Re views, “Adults may learn a trick or two from Grand dad’s model of patience, acceptance, communication, and support, while sensitive children will see they are not alone and that it’s OK to feel upset. . . . A sweet, specific, and straightforward tale of dealing with good and bad in the world.”
DiLorenzo is also the au thor and illustrator of Quin cy: The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Blend In and has taught at the Arts Council of Princeton and the New York Institute of Art + Design.
Labyrinth Books and Princ eton University Press are host ing an evening of readings by poets in the Press’s Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets on October 25 at 6 p.m. The poets will be introduced by series editor Susan Stewart. This event is cosponsored by the Princeton University Press, Princeton’s English Department, and the Humani ties Council, and will be held at Labyrinth and online. For more information or to regis ter, visit labyrinthbooks.com.
Reading from their new collections will be Anthony Carelli (The New World: In finitesimal Epics ), Troy Jolli more ( Earthly Delights ), and Tawanda Mulalu ( Please Make Me Pretty: I Don’t Want to Die ). Until the pandemic, it had become an annual Labby rinth tradition to introduce the community to two new poets published in the series every year. You can browse the en tire Series of Contemporary Poets and find out more about the poets themselves at press. princeton.edu.
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Browne’s writing can be held back by the force of gravitation, but when he does succeed in rising higher and higher through the circles of his spiralling prose, ... the reader is overcome by a sense of levitation
—W.G. Sebald (1944-2001)
A s far as I know, King Charles III and Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682) have nothing worth mentioning in common other than the fact that the author of Religio Medici was knighted by Charles II in 1671. A gap of 337 earthly years separates Charles II, who died in 1685, from Charles III, who acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was crowned a mere 353 years after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603, speaking of gaps.
Then consider Browne’s dates — born October 19, died October 19, which is today, give or take three and a half centuries. What other literary luminary lived out a perfect birth-death span? None other than the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, born April 23, 1564, died April 23, 1616, at which time Tom Browne was a lad of 11.
A mere 40 years ago I was absorbed in the 1982 World Series pitting the St. Louis Cardinals against the Milwaukee Brewers, still an American League franchise at the time. On October 19 the series turned in the Cardinals favor with a 13-1 sixth game victory. On October 20, the deciding game was saved by future Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter, master of the split-fingered fastball, who died just five days ago, October 14. Shortly before his induction into the Hall, Sutter said, “I wouldn’t be here without that pitch.” When he was pitching relief for the Cubs in 1977, bumper stickers around Chicago read “Only the Lord Saves More Than Sutter.”
The night of the day Sutter died, I dreamed I was in England. Just before I fell asleep, I’d been reading a letter from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to the love of his life Sara Hutchinson. Dated midnight, March 10, 1804, the whole letter was about Sir Thomas Browne, who “is among my first favourites, rich in various knowledge, exuberant in conceptions and conceits, contemplative, imaginative; often truly great and magnificent in his style and diction.” After referring to Browne’s fascination with “Quincuxes in heaven, the Hyades of 5 stars about the horizon at midnight,” Coleridge quotes a passage from The Garden of Cyrus : “...we are unwilling to spin out our waking thoughts into the phantasmes of sleep, which often continueth precogitations, making cables of cobwebs, and wildernesses of handsome groves. To keep our eyes open longer were to act our Antipodes. The
Huntsmen are up in America, and they are already past their first sleep in Persia.” At this point, Coleridge adds, “Think you, my dear Sara, that there ever was such a reason given before for going to bed at midnight ... what Life, what Fancy! Does the whimsical Knight give us thus a dish of strong green Tea, & call it an opiate ? — I trust that you are quietly asleep .... “
In my dream I’m exploring a spacious plaza in Browne’s home city Norwich. Having read about the actual place online the day before, I realize this must be Hay Hill, a civic memorial to the author, with lights embedded in the pavement casting weirdly beautiful gouts of color on sculptures like the large, oddly shaped one I’m leaning against. As I finger the lobe-shaped marble contours, I realize I’m leaning against a gigantic brain. Some distance diagonally across from me is the sculpture of a single eye peering out from under the fragment of a marble brow. Across the way, strangely but somehow inevitably, is a McDonald’s, all lit up but apparently uninhabited after midnight. The book in my hands is W.G. Sebald’s Rings of Saturn , which begins in Norwich and concerns the adventures of Sir Thomas Browne’s brain, which disappeared when his remains were relocated in 1840.
With a chill, halffear, half-wonder, I realize the whole square is a Quincunx, yes, an enlarged version of the five-pointed pattern mentioned in Coleridge’s letter. Now I can see that the various sculptures have been arranged as street furniture for passers-by to sit on or lounge in, most of them apparently inscribed with quotes from Browne’s writings. On one end of the Quincunx is the site of his residence, long since razed, now a Pret a Manger sandwich shop; on the other end is St. Peter Mancroft Church, his final resting place. Looking massively down on it all is an imposing bronze statue of Sir Thomas sprawled in a chair contemplating something in his hand.
As I’m gazing in the direction of the statue, a dark out-of-nowhere figure lurking beside me says, “That’s a very cavalier rendition of myself, looking most comfortable, for a statue, don’t you think?” By now it’s hard to tell whether the dream’s
doing me or I’m doing the dream. What I can make out of the speaker’s face reminds me of the detective played by David Tennant in thorny but charming cynic. The first thing he asks me about is the “split-fingered fastball,” a phrase in which he sees “cosmological possibilities.” “It’s almost unhittable,” I say, “as long as you have enough velocity. Sutter could fire it as fast as 92 miles an hour — it would come at the hitter like a fastball and then die at the moment of truth.” “A swing and a miss,” says my companion. “The story of civilization delivered in a single throw.”
Now he wants to know what I think of The Rings of Saturn nating, one of the best books of the 1990s. While he approves of Sebald and appreciates his debt to whole approach from me”), Browne is
ored rays sent shooting like comets by the floodlights in the pavement. I’m dizzy with it all, only distantly aware that Sir Thomas is confessing his admiration for Sebald’s account of what it’s like to read Urn Burial through the circles of spiralling prose,” ultimately “overcome by a sense of levitation.” Yes, and suddenly I know how it feels to be a split-fingered fastball moving at just under a hundred miles an hour. At the same time I’m reminded of W.H. Sebald’s untimely death in an auto accident. When I mention this to Browne, he snaps, “ Death is never untimely. Quite the opposite. The best way for writers with a philosophical bent to tion. Camus went in a car crash, just him and a tree, all the way over and out in one blazing moment.”
Princeton Symphony Orchestra com bined rich orchestral music with the 21st century this past weekend with performances of “Britten & Elgar,” as well as a work by an acclaimed American composer. Under the direction of Music Director Rossen Milanov, Princeton Sym phony consistently demonstrated a lean and invigorating sound, well matching the fiery playing of guest solo violinist Elina Vähälä.
Saturday night’s performance at Richardson Auditorium (the concert was repeated Sunday afternoon) began with a 21st-century piece showing the Sympho ny’s precise string ensemble sound. New York composer Jessie Montgomery’s Star burst was brief in length but reflected a blaze of orchestral colors and musical ef fects. Princeton Symphony’s performance cleanly revealed every musical detail and pizzicato among the string sections, with the sound traveling well among the mu sicians. Montgomery’s piece served as a teaser for the concert’s main event — Ben jamin Britten’s Violin Concerto, Op. 15 featuring solo violinist Elina Vähälä. Born in the United States and raised in Finland, Vähälä was considered a “young master soloist” at an early age and has been on the international stage ever since.
Britten’s 1939 Violin Concerto was very different from the concertos of the 18th and 19th centuries, opening with a rhyth mic ostinato against lush unison string playing. As in the Montgomery piece, Princeton Symphony’s ensemble sound allowed musical details to come to the forefront, especially André Tarantiles’ harp playing. Vähälä’s solo added com plexity to the first movement, with shades of joy in the nonstop solo line. Numerous decisive upbows in the solo violin part added rhythmic drive as Vähälä showed full command of the score. Conductor Milanov kept the musical flow in forward motion within the contrasting styles, particularly in a “role-reversal” section in which the upper strings played long melodic lines while Vähälä provided stri dent violin effects.
The second movement “Vivace” was marked by Vähälä’s intense and fiery play ing contrasting with a variety of instrumen tal colors, including bassoons, a trio of trumpets, and solo tuba. Throughout the
concerto, the solo violin line demanded the most from Vähälä, including passages of a long melodic line interspersed with pizzicato effects from her own instrument which she executed with her left hand. The third movement recalled the Baroque pas sacaglia form, with one variation in par ticular displaying a majestic feel with the solo violin against a quartet of cleanlyplayed horns. Vähälä consistently played with a rich tone, always moving to the next phrases and never sounding strident in the highest register of the instrument.
Throughout the concerto and especially in the cadenza to the closing movement, Vähälä nimbly played passages of virtuos ity requiring double and triple stops as the Symphony maintained a stately yet joyous feel to the music.
Sir Edward Elgar’s 1899 Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36, more com monly known as the Enigma Variations , also drew from a historical form. Begun as the composer’s improvisatory noodling at the piano, this work became a set of 14 variations inspired by people, both real and fictional, in Elgar’s life. The most well-known of these is “Variation IX,” named after the Biblical hunter Nimrod and most recently played numerous times throughout the world in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
The opening theme of Elgar’s Varia tions was both Romantic and deli cate, and each subsequent variation showcased different instruments or com binations. Full brass and timpani were featured in “Variation IV”), and a wellunified viola section took center stage with long melodic passages in “Variation VI.” A number of players provided elegant solos, including clarinetist Pascal Archer, flutist Anthony Trionfo, oboist Lillian Copeland, and cellist Madeline Fayette. Milanov and the Symphony built the orchestral sound well in the “Nimrod” variation, showing a noble and lush ensemble palette. Violins executed quick passages in a playful tenth variation, with lower strings leading the way through the penultimate variation. Mi lanov led the Symphony to conclude the work triumphantly in the final variation, named after the composer himself, leaving an appreciative audience to further ponder the “Enigma” of Elgar’s work.
—Nancy Plum
Princeton Symphony Orchestra will present its next series of concerts on Saturday, December 17, when the ensemble will perform two Holiday POPS concerts with vocalist Janet Dacal. The concerts will be held at Richardson Auditorium at 3 and 6 p.m. and will also include the Princeton High School Choir. Ticket information can be obtained by visiting princetonsymphony.org.
Wednesday, October 26
Princeton University Chapel
An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. Program continues: Nov 16, Feb 15, Mar 22, Apr 19
Questions: naldrich@princeton.edu
Wednesday, October 26 8:00pm
8:00pm
Princeton University Chapel
Wednesday, October 26 8:00pm
An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. Program continues: Nov 16, Feb 15, Mar 22, Apr 19
An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. Program continues: Nov 16, Feb 15, Mar 22, Apr 19
Questions: naldrich@princeton.edu
Questions: naldrich@princeton.edu
Princeton University Chapel
An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir.
When a play dramatizes a true sto ry, especially about a long-dead public figure, often the resolution can be learned from the subject’s Wikipe dia entry. The challenge to the dramatist then becomes to build enough tension and suspense to make the audience wonder whether a historical event will happen — and if so, how
That is what playwright David Robson accomplishes so successfully in Blues in My Soul: The Legend and Legacy of Lon nie Johnson, which is being presented by Passage Theatre (following its premiere at Delaware’s City Theater Company earlier this year). A play with music, Blues in My Soul depicts the meeting of blues and jazz luminary Alonzo “Lonnie” Johnson and DJ, journalist, and record producer Chris Albertson.
Johnson (1899-1970) was a singer, guitar ist, violinist, and songwriter who performed with legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bessie Smith. Gérard Her zhaft writes in the 1979 Encyclopedia of the Blues that Johnson was “undeniably the creator of the guitar solo played note by note with a pick, which has become the standard in jazz, blues, country, and rock.” Artists such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Django Reinhardt were influenced by John son. But by the late 1950s, he largely had faded from the public memory.
Albertson (1931-2019) was a disc jockey at Keflavic Air Base in Iceland, before mi grating to the United States. In Philadelphia he worked for WCAU and WHAT-FM. Later he authored Bessie. a 1972 biography of Bessie Smith. For his work producing reis sues for Columbia Records, he won multiple accolades, including two Grammy Awards and a Prix du Disque.
In 1959, in the course of his work for WHAT, Albertson learned via an anony mous call from the Benjamin Franklin Ho tel that Johnson was working as a janitor there. The following year Albertson pro duced Blues by Lonnie Johnson for Blues ville Records.
But in Blues in My Soul, Lonnie is re luctant to return to performing. He is dis inclined to trust Chris, and is unwilling to trade the security of his current job for the unpredictability of the music business. The world-weary Lonnie and the starry-eyed, somewhat naive Chris are unlikely collabo rators.
Blues in My Soul opens Passage’s 38th season, which the company has given the theme of “Foundations for our Future.”
All of the shows explore “ building on the past in order to create a new future,” states Passage’s website. “As we move forward from two very difficult years, we want to acknowledge and reflect on how the lessons we learned from the past will help to shape what’s to come.”
Skillfully directed by Ozzie Jones (who also provides the voice of Lonnie’s co worker Irving), Passage’s production opens with Lonnie on stage, and Chris, who stands in the auditorium, gazing ad miringly at footage of his idol’s perfor mances. Chris, who hopes to craft a future based on Lonnie’s past success, reverently approaches the stage to talk to his hero. He has brought with him a guitar and a large box.
The stage does not resemble a perfor mance space. Marie Laster’s elaborate set places us in a spacious but somewhat clut tered storeroom in the Benjamin Franklin Hotel. The walls have cracks in them, in dicating that they have fallen into disre pair — and looking at the set before the show, one wonders whether that echoes what the room’s occupant feels has hap pened to him.
But the concert footage Chris sees — which the character seems to be imagin ing or remembering — is projected on the walls. This suggests that although Lonnie no longer performs, he has imprinted his personality on the room.
When we meet Lonnie, he wears a blue janitor’s uniform. In contrast, Costume Designer Tiffany Bacon outfits Chris with a striped shirt of vibrant white and red.
David Brandon Ross infuses Lonnie with the world-weariness and deliberation that the character’s age and experiences
would have brought him. Jonathan Jacobs matches this with the right combination of deep respect and youthful enthusiasm. Both actors are talented guitarists, a skill that is used well by the play.
Chris nervously hides behind a piece of furniture, but Lonnie finds him rather quickly. Ross and Jacobs let their charac ters’ body language be sharply divergent when they meet. Chris eagerly strides for ward and tries to initiate a handshake; Lonnie stands back, reserved. The tableau is a blueprint for their relationship during most of the show.
Eventually, with persistent urging from Chris, Lonnie plays the guitar that his devotee has brought. Later, Chris takes a turn. Again, the contrasting body lan guage speaks volumes. When Lonnie performs, Chris’s gaze is admiring; when Chris plays, Lonnie gives him a coolly ap praising look.
The songs become an extension of the dialogue; the conversation between the two characters is musical as well as spo ken. Lonnie performs some of the songs on which he built his career: “Long Black Train,” “Tomorrow Night,” and the song that gives the play its title, “Blues in My Soul.” Chris responds with “Wayfaring Stranger,” in which Jacobs demonstrates his sturdy vocals and smooth, earnest phrasing.
Ross — a composer, performer, musical
director, and Boston Music Award recipi ent — commands the stage with his rendi tions of Johnson’s material, infusing every moment with energy and passion. Audi ence members frequently exclaim “Yeah, baby!” Often the play feels, pleasantly, like a concert with a plot added.
However, any rapport that has been built between the two musicians — and any headway Chris might have made in persuading Lonnie to return to perform ing — is jeopardized by an action Chris takes. Surreptitiously he attempts to make a recording of Lonnie without the latter’s permission. We discover that Lonnie has had experiences of being cheated by un scrupulous record producers who did something similar.
Throughout the conversation, we hear other bits about Lonnie’s past. For ex ample, in 1919 he returned home from a tour in England, to discover that all of his family, except for his brother, died in the 1918 influenza epidemic.
The show candidly probes racial in justice. Chris (who is white) hears about some of Lonnie’s experiences as an Afri can American in the (segregated) music business. This ties in with both Passage’s mission for its season, and a key theme of the show: if the two men are going to have a future rapport, let alone a partnership, then the past — and the all too present — injustices need to be confronted. Lonnie emphasizes to Chris that their lives are not the same. Issues of authenticity are discussed.
But Lonnie has come to reject musical boundaries and labels. He relates how Bessie Smith reprimanded him for dis daining “Tea for Two,” a show tune (from the musical No, No, Nanette ) that she chose to sing.
In tandem with Jasmine Williams’ light ing, Aaron Oster’s sound design distin guishes the “present” from Lonnie’s mem ories. Late in the show, Lonnie sings in front of a microphone that Chris places in front of him. The scene is deftly staged so that we wonder whether Lonnie is singing for a real, or imagined, audience.
There is a scene in which Lonnie and Chris both play guitar. Before launching into a song, they try to get their instruments in tune with each other. It is a beautiful segment, because it encapsulates the spirit of Blues in My Soul. Before they can collaborate to make music happen, they must — literally and metaphorically — find a way to get in tune with each other.
The actors, however, are in tune with each other throughout the play. The result is a riveting piece of theater.
—Donald H. Sanborn III
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Princeton's favorite holiday art market is back, hitting the streets of bustling Downtown Princeton! This one-day sale will feature your go-to vendors plus new talent you'll love discovering.
Learn more & plan your visit:
The Brentano String Quar tet, Princeton University’s ensemble-in-residence from 1999-2014, returns to Prince ton University Concerts (PUC) on Thursday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m. with a program that celebrates the music of our homeland, paying tribute to composer Ántonín Dvorak and his impact on American classical music.
The concert at Richard son Auditorium will trace musical lineage from a blues arrangement by Princeton University’s own faculty composer Steven Mackey and Charles Ives’ reinterpre tation of popular American songs, all the way back to the
spirituals that inspired Dvor ak’s compositions as he di rected the National Conser vatory of Music of America and paved the way, by pro viding education to black composers, for the music of William Grant Still and George Walker.
“The program the Bren tano String Quartet has cu rated tells a lesser-known story of musical composi tion in America,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “It presents a rich diversity of compositions influenced by African American music, re flecting folk, jazz, and blues influences. It is an extraordi nary reorientation of Dvor ak’s role in American culture and his profound impact on Black American composers.
Of course, this concert is all the more special as it repre sents a homecoming for the Brentano String Quartet, so beloved by the Princeton community. Their inclusion of Department of Music Professor Steven Mackey adds all the more to the inti mately familiar flavor of the evening.”
Tickets ($30-$50 gener al/$10 student) are available for purchase online at puc. princeton.edu, or by calling (609) 258-2800.
The Westminster Commu nity Orchestra, conducted by Ruth Ochs, will per form on Sunday, October 23 at 3 p.m. in the Robert
L. Annis Playhouse on the Westminster Choir College Campus of Rider University in Princeton. A suggested do nation of $10/person will be accepted at the door.
The autumnally-themed program will feature the world premiere of Kathleen Scheide’s Concertino for Au tumn featuring The Guitars of Westminster Conservato ry, Mark Johnstone, director. The concert will also include Emilie Mayer’s Faust Over ture, Mikhail Glinka’s Kama rinskaya , movements from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”), and Richard Rodgers’ The Sound of Mu sic (Selection for Orchestra), arranged by Robert Russell Bennett.
Scheide is a composer, teacher, organist, and early keyboard soloist who has performed throughout the world. The Westminster Community Orchestra previ ously premiered her Echo for guitars and orchestra, also featuring Mark Johnstone and The Guitars of Westmin ster Conservatory. Johnstone has over 30 years of teaching
and performing experience. He directs The Guitars of Westminster Conservatory, which offers classical guitar ists the opportunity to play and perform a variety of mu sic from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
Now in her 18th season as conductor and music direc tor of the Westminster Com munity Orchestra, Ochs has led the orchestra in perfor mances of major orchestral and choral-orchestral works, including symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Shosta kovich and Tchaikovsky. Un der her leadership, the or chestra continues to feature ensembles and soloists from the Westminster Conserva tory and highlight works by local and under-represented composers.
Members of the Westmin ster Community Orchestra are professional and gifted amateur musicians, from all walks of life, who come from New Jersey and Pennsylva nia. Visit rider.edu/about/ events/sound-of-autumn for more information.
The Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pa., presents vocalist Maci Miller on Sat urday, October 22 at 8:30 p.m. as part of the 25th Anniversary Series of Jazz Night. The series continues through the fall of 2023. The series was launched by Dr. Irving McConnell with singer Jon Lucien and jazz bassist and composer Charles Farmbrough. Today, Jazz Night is an important part of the Michener’s of ferings.
Philadelphia native Miller will present original compo sitions and familiar favorites from the Great American Songbook. On recordings and on stage, Miller has worked with such luminaries as trumpeter Steve Jankows ki, saxophonist Larry McK enna, and George Mesterha zy, at Ortlieb’s, Chris’s Jazz Café, Caesar’s Palace, and elsewhere.
Tickets, which include light refreshments, are available at MichenerArt Museum.org.
About Class and Privilege Langhorne Players close their 75th season with Na tive Gardens, the new com edy about good intentions and bad manners by Karen Zacar ias. “This play reminds me so much of the sitcoms I grew up watching, like All in the Fam ily. It deals with contemporary issues in a very classically funny way, and I’m excited for audiences to see it,” producer John Boccanfuso said.
Pregnant young couple Pab lo and Tania del Valle have just moved into a fixer-upper in an upscale D.C. neighborhood. Their next-door neighbors, Frank and Virginia Butley, are stalwarts of the community. They have an award-winning garden, while the del Valles’ must deal with a barren land scape in the shade of an ugly old tree. After the newcomers receive the results of a land survey, they realize that the Butleys’ property is smaller than they thought, and the beautiful garden encroaches on Pablo and Tani’s rightful property line. As the pairs try to reconcile this finding, a battle brews.
Performances run October 14-29 at the Spring Garden Mill in Tyler State Park, 1440 Newtown-Richboro Road. A talk-back with the cast and crew will follow the Wednes day, October 26 performance, and a special matinee will be performed on Saturday, Oc tober 22 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22; visit langhorneplay ers.org. Both Friday night performances (October 14 and 28) are buy-one-get-one night when using code BOGO online.
Maurer Productions On Stage presents the Shake speare-inspired musical comedy Something Rot ten! at Mercer County Com munity College’s Kelsey
Theatre October 21-30 with a streaming option October 28-30.
Set in the 1590s, the show is a history-twisting tale with a cast of over-the-top charac ters, impressive songs, dance numbers, and lots and lots of eggs. “If you love Shake speare, you’ll love this show!
If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show,” said Kelsey Director Kitty Getlik.
The story is of two broth ers who are desperate to write a hit play, and who just happen to be the nem eses of William Shakespeare.
A local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater will involve something that has never been done before: singing, dancing, and acting, all at the same time, and the brothers then decide to write the world’s very first hit mu sical.
Live shows are October 21 and 22 at 8 p.m., October 23 at 2 p.m., October 28 and 29 at 8 p.m., and October 30 at 2 p.m. On-demand stream ing is also available for the last three performances.
Tickets are $22-$24.
Kelsey Theatre is on the campus of Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. Visit KelseyThe atre.org for more informa tion.
Note that masks are rec ommended but not required while in the theater.
Princeton University’s Fund for Irish Studies pres ents “ Low the sun; short its course”: Tracing the Celtic Ritual Cycle through Music, Manuscript, and Performance, a presentation by Helen Phel an, professor of arts practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the Uni versity of Limerick in Ireland.
Using a lecture and recital format, Phelan explores the
musical and ritualistic evi dence for the emergence and continuity of the Celtic ritual cycle, focusing on the rituals of Imbolc and Samhain, which is a precursor of Halloween. The event will take place on Friday, October 28, at 4:30 p.m. at the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street. Princeton’s Visiting Leonard L. Milberg ’53 Pro fessor in Irish Letters and Chair of the Fund for Irish Studies Fintan O’Toole will provide a welcome and intro duction. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
cycle in Ireland, punctuated by four quarter days, is strongly associated with the traditions and practices of the Iron Age Celts, but its roots and shoots can be located in much earlier and later historical periods.
Phelan’s presentation trac es the evidence for this ritual cycle in both medieval manu script sources as well as folk loric traditions. Focusing on music, such as medieval Irish chant, and story, including the hagiographies (writings on the lives of the saints), the recital suggests a dynamic, syncretic understanding of ritual, mov ing fluidly between prehistor ic, pre-Christian and Celtic Christian practices. Phelan’s lecture concludes with a pro posal concerning the influ ence of ritual tradition on contemporary ritual creativity.
Information about the Fund for Irish Studies lecture series events can be found at fis. princeton.edu. The fall 20222023 series will conclude on November 11 with writer and documentary-maker Manchán Magan. Additional events for the spring are being planned.
On Friday and Saturday, No vember 4 and 5 from 6-7:30 p.m., the Nick Cosaboom Quartet will play at Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street. The coffee shop is spon soring musicians from Puerto Rico to play with Cosaboom, who graduated from the Con servatory of Music in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this past May.
Cosaboom is a Princeton native and Princeton High School graduate. His major at the Conservatory was Latin percussion.
Ritual traditions are fre quently transmitted through a combination of sanctioned and sanctified “official’ sources, as well as the songs, stories and performances of living communities. The emer gence of an agrarian ritual
The group performs a va riety of primarily original music, ranging from soothing ballads to complex odd me ters, with hints of Afro Cuban rhythmic influences. Guitarist John Medina, bassist Lucyann Ceballos, and multi-instru mentalist Kevin Reyes, who alternates between drums and keyboards, make up the quartet with Cosaboom, who is a former percussionist for Charlie Sepúlveda and Sebas tián Otero.
Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 2018.
Mowitz has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony and, this past summer, at the Marlboro Music Festival. He is currently an associat ed artist at Belgium’s Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel and a community artist fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Alongside composer Nick DiBerardino, Zachary cofounded Nodality Music, a nonprofit organization dedi cated to cultivating direct links between artists and audiences, while fostering meaningful human connec tions through classical music experiences.
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will pres ent a new production of Gio achino Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) as the centerpiece of its Princeton Festival to be held June 9-25, 2023.
Rossen Milanov, Edward T. Cone Music Director and ar tistic head of the Princeton Festival, will conduct the opera, which will receive a three-performance run.
appeal to anyone who loves a good laugh and great sing ing.”
& Garden. Plans are under way to install an even larger performance pavilion with upgraded seating offering optimal sight lines. Visit princetonsymphony.org/fes tival for more information.
The Princeton High School Orchestra and PHS UNICEF Project present this year’s Princeton High School UNICEF Benefit Concert on Friday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center on Walnut Lane.
2022 Rev. Andrew Scales, Ph.D. Chaplain of Princeton Presbyterians Princeton University
“ I am thrilled to continue to celebrate the Festival’s opera origins with a fresh production of Rossini’s great work in the opera buffa tra dition,” said Milanov. “ Il barbiere di Siviglia is per haps the most popular of all comic operas, and will
The four-act comic opera includes the iconic character of Figaro, a barber turned valet, who assists Count Almaviva in wooing the beautiful Rosina away from her lecherous guardian, Dr. Bartolo. The story of Figaro was originally conceived by the French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais in his epony mous Le Barbier de Séville, the first in a series of three plays chronicling the charac ter’s escapades. The opera is considered the prequel to Wolfgang Amadeus Mo zart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), likewise inspired by Beau marchais’ plays.
This season’s Princeton Festival will once again take place primarily on the grounds of Morven Museum
Cellist Zachary Mowitz, a 2014 graduate of the school and an alumnus of the or chestra, will be the soloist. Mowitz graduated from the
Tickets, which are $5$10, can be purchased at the door. The concert finale features all PHS orchestral musicians, in addition to the seventh and eighth grade or chestral students from Princ eton Middle School. Concert proceeds will benefit the aid that UNICEF USA brings to children worldwide.
Continued from Preceding PageMercer County Communi ty College’s (MCCC’s) James Kerney Campus Gallery (JKCG) presents its latest exhibition, “Ara Oshagan: How the World Might Be,” on view through December 2.
“Mercer County Commu nity College is thrilled to welcome Ara Oshagan, Los Angeles-based photogra pher and installation artist to JKC Gallery in Trenton,” said JKC Gallery Director Michael Chovan-Dalton. “His works reveal a dia sporic personal and familial history that is truly captivat ing.”
Oshagan is an Armenian multi-disciplinary and inter sectional artist working in photography, collage, ar chive, film, book and instal lation art. “How the World Might Be” showcases works from several series that weave together the artist’s interests in diasporic possi bility, afterlives of displace ment, and (un)imagined fu tures.
The exhibit employs pho tography, film, and collage to present a layered vision of “diasporic presence” that in tertwines documentary with the constructed, text with image, fact with specula tion, personal history with collective history. “How The
World Might Be” entangles past-present-future and imagines the possibility of what was and what might or might not be.
JKC Gallery is located at 137 North Broad Street in Trenton. For more informa tion about this exhibition and the artist, visit jkcgallery. online/ara-oshagan-how-theworld-might-be. Register for your visit at least one day in advance at JKCGallery. online
Beyond Pink Pop-Up Gallery at MarketFair YWCA Princeton’s Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) hosted its fifth an nual Beyond Pink Art Show
PUMPKIN PAINTING PARTY: Color Me Mine will host its annual Pumpkin Painting Party (not limited to pumpkins!) at the Princeton Shopping Center on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23. Studio fees are $5 for this event. Advanced registration is required — visit princeton. colormemine.com or call the studio at (609) 581-9500. The event is part of Princeton Shopping Center’s Fall Fest on October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 6 at MarketFair. The show cele brated and featured art cre ated or inspired by women living with, through, and be yond breast cancer — many of whom are members of the YWCA’s BCRC. It was the first in-person fundraiser hosted by YWCA Princeton since 2019, and raised over $30,000.
Over 100 pieces were dis played at the Beyond Pink Art Show, and will remain at MarketFair as part of a popup gallery (located across from the Gap) that will be open Friday through Sunday during mall hours for the re mainder of the month. Select art pieces are still available for purchase, and merchan dise featuring Love Army by Vincent Sparella, one of the contributing artists, may be purchased online.
October is Breast Can cer Awareness Month, and YWCA Princeton is hopeful that the pop-up gallery will increase public awareness of the BCRC and its services. “I want the community to support our program,” said Melissa White McMahon, director of the BCRC, “but I also want the community to know that we are here to support them.”
The BCRC provides free education and outreach ses sions to social and corpo rate groups, and frequently attends community events to provide information and resources. As YWCA Princ eton celebrates its centen nial anniversary, 2022 also marks 50 years since ENCORE, a water aerobics class for women recover ing from mastectomies was established, and later
expanded its services to be come the BCRC.
Those who are interest ed in learning more about the Beyond Pink Art Show and how to purchase mer chandise can visit ywcap rinceton.org/beyondpink. Anyone interested in vol unteering with the BCRC, scheduling an educational presentation, or utilizing any of its support services may visit ywcaprinceton.org/pro grams/bcrc.
YWCA Princeton thanks Deb Cusma and Kyle Wille, who curated and arranged the 2022 Beyond Pink Art Show and gallery; Riverview Studios for their installation and lighting work; and Do reen Valdes of MarketFair for her hospitality and part nership.
Continued on Next Page
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Monica Bravo, Assistant Professor of Art History at the University of Southern California, will speak about her book, Greater American Camera: Making Modernism in Mexico (2021). Reception to follow.
Each week, join us at 8 p.m. for free, online drawing classes inspired by works in the Museum’s collections. Presented by the Art Museum in partnership with the Arts Council of Princeton. Dates and details on our website. Stream it live
“HEIRLOOMS AND BARGAINS”: This work by Lana Privitera is featured in the Garden State Wa tercolor Society’s “52nd Annual Open Juried Exhibition,” on view through November 6 at the Artists of Yardley Art Center in Bucks County, Pa. to process and express our feelings. I invited GSWS mem bers to create individual paint ings on the theme of war and peace for our 4th Annual Art Installation. These individual works are installed together to create a unique, meaning ful and impactful work of art. I invite artists and art lovers alike to visit AOY.”
GSWS’ “52nd Annual Open Juried Exhibition” at AOY Artists of Yardley (AOY) Art Center is hosting the Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) for its “52nd Annual Open Juried Exhibition.” The watercolor exhibition is on view through November 6, with artists such as Charles McVicker, James Toogood, and Lana Privitera. Open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, it has gallery hours from 12 to 5 p.m. It was juried for acceptance and awards by Mick McAndrews.
AOY Art Center is located in the Janney House at the his toric Patterson Farmstead at 949 Mirror Lake Road (just off Route 295 at the Newtown, Pa., interchange) in Bucks County, Pa. It is free to attend.
A unique entry wall at AOY Art Center this year displays GSWS’ corroborative 4th An nual Art Installation, “Draw the Line on War.” This instal lation displays 81 paintings of 39 of GSWS members’ visual reflections on war and peace in today’s world, installed to form one powerful piece of art. The war in Ukraine and other world wide conflicts are symbolically represented, along with the art ists’ sincere desires for peace.
“When we see, hear, and read the news today we come away with horror and frustra tion,” said Tess Fields, GSWS president. “All of us are in dire need of hope. Art is one way
Upcoming events in con junction with the exhibition include a free artist demon stration via Zoom on Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. Juror Mick McAndrews will provide a fun and engaging demon stration of a marine seascape. He will paint a docked fishing boat that will include a boat, dock, pilings, boathouse, re flection, and more. Registra tion is required gswcs.org.
On Sunday, November 6 at 2 p.m., GSWS will host an Awards Presentation and Reception at AOY Art Center, followed by the close of the exhibition at 4 p.m.
For more information, visit gswcs.org.
The Pedersen Gallery, 17 North Union Street, Lambert vile, presents “F. Hutton Shill and the Lost History Of Port Norris,” on view October 20 through December 11.
In the first decades of the 20th century, Port Norris and the adjacent areas of Bivalve and Shell Pile, located on the Maurice River in South Jersey, became the center for the great est oyster harvesting industry
in the world. In 1910 the an nual oyster crop was valued at $2,500,000, representing the harvest of 3,600,000 bushels of oysters. Over 1,500 people were employed in the oyster industry and 1,000 alone for shucking. Entire towns arose in the support of the grow ing industry, and Port Norris became one of the wealthiest maritime communities on the East Coast. Several hundred schooners were built and sailed from the Maurice River Cove into the Delaware Bay for use in the oyster industry.
Pennsylvania Academytrained artist F. Hutton Shill (1872-1946) first began visit ing Port Norris in 1899 and worked until 1907 painting the oyster fleet. These paint ings were exhibited more than four times at Philadelphia Academy exhibitions held be tween 1905 and 1907. Shill’s works were informed by the admonition of the influen tial contemporary artist and teacher Robert Henri, “Paint what you feel, paint what you see, paint what is real.”
Shill’s paintings of Port Nor ris depict the history of the South Jersey oyster industry. His paintings of the ships, docks, and sheds of Port Nor ris are done in a realist style that uniquely captures the life and activity of the vibrant oys ter industry.
Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., and by appointment. For more information, call (609) 397-1332.
The public is invited to enjoy the 56th annual “New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show,” now on display in the hall galleries of the main building at Meadow Lakes Senior Living, 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor. The exhibit, featuring more than 270 works of art created by New Jersey artists over the age of 60, will remain on view through Thursday, October 27. Artists from 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties have work on display in this year’s exhibit, the first in-person show since 2019.
The exhibit, with artwork by both professional and non-professional artists in 11 categories (acrylic, craft, digital imagery, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper), was juried by a three-person judges’ panel of professional artists who selected first-, second-, and third-place winners and honorable mentions in each category. This year,
exhibiting artists range in age from 60 to 101.
This year, Lisa Hendrickson’s (Burlington County) mixed media, Wary: Living with Scarcity, was named Best in Show/Professional, and Susan Lauricella’s (Middlesex County) watercolor, She is Fragile and Beautiful, was selected as Best in Show/ Non-Professional.
The annual exhibit, a cosponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage, caps a year of county-based Senior Citizen Art Shows throughout the state.
All work on display represents first-place winners from the county shows. Work may also be viewed on the “New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show “website at njseniorarts. com.
The show is open to the public Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of six or more are asked to contact Meadow Lakes in advance by calling
(609) 448-4100. For more information, contact Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage at (609) 278-2712 or email tfagan@mercercounty.org.
The “New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show” is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage. It receives additional support from the County of Mercer, Meadow Lakes (a Springpoint Senior Living Community), and the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Alexis Rockman: Shipwrecks” through November 27. artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Emotional Odyssey” through November 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. lambertvillearts.com. Art on Hulfi sh, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Time’s Relentless Melt” through November 6. artmuseum. princeton.edu.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Inked!” through November 5 and “Retrieving the Life and Art of James Wilson Edwards and a Circle of Black Artists” through December 3. artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Fox & Roach, Realtors, 253 Nassau Street, has “Emergence: Expanding in Light,” photographs by Lisa Granozio, through November 4. lagphotography.com.
Ellarslie, Trenton’s City Museum in Cadwalader Park, Parkside Avenue, has “The Stacy-Trent Hotel” through November 28. ellarslie.org.
Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “Alice Grebanier: Altered Vision” and “Scott R. Hoerl: Found
Images” through October 23. gallery14.org.
Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Back to the Palette: New Paintings by Watercolorists Unlimited” through October 30. cranburyartscouncil.org.
Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Roberto Lugo: The Village Potter” through January 8, 2023, and “Fragile: Earth” through January 8, 2023, among other exhibits. Timed tickets required. groundsforsculpture.org.
Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery,” “Princeton’s Portrait,” and other exhibits.
Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m., Thursday to 7 p.m. princetonhistory.org
The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, has “Black + Jewish: Connection, Courage, Community” through October 31. thejewishcenter.org.
Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Walk This Way” through January 15 and “(re)Frame: Community Perspectives on the Michener Art Collection” through March 5. michenerartmuseum.org.
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Ma Bell: The Mother of Invention in New Jersey” through March and the online exhibits “Slavery at Morven,” “Portrait of Place: Paintings, Drawings, and
Prints of New Jersey, 1761–1898,” and others. morven. org.
Phillips’ Mill, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “93rd Juried Art Show” through October 30. phillipsmill.org.
The Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, has paintings by Margaret KalvarBushnell through October 28. Viewing appointments are available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., except for Wednesdays. Call (609) 9421014 or email PresentDayClub@PresentDayClub.org.
Princeton Public Library , 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Telling a People’s Story” through October 30, and “Salvadoran Art: A Father and Son Exhibit” and “Uprooted Trees, Magicicadas and Climate Change” through November 27. princetonlibrary.org.
Princeton University Library has “Records of Resistance: Documenting Global Activism 1933-2021” through December 11. library.princeton.edu
Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has “Minako Ota: Paintings and Drawings” through November 1. “Jahnavi Joyce Zondervan: Acrylic and Watercolor Paintings” is at the 254 Nassau Street location through November 1. smallworldcoffee.com.
West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Trenton Community A-TEAM” through October 29. westwindsorarts.org.
The lake city of Udaipur in northwestern India was the sixteenthcentury capital of the Mewar court. Join this two-part panel with Padmaja Kumari Parmar, a daughter of the House of Mewar, speak ing on living heritage, and Dipti Khera, Associate Professor of Art History at NYU, discussing how representations of place from Udaipur trace the major shifts in India’s long eighteenth century.
“Where
Louis A. Simpson International Building, Room A71Cosponsored by A Princeton tradition!
Wednesday, October 19
12 p.m.: “The Mysterious World of the Garden Grot to,” virtual presentation by Dr. Gerald and Margaret Hull, presented by Mor ven Museum, where Annis Stockton had a grotto. $5. Morven.org.
6 p.m.: Princeton Public Library Board of Trustees meet either in the Library’s Community Room or via Zoom. Princetonlibrary.org.
8-10:30 p.m.: Princeton Country Dancers present a contra dance at Suzanne Pat terson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Ridge Kennedy with Where’s Fred. $10. Princ etoncountrydancers.org.
Thursday, October 20
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Princeton Farmers’ Market is at the Din ky train station parking lot, across from the Wawa. Princ etonfarmersmarket.com.
7 p.m.: At Hopewell Train Station, Donetta Johnson of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Muse um presents “The African American’s Deep Connec tion to the Land: Steward ship and Conflict.” Free. Sourland.org.
7 p.m.: Public Talk at Dou glass Student Center, 100 George Street, New Bruns wick, by Nomi M. Stolzen berg and David N. Myers
about their new book Ameri can Shtetl: The Making of Kiryas Joel, A Hasidic Vil lage in Upstate New York. Free. Advance reservations at BildnerCenter.Rutgers. edu.
Friday, October 21
7:30-9 p.m.: River House at Odette’s, 274 River Road, New Hope, Pa., holds a stargazing event hosted by Allen Liu, co-author of 30 Second Space Travel , to view the Orionids meteor shower. Astronomy-themed light bites and cocktails will be available. Riverhousene whope.com.
8 p.m.: Guitarist Beppe Gambetta appears at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. $5-$25. Princetonfolk.org.
Saturday, October 22
10 a.m.: “OAKtober” at Marquand Park Children’s Arboretum. Free oak sap lings, cookies and cider, and an oak scavenger hunt. Marquandpark.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Princeton Fall Fest at the Princeton Shopping Center. More than 90 makers and merchants, live music, and fall-themed offerings from shopping center businesses. princ etonshoppingcenter.com.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Fall Fam ily Fun Weekend at Terhune
Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick and paint pump kins, pony rides, pedal trac tors, the corn stalk maze, adventure barn, barnyard animals, live music by Mag nolia Street String Band, food, wine, baked goods, and more. $15 online in advance/$18 the day of the event. Children under 3 are free. Terhuneorchards.com.
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Lambert ville Station Restaurant and Inn, 11 Bridge Street, Lam bertville, hosts a free fall festival with games, ven dors, family activities, food, a beer garden, and more. Lambertvillestation.com.
10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Annual Pumpkin Painting Party at Color Me Mine, Princeton Shopping Center. $5. Princ eton.colormemine.com.
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Fall Clean Up Day at Princeton Battle field State Park. Garden tools and gloves available, but bring your own if pos sible. Water and snacks provided; pizza afterward. Registration necessary at pbs1777.org.
1 p.m.: The Chamber Mu sic Society of Lincoln Center performs at Richardson Au ditorium in a family concert for kids aged 6-12 and their families titled “Can Music Tell a Story?” $5-$10. Puc. princeton.edu.
2 p.m.: Van Harlingen His torical Society presents a program about how the twoman police force handled Halloween mischief in the days when Montgomery was mostly rural. At Montgom ery Library, 100 Community Drive, Skillman. Free.
7:30 p.m.: The Capital Philharmonic performs at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton. Daniel Spalding leads Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (Symphony No. 9) with The Somerset Hills Cho rus. Capitalphilharmonic.org.
7:30 p.m.: Rum and On ions XLI, Halloween Contra Dance at the Suzanne Pat terson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Presented by Princ eton Country Dancers. Call ing by Will Mentor. Music by Rum & Onions led by Bob Pasquarello. $15-$20. Princ etoncountrydancers.org.
7:30 p.m.: La Fiocco pe riod instrument ensemble presents “Phantasticus! Vir tuoso Music for the Hapsburg Emperors” at Christ Congre gation, 50 Walnut Lane. $10$25. Lafiocco.org.
7:30-9 p.m.: River House at Odette’s, 274 River Road, New Hope, Pa., holds a stargazing event hosted by Allen Liu, co-author of 30 Second Space Travel, to view the Orionids meteor shower. Astronomy-themed light bites and cocktails will be available. Riverhousene whope.com.
8 p.m.: The Vijay Iyer Trio is livestreamed from Wolfen sohn Hall at the Institute for Advanced Study. Pia nist Iyer, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and percussionist Tyshawn Sorey are the per formers. Register at ias.edu.
11 p.m.: Screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Follows a preshow party from 9-11 p.m. hosted by Rutgers Universi ty’s Cabaret Theatre. $15. Stnj.org.
Sunday, October 23
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market at Dvoor Farm, 111 Mine Street, Flemington. Fresh, organic offerings from 20 farmers and vendors. Morn ing yoga; music. Hunterdon landtrust.org.
10:00 a.m.: Quaker Open House. Join with members of Princeton Quaker Meet ing for coffee, refreshments, and an informal discussion of spirituality and life, at Princeton Friends School, 470 Quaker Road. facebook. com/PrincetonFriendsMeet ing.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Fall Fam ily Fun Weekend at Ter hune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick and paint pumpkins, pony rides, ped al tractors, the corn stalk maze, adventure barn, barn yard animals, live music by Tookany Creek, food, wine, baked goods, and more. $15 online in advance/$18 the day of the event. Children under 3 are free. Terhune orchards.com.
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Lambert ville Station Restaurant and
Inn, 11 Bridge Street, Lam bertville, hosts a free fall festival with games, ven dors, family activities, food, a beer garden, and more. Lambertvillestation.com.
10:45 a.m.: Book brunch featuring Akash Kapur, discussing Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia, presented in person and virtually by Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Coffee and pastries served. Princ etonlibrary.org.
1 p.m.: Carillon concert at Princeton University’s Graduate Tower; listen from outside Cleveland Tower.
11 a.m.-7 p.m.: Annual Pumpkin Painting Party at Color Me Mine, Princeton Shopping Center. $5. Princ eton.colormemine.com.
2 p.m.: “One Thursday Afternoon,” with children’s book author Barbara di Lo renzo, at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Laby rinthbooks.com.
2 p.m.: Trickster Tales from around the World, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Storyteller Maria LoBiondo shares folktales about ani mal and human pranksters. Princetonlibrary.org.
3 p.m.: Singer Davone Tines, whose work blends opera, spirituals, gospel, and anthems, performs at McCarter Theatre, 91 Uni versity Place. $25-$50. Mc carter.org.
3 p.m.: The Princeton branch of The EnglishSpeaking Union presents a lecture by actor Tom Ko peche, “Performing Shake speare,” at Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road. Free.
3 p.m.: The Westminster Community Orchestra per forms “The Sound of Au tumn” at the Robert L. Annis Playhouse on the Westmin ster Choir College campus, Walnut Lane. $10 suggested donation. Ruth Ochs con ducts. Rider.edu/about/ events/sound-of-autumn.
3-5 p.m.: The Lawrence Hopewell Trail holds its an nual Trail and Treat Bike Ride for families with chil dren 12 and under at Vil lage Park, Bergen Street en trance, Lawrence Township. Face painting, live music, Halloween crafts, followed by two rides. Lhtrail.org.
Monday, October 24
Tuesday, October 25
6 p.m.: Princeton Univer sity Press Poets with Susan Stewart, Anthony Carelli, Troy Jollimore, and Tawa nda Mulalu, hybrid event at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nas sau Street, and online. Laby rinthbooks.com.
7:30 p.m.: Performances by Kayla Hamilton and x, presented by the Lewis Cen ter for the Arts at Hearst Dance Theater, Lewis Arts Complex, Princeton Uni versity campus. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.
Wednesday, October 26
5 p.m.: “Photo History’s Future: Monica Bravo.”
A lecture at Princeton Univer sity’s Friend Center, William Street. Bravo’s new book is Greater American Camera: Making Modernism in Mexi co. Artmuseum.princeton.edu
6 p.m.: Peter Singer and Ellen Finkelpearl discuss the novel The Golden Ass, hybrid event at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, and on line. Labyrinthbooks.com.
6 and 9 p.m.: Princeton University Concerts pres ents saxophonist Jess Gil lam and pianist Thomas Weaver playing selections by Poulenc, Barbara Thomas, Telemann, and Ayana Wit ter-Johnson, at Richardson Auditorium. $10-$40. Princ etonuniversityconcerts.org.
8-10:30 p.m.: Princeton Country Dancers present a contra dance at Suzanne Pat terson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Jim Kitch with Peter, Paul, and Ed Garry. $10 (free for 35 and younger). Princ etoncountrydancers.org.
Thursday, October 27 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Princeton Farmers’ Market is at the Din ky train station parking lot, across from the Wawa. Princ etonfarmersmarket.com.
10 a.m.: The 55-Plus Club of Princeton meets via Zoom. Steve Kornacki, national political correspon dent, will report on the lat est political developments across all platforms. Princ etonol.com/groups/55plus.
7 p.m.: At Hopewell Train Station, Doug Dixon of the Hopewell Valley Histori cal Society presents “Now Boarding: Life in 1900s Hopewell with the Arrival of the Railroad.” Free. Sour land.org.
7 p.m.: Ruha Benjamin discusses her new book Vi ral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, with Nicole Fleetwood of New York University. Presented in person and virtually by Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princ etonlibrary.org.
Friday, October 28 12:30 p.m.: “Behind the Scenes Oumou Sangare.” The West African musician is joined in conversation by Olivier Sangare, Olivier Tar paga, and Gavin Steingo at McCarter Theatre, 91 Uni versity Place. Free; RSVP by emailing music@princeton. edu.
4:30 p.m.: “Low the Sun; Short its Course”: Trac ing the Celtic ritual cycle through music, manuscript, and performance. Lecture/ recital presented by the University of Limerick, Ire land; sponsored by the Fund for Irish Studies and Lewis Center for the Arts at James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free. Fis. princeton.edu.
5:15 p.m.: Hometown Halloween Parade, spon sored by the Arts Council of Princeton. Meet on Palmer Square Green; Princeton University Band will play.
The parade leaves at 5:45 p.m. to make its way to Princeton Family YMCA where festivities continue. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
These are troubling times for many people, especially, according to health care studies and mental health profession als, adolescents and young people.
Stress is on the rise due to a variety of reasons, par ticularly since the advent of COVID-19. Uncertainty in so many areas of life today adds to the overall unease felt by so many.
More people, including young people and children, are seeing therapists who can help them understand their problem and its causes, and hopefully guide them to a positive outcome.
The Nomad Center For Counseling at 166 Bunn Drive, Suite 108 offers help for children, adolescents, and adults, and also for the expanding French popula tion in Princeton. In fact, 60 percent of the practice is focused on French clients.
Founder and Director Josée Graybill, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, opened the practice in 2013. after previ ous work in psychotherapy in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Man hattan.
Born in Montreal to a French Canadian family, she moved to the U.S. to pur sue her studies. “At first, I wanted to study theater,” she recalls, “but then I be came more aware of human suffering, and I wanted to find ways to alleviate it. I wanted to help people.”
She received a master’s degree in social work from New York University, and continued post-graduate training, earning a Certifi cate from the New York In stitute For Psychotherapy Training in Infancy, Child hood, and Adolescence.
Before coming to Princ eton in 2006, Graybill worked in school-based mental health programs and mental health clinics in Brooklyn. She also main tained a private practice in New York City, while car ing for patients at Brooklyn psychiatric centers. In Princ eton, she worked at the Car rier Clinic in an in-patient psychiatric setting, and then joined the clinical team of Alexander Road Associates as a psychotherapist while establishing her private practice.
She has dedicated the last 15 years to her pri vate practice working with children, adolescents, and adults, serving the French and American community of New Jersey.
Having gone through the acculturation and adapta tion process herself helped shape her identity, enabling her to gain a deeper under standing of the “nomadic” experience. This was also instrumental in naming her practice.
Initially, the name of her solo practice, was Josée Graybill Psychotherapy, she explains. ”In December of
2021, the surgeon general issued an advisory report, declaring a youth mental health crisis, which already existed before the pandem ic, but was being brought into devastating focus dur ing COVID-19.
“His report and the in creased need both in the New Jersey population and the Francophile expatriate community in New Jersey were the main inspiration for my decision to expand the practice and create the Nomad Center For Counsel ing, Inc., which is now for mally a group practice.
“Magdalena Zilveti Manas son joined me this year. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of France, and received a master’s of coun seling, with a specialty in art therapy, from Caldwell University when she came to the U.S. Her credentials are a licensed associate counsel or, also known as an LACATR-P.”
After working in Cali fornia, including as a life coach, for 13 years, Manasson moved to the East Coast, and completed post-graduate training. She received certificates in mul tiple therapeutic disciplines, including Gottman Method for Couples Therapy and Tech Addition and Digital Health.
She has worked as a coach and therapist in day care, school-based programs, hospitals, and corporate fields in France and in the U.S. While in California, she founded her coaching com pany, Intelligence Nomade, to support individuals in overcoming life transitions and crises. She gained ex tensive experience providing therapy services and coach ing to international popula tions in French, Spanish, and English.
In addition to a book, she has written many articles on adaptation and emo tional management during expatriation. As a child of South American refugees in France, then an emigrant to the U.S. with her family, Manasson has a firsthand understanding of the com plexity and challenges of liv ing in a new country.
Both Graybill and Manas son have seen extraordinary increases in the numbers of people seeking therapy, es pecially since COVID-19, and it’s not just in the U.S., they point out. “Rates of anxiety and depression have doubled globally since CO VID-19. Overall, in our prac tice, we are seeing many, many more cases of mental health problems than in the past.”
The toll it is taking on younger people is strik ing, adds Graybill. “Young people increasingly struggle with feelings of helpless ness, depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. These rates have increased over the past decade. Some of the root causes of this in crease have been attributed to the state of the world — more specifically, climate change — racial injustice, the increased use of social media, and academic pres sures.”
The pandemic exacerbat ed existing problems, and
caused new ones, she re ports. “In our practice, since the pandemic, as I said, there has been an increase in anxiety, depression, and also feelings of isolation and loneliness. The focus of my work has changed in that the state of the world has become more prevalent as part of the therapy of the young people and adults I see — although it is affect ing young people in a more powerful way.”
There can also be family problems, peer pressure, and self-esteem issues, she observes. Children and young people are dealing with so many issues, both environmental and person al. Parents may be divorc ing, causing anxiety and depression for the children. Sometimes, they blame themselves for the breakup.
When a client arrives seek ing help, it is very important to gain the individual’s trust, explain the therapists. “We help them to feel safe and comfortable, and our focus is on psychotherapy, which can include conversation, play therapy with children, and art therapy.
“Our approach is based largely on the foundational principles of psychodynam ic psychotherapy, Jung ian thought, relational and attachment-based theory, as well as mindfulness, and art therapy. Our modalities are individual, family, and couples therapy. All thera pies are offered in person or virtually through our secure telehealth platform Simple Practice.”
Individual sessions are more appropriate for some patients, but others can do well in group therapy, they note. “With group, there is a common denominator — all have the same type of prob lem. They realize that others are having similar problems, and they are not alone. That can be helpful and comfort ing. There are typically four in a group.”
Graybill and Manasson do not prescribe medication, but if psychotherapy alone is not providing enough progress, access to a psy chiatrist, who can prescribe medicine, can be offered.
“We can refer the patient to a psychiatrist, and we will collaborate,” explains Graybill. “If medication is prescribed, this can be co ordinated with the psycho therapy.”
Regarding the therapy for the French population, she says that this is an important part of the practice. “They can have special situations as expats. Perhaps they have just come and need to learn English, trying to deal with this in a new school setting. It could be a marriage be tween one American and one French spouse. There is the need for cultural ad aptation to a new country, and this can lead to anxiety and depression. Sessions in English, French, and Span ish are available.”
Nomad sees clients of all ages, although with a focus on children and adolescents. Patients as young as 4 years old have been treated, and the therapists point out it is never too soon to seek help.
How to determine when anxiety and depression are cause for serious concern and not simply part of a bad day or worry over an upcoming test at school is also important.
If an individual’s daily life is affected, it is time to be concerned, note the thera pists. Not interacting with friends or colleagues, not sleeping or eating, and be ing afraid to leave the house are all signs to be taken seri ously.
“What schools and parents can do to help is to empower youth and families to rec ognize, manage, and learn from difficult emotions,” explains Graybill. “The need for increased mental health screenings in schools and pediatrician’s offices can be a huge positive predictor of positive outcome for young people’s mental health.”
“De-stigmatizing mental health can also be a big step in allowing young people to feel more comfortable com ing forward with their need for help,” she continues. “Unfortunately, even though it is more openly discussed today, there is still a stigma about mental health. Pa tients realize this too, and think there is something wrong with them.”
Sessions at Nomad are typically 50 minutes for one-on-one therapy and 60 minutes for couples and family. Clients are usually seen once a week, and the
HELP AND HOPE: “We are grateful to be able to have a posi tive impact on a person’s life, help them to develop resilience, and give them strength and confidence. It is so important to give them support and hope. They have more inner strength than they realize.”
Josée Graybill LCSW, founder and director of The Nomad Center For Counseling, left, and her colleague Magdalena Zilveti Manasson LAC, ATR-P help clients who are struggling with anxiety and depression, and other difficult conditions.
overall number of visits de pends on each individual case. There is not really a specific timetable.
Graybill and Manas son look forward to helping more clients gain confidence, belief in themselves, and the ability to move forward with their lives. As they say, “Our mis sion is built on the belief that each person has an in nate ability to heal and that all individuals, regardless of country or culture, deserve
someone to help light the path forward. Our goal is to provide a compassionate, creative therapeutic setting where a trusting relationship can be established between therapist and client, allow ing for the journey of growth and healing to unfold.”
For more information on pricing and appointments, call (609) 293-6399. Visit the website at thenovadcen terforcounseling.com
—Jean Stratton“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~ Carl Jung
Dylan Classi was drained by 10:30 last Friday night.
After a grueling week of mid-term exams, Princeton University football player Classi ran all over the field last Friday evening as the Tigers hosted Brown under the lights in game broadcast nationally by ESPNU.
Senior star receiver Classi produced one of the great est games in his Princeton career, making nine catches for 169 yards and two touch downs, all of which were career highs, as the Tigers defeated the Bears 35-19 before 5,838 at Princeton Stadium, improving to 5-0 overall and 2-0 Ivy League.
After his hectic week, Clas si planned a low-key celebra tion.
“I am going to sleep, I am tired,” said a smiling Classi, a 6’1, 200-pound native of Englewood Cliffs, who was later named the Ivy Player of the Week for his perfor mance. “I am exhausted, I didn’t get much sleep this week. That is how I am cel ebrating. This win makes it all worthwhile.”
Classi and his teammates were pumped up for the Fri day night lights clash against Brown.
“It was a great atmo sphere,” said Classi, who also passed the 100-catch career milestone in the game. “Any time you get to play un der the Friday night lights, it is something special. I am glad we were able to come out with a win.”
Late in the first half, Classi produced one of his big plays of the evening, making a
32-yard catch that got Princ eton down the Brown eightyard line. Three plays later, the Tigers scored to take a 14-3 lead as Blake Stenstrom hit A.J. Barber, the son of former NFL star Tiki Barber, on an eight-yard scoring strike.
“I just do my job,” said Classi. “If the ball finds me, hopefully I can make the play. That is really what I worry about.”
The ball found Classi a lot in the third quarter as he made TD receptions of 34 and 22 yards, helping Princ eton bring a 28-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
“It is something we worked on in practice all week and Blake put the ball where it needed to be,” said Classi. “It worked just how we want to execute it.”
Classi has developed a good connection with quar terback Stenstrom, a Colora do transfer, who hit on 19-of27 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Brown.
“Blake is a hell of a player, he is a phenomenal worker,” said Classi. “He has bought in, he has made a great com mitment to this team and program. I love playing with him.”
In addition, Classi loves forming a one-two punch with fellow senior receiver Andrei Iosivas, who made three catches for 39 yards against the Bears.
“He is one of the most gifted athletes I have ever been around,” said Classi of Iosivas, an All-American and All-Ivy track performer who stars in the heptathlon. “I am
able to learn so much from just watching him play. We have a great bond. We cel ebrate each other’s success. He is such a dynamic player. He gets the ball in his hands he can make one guy miss and he is off to the races. I think we work well together. We have been working very hard for the past four years. It is great to see it come to fruition.”
The Tiger defense, which came into the evening ranked first nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in scoring defense (9.8 points), fewest first downs allowed (52), and second in rushing defense (44.5 yards per game), worked together as it contained a high-pow ered Brown offense.
“We just stick to the script, we are confident in our train ing, and we are confident in our coaches,” said senior linebacker Will Perez, who made nine tackles in the win. “We are confident in each other, most importantly. We know that the guy next to us is going to be doing ev erything they can, they are going to be doing their job properly. In doing so, it re ally brings us together as a team.”
The Princeton linebacking group has been getting the job done all season long.
“We are young and we have confidence in one an other,” said Perez, a 6’3, 220-pound native of North Caldwell. “We are a good group of dudes, we are good friends. Playing out there to gether, it is a like a dream come true. It feels like we are just playing with our friends.
STAYING CLASSI: Princeton University football player Dylan Classi battles for extra yardage in a game last season. Last Friday night, senior star receiver Classi made nine catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns, all of which were career highs, to help Princeton defeat Brown 3519. Classi was later named the Ivy Player of the Week for his performance. The Tigers, now 5-0 overall and 2-0 Ivy League, play at Harvard (4-1, 2-0 Ivy) on October 21.
We are all out there flying around, making plays, and just having fun.”
Dealing with Brown’s uptempo attack was a true test for the Tiger defense.
“They are a heck of a chal lenge; I think every time we come out here and play a different team that give us a new look and it makes us better,” said Perez. “It is one of those things. You have to learn on the fly — they do some funky stuff. Our coach es did a great job of prepar ing us for it.”
While Princeton head coach Bob Surace liked the way his players flew around the field against Brown, he acknowledged that there is plenty of room for improve ment.
“We have got a lot to clean up — they executed some things and I need to coach better,” said Surace, who has now guided Princ eton to 5-0 starts in its last four seasons. “I thought we fought so hard. The halftime was so calm. It was, ‘hey our standard is higher.’ We got better pressure on their quarterback,which made a difference. That led to some incompletions and intercep tions. I thought we really finished with effort. Some of those runs by Ryan [Butler] and finishes by Dylan were really, really huge.”
After surrendering two long drives in the first half, the Princeton defense tight ened up, holding Brown scoreless for the first 22:55 of the second half.
“I thought we really strug gled in the first half, Steve Verbit [defensive coordinator and senior associate head coach] did a great job with some adjustments,” said Surace. “We talked about it at halftime and I thought we did a much better job executing. You have got to fight through, it is football. Uche [star defensive line man Uche Ndukwe] is out. Our safety Payton Tally, who is playing great football, is down. We are missing some guys. Anthony Corbin, who has played great football, is down. I thought guys just stepped up and we kept fighting.”
Bruising freshman run ning back Butler fought for yards, sealing the deal with a 49-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter when he bulled through tacklers remi niscent of the beast modestyle employed by former NFL standout Marshawn Lynch.
“Ryan just has such com petitiveness, he is play ing at a really high level,” said Surace of the 5’11, 225-pound Butler, who ran for 98 yards and two touch downs and was later named the Ivy Rookie of the Week.
“You don’t play as a fresh man unless you are mature, We only have a couple that even travel. It just shows that part of it — he seems to be having fun as he is playing,which is nice.”
It has been fun for Princ eton to deploy its receiving
tandem of Classi and Iosivas.
“It is great to have two,” said Surace, who has gotten 30 catches for 476 yards and two touchdowns from Classi with Iosivas making 31 catches for 447 yards and three TDs. “When I was in Cincinnati, I had Ocho cinco [Chad Johnson] but when he got all of that at tention, T. J. [Houshman dzadeh] stepped up. You see that on other levels. When you have two and they try to take away one, the other one does a great job.”
The Tigers will need to do a great job to remain undefeated as they play at Harvard (4-1 overall, 2-0 Ivy) this Friday night with the Crimson still smart ing from an 18-16 loss in five overtimes at Princeton last fall which saw an ap parent game winning twopoint conversion for them negated when the officials determined that Surace had called timeout before the play. The Ivy League later acknowledged that the of ficials erred in granting the timeout because the award ing of a timeout was not a reviewable situation.
“We had a very emotional win, it was an emotional game; it was hard-fought but you move on to Cornell,” said Surace. “We have a 24-hour rule; you move for ward and never look back on things. We played Brown and nobody was talking about the next week. Now we are playing Harvard; whenever that game ends, you get on a bus, you get home and you start on who ever is next. It is going to take unbelievable focus, they are such a talented team. If you don’t have that, if you are distracted, then you are taking away from the things you need to do to win.”
Classi, for his part, is primed for another busy week as the Tigers gird for the clash in Cambridge.
“They are going to be a great opponent, as always,” said Classi. “Going into game like this, it all comes down to how we prepare this week in practice. They have great players and great coaches. They have done some really great things. We look forward to it.”
—Bill Alden
Cameron Dames is looking forward to the second half of the Ivy League season after she and the Princeton University women’s volleyball team regained momentum last Saturday.
After falling 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-15) to Yale last Friday night in what Dames called an “implosion,” less than 24 hours later Dames delivered one of the finest performances in her four seasons starting at libero as the Tigers knocked off defending Ivy League champion Brown, 3-1 (2522, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20), to improve to 14-3 overall, 6-1 in Ivy play and show encouraging resolve.
“I’m just excited to see what this team can do,” said Dames, a 5’9 native of Atlanta, Ga. “I’m excited that we can come back from such a tough Friday game.”
A day later, Dames had a career-high 35 digs to pace a defense that tied their season-high with 83 digs. That helped Princeton win a pair of tight sets, and then after Brown won the third set, the Tigers closed out the Bears 25-20.
“I definitely felt good about the game,” said Dames. “I just felt really confident back there. I knew that I wanted to perform well for my team. I knew if we were going to come out with a win, I needed to show up. I really wanted to bounce back from Friday and show the team I was going to give my all every single point and I think I did that.”
Princeton will try to build on the momentum regained when they start the second time through the Ivy teams when it plays Penn on October 21. Previously, the Tigers beat the Quakers 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-13) on September 23.
“You’re always focused when you’re going into those games playing the top teams,” said Dames. “Coming into the second round, Penn, maybe they don’t have the best record, but they’re taking sets off teams. I don’t think people are mentally wavering at this point. I think we’re going to head in strong. Having HarvardDartmouth and Yale-Brown in back-to-back weekends, that’ll be a critical point for us.”
Friday’s loss to Yale felt a little too much like last year when Princeton was cruising along with only a pair of early season losses before dropping four of five games in the midst of the Ivy season. Like last year, the Tigers had rattled off 10 straight
wins heading into the weekend road trip to Ivy frontrunner Yale and defending champ Brown. But after being swept away from Yale, Princeton re-centered itself.
The Tigers slept in Providence, R.I., and the next day used an exercise on gratitude that Princeton head coach Sabrina King got from former Princeton women’s swimming coach Susan Teeter. King asked her players to talk about what they were grateful for, what they were grateful for within the team, and something they were going to do better that day.
“We went around and everyone said something about how supportive our team is,” said Dames. “It’s really what’s defined us this year is how amazingly supportive each and every one of our teammates is, and especially our bench. The love and support and energy that our bench brings lifts up everyone on that court, and I think that that’s what carried us through that Brown game as well. We fight for each other and we want to play hard.”
In the win over Brown, senior Melina Mahood posted a career-high 18 kills, senior Lindsey Kelly led all players with 51 assists and freshman Lucia Scalamandre had a team-high three blocks. Senior Avery Luoma had nine digs and seven kills. Freshman Valerie Nutakor had 13 kills and a pair of aces and freshman Ella Bunde had 11 digs.
“For them to come back and beat Brown, I was really proud of them,” said Tiger head coach King. “Getting a split for that road trip is pretty good for us. Then we get both at home later in the season, so I feel pretty good about it. Definitely the bounce back is important.”
Princeton, too, had the advantage of a big picture outlook to help. This year is the first with an Ivy League tournament that will feature the top four Ivy finishers in a weekend tournament for the NCAA tournament’s automatic qualifying bid. None of the Tigers know exactly what to expect, but they are thrilled that they can give themselves a chance at a bid.
“It takes a lot of pressure off the regular season,” said Dames. “That Yale loss, OK, you’re going to lose a game. You’re going to lose two games. It’s not the end of the world. Before it kind of was. You could think, if we lose one game and could lose the Ivy League. It’s a mental reframing now.
Coming into this season, we were geared up for the regular season, but we also put things in perspective.”
Princeton sits in second place in the league standing as it goes into the second time through the league. The Tigers are one game behind Yale, one game ahead of Brown.
“The whole year our mindset has been growth-mindedness and we’re going to get better every day and we’re not going to peak midseason,” said King. “Now there’s this Ivy League tournament which sort of changes our mentality a little bit in that we didn’t have to be perfect right out of the gate.”
The Tigers definitely weren’t perfect Friday, but looked like a completely different team Saturday at Brown. It wasn’t one play or strategy, it was the way that they responded to the challenges from Brown.
“More than the loss, what was disappointing was just our lack of effort,” said Dames. “Something we wanted to focus on going into the Brown game was renewing our energy, renewing our fight. I think we just rolled over with Yale. We wanted to show that’s not who we are, that’s not how we want to be defined in the Ivy League. We want to win the Ivy League.”
Dames is one of six seniors for the Tigers. They don’t have one of them, outside hitter Elena Montgomery who was a first-team All-Ivy selection last year, due to a knee injury, but they have rallied to the lead the team to a strong start. Rebounding from a disappointing loss was an important test.
“We were a pretty inexperienced team last year,” said Dames. “We only had a couple players who had significant playing time so it was an adjustment coming into tough matches with the stress factor and nerves. The level of play that these
freshmen have had, they’re ready to take on these challenges and it really inspires the seniors on the court.”
All three Princeton freshmen have emerged as major contributors. They have come in and done more in their first year than anyone anticipated, and it has helped make up for the loss of Montgomery and pushed the returners and forced everyone to raise their level.
“They’ve really stepped up; coming in freshman year and being starters on the court, it’s super impressive,” said Dames. “They’ve all contributed so much so far. Lucia is one of the best blockers in the Ivy League, Ella really held the fort down with passing and defensively (Saturday) night as well. Val has been a force to be reckoned with at the net. We’re a different team with them. They just make us seniors want to work harder.”
Princeton’s class of six seniors is larger than usual. Dames and Montgomery are part of that class after taking off the 2020 year when COVID-19 canceled their fall season. They have helped to strengthen an already formidable class and took the lead when the Tigers looked to right their ship at Brown.
“Our setter, Lindsey Kelly, she is incredible,” said Dames. “She’s been leading the nation in assists per set. She’s just always a solid presence on the court. And clearly Avery Luoma, Mel, we all knew we had to step up in that game if we were going to be successful. That was something coming into season, knowing we were not going to have Elena, everyone had to be that much better because Elena was a crucial part of our team last year. That was definitely tough to overcome not playing with her. But everyone has done a good job.”
Dames has used her experience to keep the Tigers on track this season. After being the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, she took a leave of absence from school in 2020. In that year, she played some beach volleyball, worked in retail in Cape Cod, and did research for public broadcasting in her hometown, Atlanta. She returned last year to record her 1,000th career dig and be named honorable mention in the Ivies, and this year is hoping to help guide the team to an Ivy title.
“I take on a lot of emotions of the team,” said Dames. “I’m focused a lot on our temperament going into
the game and how my words can affect the team. It’s very humbling as a senior. That’s something you don’t realize as an underclassmen how much you say can influence the players on the court. I think I take that to heart so I really try to be positive but bring fiery energy onto the court and really support my teammates because my upperclassmen did that for me when I was a freshman and it made all the difference. But I do think it’s been helpful having these four years. I’ve seen it all before.”
Dames and the Tigers feel they’re back on track after a hiccup in Friday’s loss to Yale. They look forward to that rematch and continuing to gain momentum through the second half of the Ivy season when they hope to claim the regular-season title, host the Ivy tournament and win the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“It was definitely a strong start,” said King. “They’re playing looser. They have more confidence. They’re just able to weather things better this year. It’s been a real joy to see that the work that was put in last year in the offseason has really made some gains.”
— Justin Feil
Sophomore Monte placed first individually, covering the 8,000-meter course in a time of 23:52.8.
In the team standings, the Tigers had a score of 33 with Cornell taking second at 60.
Princeton is next in action on October 28 when it competes in the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships back at in Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.
It was a busy day for the Princeton University women’s cross country team last Friday as its runners competed in the both the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational at Madison, Wisc. and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship meet in Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.
In the Wisconsin meet, which featured some of the top squads in the nation, senior Abbey Loveys led the way for the Tigers, placing 35th individually with a time of 20:23.8 over the 6,000-meter course. In the team standings, Princeton placed 31st in the meet won by No. 1 N.C. State.
As for the ECAC meet, sophomore Lucca Fullerton placed 17th individually to pace Princeton, covering the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:52.1. The Tigers finished 10th in the team standings of the meet won by Stony Brook.
Princeton returns to action on October 28 when it competes in the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.
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Hannah Christopher brought a lot of emotion to the field last Saturday morn ing for the Princeton High field hockey team as it host ed Stuart Country Day in a Mercer Country Tournament quarterfinal contest.
In addition to the game being the postseason debut for PHS, the program was holding its annual Senior Day celebration.
“It is definitely overwhelm ing,” said senior star and tricaptain Christopher. “I am so sad to leave, it is defi nitely bittersweet. I think it gave us motivation to play for each other.”
Underdog Stuart, the eighth-seed, showed some motivation of its own, bat tling top-seeded and unde feated PHS to a 0-0 stale mate at halftime.
“I think that we were lack ing some aggression in the first half at halftime,” said Christopher. “We were talking about playing as a team, playing as a unit. We brought it together in the second half.”
Christopher helped PHS get it together over the last 30 minutes of the contest, picking up two assists as PHS pulled out a 3-2 win in improving to 13-0. The Tigers were slated to face fifth-seeded Princeton Day School in the MCT semis on October 18 with the victor advancing to the title game on October 20 at Lawrence High.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead midway through the third quarter on goals by junior
Erin Liggio with Christopher assisting on the second tally.
Stuart responded with a goal late in the quarter to cut the lead in half and cause some anxious moments for the Tigers.
“We were under a little bit of stress but during that timeout,” said Christopher, “we came together and we said, ‘take a deep breath, we have the skill to win this game.’”
Displaying her skill, Christopher assisted on a third goal by Liggio as PHS forged ahead 3-1 with 6:09 left in regulation.
Christopher has developed a rhythm with Liggio in the circle.
“I think me and Erin con nect a lot,” said Christo pher, who has 18 goals this season, second best on the team behind the 28 tallied by Liggio. “We are always on the same side. She is always in the right spot so when she calls for the ball, I trust her.”
In reflecting on her offen sive production, Christopher attributes it to trusting her self more.
“I have played with a lot more confidence this sea son,” said Christopher. “That has helped me put up those goals, it is just show ing up for my team.”
Serving as team captain along with her sister Kayla and Gianna DiGioacchino , Christopher has enjoyed taking a leadership role.
“I absolutely love being a captain, our team is so nice and we are all so close,”
said Christopher. “It is really nice to have so many close friends you can rely on the field and off the field. Be ing captain in the situation is so heartwarming because everybody trusts each other. Everybody plays together.”
In Christopher’s view, playing together has been a key to the 13-0 start by the Tigers.
“Our coaching staff is really great, they teach us to rely on each other and I really respect that,” said Christopher. “We are a re ally tight-knit team so we are showing up for ourselves and we are also showing up for everyone else.”
PHS head coach Heather Serverson credited a scrap py Stuart team with showing a lot of heart in the MCT battle.
“Clearly Stuart bought their A-game today, they really wanted it badly,” said Serverson. “It looked like they wanted it more than we did in the first half of the game, and then we really turned it on.”
Breaking the ice with the two straight goals in the third quarter helped the Ti gers turn the tide.
“We weren’t playing well, we weren’t playing our game,” said Serverson. “The issue was that we were trying to play as individuals as opposed to a team. Once we switched back to the way we normally play, things picked up.”
Serverson credits Chris topher with helping to pick things up for PHS.
“Hannah has been doing a great job in the circle, she is super feisty,” said Server son. “She is a great commu nicator, she is a great role model.”
Liggio has been doing a great job in the circle for PHS.
“Erin is in the right spot at the right time, she doesn’t stop until she gets a goal,” said Serverson. “She is awe some. She worked really hard in the offseason and it is showing on the field. She gets her stick on every ball in the circle.”
In order to close the deal in the MCT, the Tigers need
to stick to some basic prin ciples.
“We have to hang tough and play our game and stay poised for the full 60 minutes if we want to win,” said Serverson. “Everyone is going to play their best game against us. Based on the intensity level, any thing is possible. We have every intention of winning, we have the ability to win. We have to line up all of the variables. We have to make sure that we are healthy and that we are poised.”
Surviving the challenge from Stuart should help PHS going forward.
“We literally got pushed to our limit today, I think that was good,” added Ser verson. “That is going to help prepare us for what is to come.”
Christopher believes that the Tigers are prepared to come through with a county crown.
“It definitely could be our year,” said Christopher. “We need to play with more ag gression, more confidence and just make sure that we are coming out really strong.”
—Bill AldenIn late September, the Princeton High girls’ tennis second doubles team of Ash na Bushan and Sophie Miller lost a tough three-setter to WW/P-North as the Tigers got edged 3-2 in the match.
When the foes met last Friday at the Mercer County Park tennis complex in the New Jersey State Interscho lastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional semifi nals, the pair of freshman Bushan and senior Miller were primed to turn the tables on North’s Anusha Kumar and Odette Liu.
Bushan saw smarter play as a key in the rematch.
“We tried to communicate better and focus more on getting the balls in rather than trying to hit harder,” said Bushan.
Miller was concentrating on bringing a positive mind set to round two.
“The coach (Sarah Hib bert) said not to get frus trated with our last match, and we didn’t do that,” said Miller. “We went in wanting to win and not just being frustrated that we lost last time.”
The PHS pair frustrated their foes, rolling a 6-1 win in the first set.
“Our communication was really good, we were more consistent,” said Miller, re flecting on the strong start.
“We got our shots in. We didn’t make unforced er rors, which I think is part of what happened last time. We would hit out instead of
just focusing on getting the ball into the court.”
Heading into the second set, Bushan and Miller kept their focus.
“We try not to get too confident because we didn’t want that to affect our sec ond set,” said Bushan. “We tried to remain calm and just continue it like it was. We were trying to remain like we were still at even and we weren’t ahead so we wouldn’t get too confident and mess up the game.”
They didn’t mess up, go ing on to win 6-1, 6-1 as third-seeded PHS flipped the script on second-seeded WW/P-N, prevailing 4-1 in advancing to the sectional fi nal at top-seeded Red Bank Regional in the match which was scheduled for October 18. The victor will then com pete in the state Group 3 semis on October 20 at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.
PHS head coach Hibbert sensed that her players were fired up for their second shot at WW/P-N.
“I think it was a little bit of experience and motivation from last time,” said Hib bert. “We were disappointed with the way it ended. It was a very close match, it could have gone either way. It was disappointing after that three-hour battle to wind up losing it 3-2 in a third set tiebreak and 7-5 third set. We knew we had the poten tial to win that. We were just hoping that we could use it for the motivation today and come our fired up and play
our best tennis.”
The Tigers achieved that goal in producing the rever sal of fortune.
“Right off the bat, we got off to a lead on every court, taking five first sets,” said Hibbert. “That is a good start, but we have to win three second sets before I can celebrate.”
Hibbert got to celebrate relatively early as straightset wins by Johanna Roggen kamp at first singles and the first doubles pair of Ashley Chen and Maya-Alexandra Todorov along with the sec ond doubles victory clinched the match for PHS. The Ti gers got a fourth win from Katie Qin at third singles, who had suffered a defeat in the earlier match with the Northern Knights.
“Second doubles and Ka tie at third singles had amaz ing turnarounds today,” said Hibbert. “They were able to fight back and play a great match. I am just really proud of the team today and how they were able to step up and play their best tennis.
Losing five of our seven starters last year from a sec tional championship team, we didn’t know where we would be this year. To be back in the sectional final that is an amazing result.”
Hibbert was excited by the result at second doubles.
“They have really started clicking the last couple of weeks, they are communi cating more,” said Hibbert.
“They came out with con fidence today. I think last time they started a little
weak and then they doubted themselves in places. Today they were all business. I said to them, I wasn’t even going to go over and talk to them while they were rolling. They had it under control and I didn’t want to jinx them or break their momentum.”
Roggenkamp and the first doubles pair of Chen and Todorov have had things under control all fall.
“Johanna does her thing, no drama; she hustles for every ball, she works so hard, she is very athletic and she does exactly what she needs to do,” said Hib bert. “We have had a really strong first doubles team for the last couple of years and
they were able to be a high light again for us today and close out the match.”
In the wake of the win over WW/P-N, Hibbert is hoping for a big match against Red Bank Regional in the sec tional final and another trip to the state semis.
“Getting to the sectional final with a revamped line up, we were hoping for the best,” said Hibbert, who team topped Trenton 5-0 last Monday in a regular season match to improve to 10-1. “We are hoping we can come ready to go and play our best tennis in the sec tional final. It would great to be back here on Thursday. It is one match at time. We
had no idea what to expect this year, it has been a fan tastic year. I am really proud of their achievements so far, getting back to a sectional final is fantastic.”
Miller, for her part, is looking for a fantastic fin ish to her PHS career.
“I am really happy that we won; we lost to this team before but I am really glad we won this time because it is more important,” said Miller. “It is really exciting to be in the final because it is my last year on the team. We just need to not make unforced errors, just play consistently and make really smart shots.”
—Bill Alden
Joey Bucchere was deter mined to become a go-to player this fall for the Hun School boys’ soccer team.
“I just want to make an impact, I want to add some thing to the program,” said junior forward Bucchere. “I really wanted to win this year. Coach (Pat Quirk) put me up top this year and I have really been finding my flow.”
Last week, Bucchere made a huge impact for Hun as it played at Princeton Day School, scoring a goal and assisting on another as the Raiders pulled out a 2-1 win over a scrappy Panther squad.
With PDS packing nine players in front of its goal, Hun’s high-powered offense was bottled up for much of the contest.
“It is a battle every time we play them,” said Buc chere. “It was a great com petition. They played a great game and came back. We just kept our heads in it and got the last goal that we needed.”
Bucchere got the scoring started with a goal 10 min utes into the contest.
“Will [Zeng] put in a great corner, I saw the man kind of back off of me,” said Buc chere, recalling his goal. “I saw Connor [Frykholm] in front of me and I told him to leave it and just put my head right through it.”
While Hun had almost all of the possession, PDS was able to tie the game at 1-1 14 minutes into the second half. The Raiders, though, kept pressing forward.
“They sat back a little bit and we were just knocking it, just waiting for an op portunity,” said Bucchere. “We all know it was going to come eventually.”
The winning goal came as Bucchere sent the ball to Mass Verduci in the box and he slotted it home.
“I just put my head down and ran,” said Bucchere. “I picked my head up and I saw Mass in the middle. I knew if I put it in, he would fin ish it.”
Bucchere has been finish ing well for Hun this season, having tallied a team-high
15 goals along with three assists. That output is the product of some extra effort over the offseason.
“Over the summer, I was really working on my shoot ing finding the back of the net,” said Bucchere. “That has definitely helped me a lot this season.”
In reflecting on the team’s success this fall, Bucchere credits a special unity with propelling the Raiders.
“It is just the chemistry with this team like I have never seen before,” said Bucchere, who contributed a goal and an assist as sec ond-seeded Hun defeated seventh-seeded WW/PSouth 6-1 in a Mercer County Tournament quar terfinal contest last Saturday to improve to 10-2-2. “The relationships on the field with everyone trusting each other, it really helps out.
Hun head coach Quirk liked the way his players kept their focus in outlast ing PDS.
“There have been a couple of other games where I have talked to them about keep ing our patience and just sticking to our game plan,” said Quirk. “They have re ally bought into that this year. In the past, we would panic and lose it sometimes. We just kept moving today and moving their defense and trying to find openings.”
Quirk acknowledged that the PDS defensive plan made things tough for Hun.
“We were expecting to have most of the ball but we weren’t expecting to have that much of the ball,” said Quirk. “This is the first time in 15 years that any team sat in like that against us. That is a tribute to these guys and how hard they played. It looked like it might come a little easy with the first goal — they definitely made us grind it out.”
When PDS made it 1-1, Quirk had some nervous moments.
“It is definitely concerning when the clock is ticking un der five and it still tied,” said Quirk. “It is a game where you have most of the pos session. We believe in these guys, we have been in some
close games and we have pulled them out. We found a way to win and that is what good teams do and I would say these guys are a pretty good team.”
Bucchere has emerged as a very good player for Hun. “That kid is a workhorse, he is never going to give up,” said Quirk of Bucchere.
“He has got speed, he has got great vision on the field. Last year, we told him we want you be the assist guy. This year I said, ‘You have to score the goals. You are going to be the goal scorer and we are going to rely on you. You are going to get the offense going,’ and now he is doing a little bit of both.”
With Hun slated to face third-seeded Pennington in the MCT semis on October 18 with the winner advanc ing to the title game on Oc tober 20 at Hopewell Valley High and then starting play in the Prep A state tourney, Quirk believes the Raiders can excel if they stick to the plan.
“We need to continue to be positive with each other and continue to be patient with what we want to do,” said Quirk, whose team de feated Pennington 3-0 in a regular season contest on September 21. “We need to play our style of soccer and defend together when we can press.”
Bucchere, for his part, is very positive about the squad’s postseason pros pects.
“We just need to keep working on the tactical part of the game, staying tuned to the ball, finding our rhythm in possession and being strong defensively,” said Bucchere. “I feel like we can win anything, we can beat any team. I don’t think there is anything stopping this team but us.”
—Bill AldenOn paper, it looked like a mismatch when the Prince ton Day School boys’ soccer team hosted a powerhouse Hun School squad last week.
PDS brought a 3-6-2 re cord into the October 11 contest while Hun stood at 8-2-1, including a 3-0 win over a Pennington team that had routed the Panthers 6-0 earlier in the season.
But PDS head coach Brian Thomsen had a plan to slow the Raiders, packing his team in with nine players patrolling the defensive end.
“They are dangerous off set pieces as we saw; they do a good job of counterattack ing if you press them high,” said Thomsen. “We tried to minimize as much time as we could on the ball in dan gerous spots. We didn’t want Connor [Frykholm] to get the ball in the center of the park. We were OK with Con nor getting the ball outside on the wing. We were trying to minimize how much that was happening and it worked for the longest time.”
While Hun did get a goal 10 minutes into the game, the Panther defense held the fort for the rest of the half and the first 18 minutes of the second before it tied up the game on a goal by senior star Joaquin Rodriguez.
“In games like this where
you are sitting in and see ing what they are about, you have got to pick your mo ments to go,” said Thomsen. “It is when you can see and sense the frustration from them — what they were dealing with on the other side. We probably could have snuck another one in.”
Hun, though, was able to get one in with 2:03 left in regulation to pull out a 2-1 win. Although PDS fell short of the upset, Thomsen was thrilled with the way his players battled.
“It is the best effort I have seen from the boys all year with how disciplined they were,” asserted Thomsen. “It is a good sign going into tournament season.”
Thomsen got very good ef forts from Rodriguez and se nior defender Raag Desikan.
“Joaquin needed that goal a lot, he has been struggling the past week to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Thomsen. “It was very im pressive how composed he was in that final moment there to finish the ball. We wanted to put Raag in a sit uation where he didn’t have to mark anybody, shadowing like on old-time sweeper. We played with a line of four in front of him so they were lit erally looking at five people every time they attacked
versus four, or a diamond or three.”
With fifth-seeded PDS playing at top-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the Prep B state semis on October 20, Thomsen believes that the effort against Hun is some thing his squad built on.
“This was a good test for us, it was how do we mini mize the amount of goals we can give up and keep the boys disciplined when we go to play these other games,” said Thomsen, whose team fell 1-0 to Jackson Memo rial last Monday in moving to 3-8-2 and has a regular season game at Hopewell Valley in October 22.
“Gill is probably going to be the hardest opponent we play against. We played them in the state final last year and we probably should have sat in but we had too many pieces that could be dangerous so we decided to go after them.”
After finishing play in the Prep B tournament, the Pan thers will be concluding the season by competing in the New Jersey State Interscho lastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tour ney.
“We will see what hap pens, I am excited for next couple of weeks,” said Thom sen. “It is tournament time, and the boys start to get fired up around this time and they play with some belief.”
—Bill AldenScrappy Stuart Field Hockey Battles to Last Second As it Falls 3-2 to Top-Seeded PHS in MCT Quarters back today,” said Stuart head coach Bruvik. “We did that and focused on trying to keep that ball out of the middle third of the field and work the sidelines. I think we were able to execute that pretty well against a very good team.”
strategy worked well as eighth-seeded Stuart battled top-seeded PHS to a 0-0 draw.
With the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team facing undefeated Princeton High last Saturday morning in a Mercer County Tournament quarterfinal contest, Missy Bruvik did some tinkering tactically.
“We knew we would have to add an extra defender
In the second half, though, the Tigers broke through with two straight goals in the third quarter. Stuart responded with a goal by Alex Mandzij to cut the PHS lead in half.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead early in the fourth quarter
but the Tartans kept fighting as senior star Emily Ix found the back of the cage with 47 seconds left in regulation. That tally turned out to be the final score of the contest as PHS held on for a 3-2 win and improved to 13-0.
“I am just proud of the way we were able to finish today and put the ball in,” said Bruvik. “We got our corner opportunities for sure. I just thought we played pretty relentlessly in good spurts that kept our momentum going. I feel like we gave a very good team a good battle.”
Sophomore goalie Emily Harlan had a very good game for Stuart, making 13 saves and stopping a penalty stroke as she passed the 100-save milestone in her career.
“Emily did a fabulous job, she has been getting better and better,” said Bruvik. “She is more confident. She is taking on harder teams and she has risen to the occasion. That stoke today was the first stroke ever against her and she showed the composure.”
Stuart showed its composure collectively as it battled PHS to the final second on Saturday.
“That is the beauty of these guys; to be down 2-0, if you keep playing with that intensity and don’t let down, you just say ‘we will get our chances again,’” said Bruvik.
“We do a lot of looking at the scoreboard in terms of the time. They have seen enough games in other tournaments or collegiately and it is just keep playing until the end.”
While the defeat ended postseason action for the Tartans as they had lost 4-1 to Morristown-Beard in the Prep B state quarters last Friday, Bruvik wanted her team to keep playing.
“I would to get some more games; they love being together,” said Bruvik, whose team topped Northern Burlington 6-0 last Monday in a regular season contest to improve to 8-5. “If we can keep them together for a couple of more games, that would be great. They played an awesome game today.”
— Bill AldenThis past Sunday was not a day of rest for the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team.
With the Prep B state tournament condensed into a single-day event last Sunday at Thomas A. Edison Park in Edison, PDS hit the road at 7:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start and didn’t leave the court until 5:15 in the evening.
“We did it all in one day, it was a long day,” said Panther head coach Michael Augsberger. “It was like an 11-hour day.”
Battling hard in the marathon session of tennis, PDS won two flights of the competition as senior Amy Zhou prevailed at third singles and the first doubles pair of senior Josephine Baranski and junior Ashlyn Du also finished first. In the team standings, the Panthers took second with 10 points, two points behind champion Pennington.
Augsberger was thrilled to see Zhou come through.
“Amy has been brilliant all year,” said Augsberger of Zhou who posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Lauren Decker of Pennington in her final.
“She plays third singles like first singles in the sense of the way she plays her points and her style of play. A lot of third singles matches take a long time. The semifinal match between her opponent and Rutgers Prep went four hours just because their style of play. Amy plays very aggressively. She has a gorgeous backhand and she deserves it. It is great for her to have a senior crowning moment.”
Baranski earned a crowning moment as she stepped in at first doubles at the last moment as sophomore
Arya Kalra couldn’t make it to Edison because of illness.
“Arya was out sick, this was last minute at 6 in the morning on Sunday, so we moved up Josie,” said Augsberger, whose first doubles pair posted a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win over Ria Shah and Maya Bhide of Morristown-Beard in the final.
“Josie and Ashlyn had played together two or three times in the beginning of the season. I think there have been other times when they played together when Arya has been out and they play well together. We really believe in Arya, but Josie has been a mainstay for the team. She is a strong player; I am really glad that it worked out for her to get the first doubles title even though it was forced on us. I am proud that she was able to get that as a senior.”
The Panthers will be going after other titles this week as they are competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South sectional where they are seeded first and hosting third-seeded Ranney School in the sectional final on October 18 with the victor advancing to the Non-Public state final on October 20 at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.
“I hope we can recover in time,” said Augsberger, whose team had posted an 8-5 record in dual match play so far this fall. “Ranney didn’t play in the Prep B this year. They are coming up to us, they upset Trinity Hall in the Non-Public semis. We know how tough Trinity Hall is and how close that was for us last year. This is going to be just as close.”
— Bill Alden
Football : Sparked by Marco Lainez III, Hun defeated the Hill School (Pa.) 48-7 last Saturday. Senior quarterback and Iowa commit Lainez passed for 245 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 108 yards and two TDs to help the Raiders improve to 6-0. Hun will host the Cheshire Academy (Conn.) on October 22.
Field Hockey : Running into a buzz saw, Hun fell 7-0 to the Hill School (Pa.) last Saturday. The Raiders, now 7-5, will be playing at the Lawrenceville School on October 22.
Girls’ Soccer : Posting its second straight win, Hun defeated the Hill School (Pa.) 3-0 last Saturday. The Raiders, who moved to 6-6-2 with the victory, were slated to play Hopewell Valley on October 18 in the semifinals of the lower bracket in the Mercer County Tournament. In addition, the Raiders will play at the Lawrenceville School on October 22 and then start action in the state Prep A tournament.
Football : Led by Cole Shannon, Lawrenceville defeated the Peddie School 48-15 last Saturday. Shannon rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns as the Big Red improved to 4-2. Lawrenceville plays at the Kent School (Conn.) on October 22.
Field Hockey : Caitlin Hoover tallied two goals and two assists as secondseeded Lawrenceville edged seventh-seeded Pennington 5-4 in overtime in the
Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Friday. The Big Red, who improved to 6-4 with a 6-0 win at the Peddie School in a regular season contest on Saturday, were slated to play in the MCT semifinals on October 18 against sixth-seeded Notre Dame. The victor will advance to the title game on October 20 at Lawrence High.
Girls’ Soccer : Adriana Salzano scored a goal in a losing cause as fourthseeded PDS fell 2-1 to fifthseeded Robbinsville in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Saturday. The Panthers, now 9-4, will be competing in the state Prep B tournament where they are seeded fourth and will play at top-seeded Rutgers Prep in a semifinal contest on October 20.
Red Hawks will be playing at second-seeded Princeton Day School in a semifinal contest.
Boys’ Soccer : Sparked by Pablo Carnicer Cozar, thirdseeded Pennington topped sixth-seeded Steinert 4-1 in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Saturday. Carnicer Cozar tallied one goal and two assists as the Red Hawks improved to 11-3-1. Pennington was slated to face second-seeded Hun School in the MCT semis on October 18 with the victor advancing to the title game on October 20 at Hopewell Valley High.
Girls’ Soccer : Morgan Kotch came up big as topseeded Pennington defeated fifth-seeded Robbinsville 4-0 in a Mercer County Tournament semifinal contest last Monday. Kotch scored three goals to help the Red Hawks improve to 13-0-1. Pennington will face third-seeded Allentown in the MCT title game on October 20 at Hopewell Valley High.
0-8. Princeton hosts Palmyra on October 22.
Boys’ Soccer : Felipe Matar Grandi tallied a first half goal, but it didn’t hold up as eighth-seeded PHS fell 2-1 to top-seeded Notre Dame in a Mercer County Tournament quarterfinal contest last Saturday. The Tigers, who dropped to 8-5-1 with the defeat, will be hosting Bordentown on October 22 and will then be playing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) sectional tournament.
Girls’ Soccer : Unable to get its offense going, sixthseeded PHS fell 6-0 to thirdseeded Allentown in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Saturday. In upcoming action, the Tigers, who moved to 8-5-2 with the setback, will be competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) sectional tournament.
and is entering its 51st season. The league consists of both games and clinics. It is open to boys and girls in grades 4-10 who are Princeton residents and non-residents who attend school in Princeton.
The Dillon season will be taking place from JanuaryMarch 2023 and games will be held Saturday mornings at the Hun School. The program is a recreational league intended for players of all skill and experience levels. “Dillon Basketball” is about playing the game the right way, teamwork, and having fun.
To register, log onto register. communitypass.net/princeton under “ 2022/2023 Winter Sports Programs.” Registration is open until January 2 or until divisions are at capacity. More information can be found online at princetonrecreation.com.
Will Arns scored touchdowns for the Cardinals.
The Tamasi Shell Steelers defeated the Petrone Associates Colts 36-22. For the Steelers, Ryan von Roemer threw TD passes to Langsdon Hinds and Koby Smith. In addition, von Roemer and Smith ran for scores and Hinds returned an interception for a TD.
Football: Aiden Prestigiacomo passed for 107 yards and rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns but it wasn’t enough as Pennington fell 4222 to the Academy of New Church (Pa.) last Saturday.
The Red Hawks, now 4-2, host the Peddie School on October 21.
Field Hockey : Ava Vecchione and Grace Irizarry each had a goal and an assist in a losing cause as seventhseeded Pennington fell 5-4 in overtime to second-seeded Lawrenceville in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Friday. Pennington, which moved to 6-4-1 with the loss, will be competing in the state Prep B tournament this week where the third-seeded
Girls’ Tennis : Praslin Hayes and Polaris Hayes starred as Pennington took first at the Prep B state tournament last Sunday at Thomas A. Edison Park in Edison. Praslin Hayes won the first singles title while Polaris Hayes took the crown at second singles.The Red Hawk second doubles pair of Olivia Craig and Grace Craig also won their fl ight. Pennington scored 12 points to edge Princeton Day School by two points for the team title.
Girls’ Volleyball : Kaelin Bobetich played well as PHS fell 2-1 (25-19, 22-25, 17-25) to Washington Township last Monday. Freshman Bobetich had 10 kills and two blocks for the Tigers, now 14-3. PHS will next be in action when it hosts Lenape on October 26.
The Princeton Recreation Department is now taking registrations for the 2023 Dillon Youth Basketball League.
The Dillon Youth Basketball League is a storied program for the Princeton community
In action last Sunday in the Princeton Junior Football League (PJFL) Seniors division (ages 11-14), the Christine’s Hope Lions defeated the Princeton Global Jets 3522. For the Lions, Raymond Buck rushed for two touchdowns and had TD passes to Phineas Choe, Liam McCloskey, and Brian Mauger. Ben Kahn ran for two scores and threw a touchdown to PJ Ross in a losing cause for the Jets. Alex LeBeouf and Colton Monica added the two point conversions for the Jets.
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Ravens beat the DZS Clinical Cardinals 27-19 as Jacob Reece led the way in the win. Reece ran for one touchdown and had two TD receptions. Andrew Spies threw two TD passes for the Ravens. Manfred Yan, Manuel Tellez, and
In the Juniors division (ages 8-10), t he DZS Clinical Packers edged the Mercato Ravens 26-20 behind touchdown passes from Aidyn Shah to Alex Burger, Henry Ambra, and Malcolm Harris. For the Ravens, Bryce Davison rushed for two touchdowns and threw another to Aiden Spies. The McCaffrey’s Eagles defeated the PBA 130 Raiders 33-26. The Eagles relied on defensive stops by Kyle Dauber and a touchdown catch by Aria Sloan in the win. For the Raiders, Theo Henderson and Ben Saindon ran and threw for TDs. Kaden Taffer also found the end zone.
The Sunoco Steelers topped the Woodwinds Bengals 24-15. Connor Widener grabbed three interceptions for the Steelers while Anderson Haney and Hugh Kelly led the scoring. For the Bengals, Jamie Monica ran for a TD, Theo Salganik connected with Teddy Hogshire for another, and Locke DeTuro had a key interception. The PREA Lions defeated the Petrone Associates Chiefs 33-18. Brandon Chung scored three touchdowns in the win while Leo Miele, Leo Kahm, and Ryan Ewig also scored for the Lions. For the Chiefs, Luke Branagh, Hudson Hanley, and Alexander Shah tallied TDs.
Football : Ryan Friedman had a big game, but it wasn’t enough as PHS fell 25-7 to the West Windsor-Plainsboro football co-op last Friday night. Senior wide receiver Friedman made four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers moved to
the Season will hit homes and area businesses on NOVEMBER 23.
This exciting special edition full color booklet has become a Princeton tradition, showcasing our hometown highlights.
’Tis the Season will feature HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS — a day-by-day listing of area holiday events, and advertisers are guaranteed to have their events included.
Harold Borkan, who had a long and distinguished ca reer in electronic device re search and development at RCA as well as in the U.S. government, died on October 12, 2022, at home. He was 95 years old and had lived in Princeton since 1957. Harold felt blessed to have had a loving family which included three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Borkan was born in Elizabeth, NJ, where he at tended elementary and high schools. He was an active Boy Scout, becoming junior assistant scoutmaster with responsibility for directing Troop 14. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy before graduating from high school and was on active duty during 1945-46 as a Seaman First Class ra dio technician.
Rutgers School of Engineer ing. To honor his life, the family will be most grateful for any contributions made to this fund which supports academically talented electri cal engineering students in financial need. Please make check to “Rutgers University Foundation” with note “Har old Borkan Endowed Schol arship.” Send to Rutgers University Foundation, PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 16 at The Jewish Center, Princ eton and burial followed at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin, NJ.
Contributions can also be made in his memory to The Jewish Center of Princeton.
to advancing the mission of the Sourland Conservancy in Hopewell, NJ. He pro vided warm friendship, long hours directing parking at the Mountain Fest, photo graphing and pitching in at numerous events.
In lieu of flowers, memo rial contributions in Jim’s name may be made to the Parkinson ’s & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Al liance), The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and the Sourland Conservancy.
Costantino “Andy” Tamasi, 89, of Princeton passed away Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Capital Health Regional Medical Center of Trenton, NJ, with his family by his side.
Dietrich Meyerhofer, 91, of Lenox, MA, died Friday, Sep tember 30 at Berkshire Medi cal Center of old age following an extraordinarily rich life that he shared with his wife, Lau rel, his grown children, grand children, and ever-present animal companions.
Dietrich Meyerhofer walks in the woods, and special times spent with family and friends. After retirement, they left Princ eton for Somers, NY, but the Berkshires was always a fa vorite getaway. They kept a second home in Great Bar rington for more than 25 years. In recent years, they made their home at Kimball Farms in Lenox.
Born in Zurich, Switzer land, September 19, 1931, the son of Ernst A. and Margaret Hanington Meyer hofer, he attended the pres tigious Zurich Gymnasium (high school). After mov ing to the U.S., he attended Cornel University where he received his BS degree and later earned his master’s de gree and Ph.D. in Physics from MIT in just three years.
A resident of Princeton, NJ, for much of his life, Di etrich raised two children with his first wife, DMay, and was a Solid State Physi cist for the RCA Company throughout his career. While in Princeton he was a mem ber of the local school board and a member of the board of directors for McCarter Theatre.
He and his second wife, Laurel Meyerhofer, were set up on a blind date in the summer of 1982 and mar ried just six months later on January 8, 1983. They remained blissfully in love for 40 years, always by one another’s side as they lived a life full of travel, opera, gourmet food and wine,
Above all, Dietrich was the kindly patriarch of a large family. Survivors include his wife of Lenox, MA; children Dr. David D. Meyerhofer (Joan Lucas) of Los Alamos, NM, Sandra J. Meyerhofer (Peter Englert) of Berlin, VT, James E. Blechman (Tania) of South Salem, NY, Wil liam P. Meyerhofer (William Kwok) of New York, NY, and Andrew D. Blechman of Great Barrington; and his beloved grandchildren Margaret, Peter, Tatiana, Lillie, and Talia. Besides his parents, Dietrich was pre deceased by his first wife, Dorothy Swan Meyerhofer on February 12, 1981 after 27 years of marriage; and by his brothers Nicholas and Christopher Meyerhofer.
A celebration of the life of Dr. Dietrich Meyerhofer of Lenox will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, do nations in his memory may be made to the A.S.P.C.A. in care of Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240.
A Memorial Service for Mary V. Laity of Princeton Windrows, who passed away on July 24, 2022, will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, on Saturday, October 29 at 3 p.m.
A reception will follow in Pierce Hall, adjoining the church.
The service will also be livestreamed at trinityprinceton.org/livestream.
Can be purchased Wednesday mor nings at the following locations:
Princeton McCaffrey’s
Palmer Square
Speedy Mar t (State Road)
(Universit y Place)
He earned a Bachelor in Science in electrical engi neering from Rutgers Univer sity in 1950 and was the first Rutgers graduate to receive an offer and serve as a Mem ber of the Technical Staff at RCA Laboratories in Princ eton. He was instrumental in establishing Eta Kappa Nu, the honorary electrical engi neering fraternity at Rutgers. He was also awarded the MS degree from Rutgers.
At RCA Labs, Mr. Borkan’s main research involved inno vative camera tubes for the recording of color television programs, and thin-film tran sistors which led to the thin computer screens common on all laptop computers and monitors. He was awarded nine patents, was the author of several dozen papers, and received two RCA Achieve ment Awards during his many years at RCA Labs.
Mr. Borkan moved from RCA in 1981 to become Director of the Microelec tronics Division of the U.S. Army’s Electronics Technol ogy and Devices Laboratory (ETDL) at Fort Monmouth, NJ. There he was respon sible for all the Army’s mi croelectronics R&D. Four years later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of ETDL. While he served at ETDL, the laboratory twice received the Army Laboratory of the Year Award. He retired in 1990.
Mr. Borkan was a member of the Old Guard of Princ eton and president of Com munity Without Walls, House 1. He also served as public service coordinator of 55Plus; chairman of the Adult Education Committee and later treasurer of The Jew ish Center of Princeton; trea surer of the United Jewish Appeal, and for five years as the Princeton Representative on the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority.
He was married for 52 years to Jean Borkan, who passed away in 2001. He is survived by their three sons, and three daughters-in-law: Gary and Martha Borkan of Melrose, MA; Brad and Anne Borkan, residing in Kew, England; and Ronald and Linda Borkan, living in Flag staff, AZ. His five grandchil dren are Daniel, Benjamin, William, Evy, and Brittany. His great-grandchildren are Ava Borkan and Jasper Bor kan. After the passing of his wife Jean, Mr. Borkan was also blessed with a wonder ful long-term partner, Hazel Stix.
The family has estab lished “The Harold Borkan Endowed Scholarship” at
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit Harold’s obitu ary page at orlandsmemori alchapel.com.
There will be a private family burial in Princeton Cemetery. The family will host a Celebration of Life for friends and loved ones to gather and remember Jim at the Antique Barn at Cashel, 145 Wertsville Road, Hill sborough Township, NJ 08844 on November 5 from 12-4 p.m.
Photos and tributes may be shared at TheKimble FuneralHome.com.
Dr. James Heidere of Skillman, NJ, passed away on October 12, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 82 years old.
Jim was born in 1940 to Max and Mary Heidere in Philadelphia as the first of three children. Jim attended high school at St. Joseph ’ s Preparatory School in Phil adelphia and rowed on the Varsity Crew team in a quad that won the national cham pionship in both 1957 and 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chem istry at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. Jim went on to earn a degree in dentistry at Temple Uni versity School of Dentistry. After graduating from den tal school, he served in the Public Health Service as a dentist in both San Francis co, CA, and Danbury, CT. Jim completed postgradu ate work in periodontics. He worked as a periodontist for 40+ years at the Princeton Dental Group.
Jim is survived by and will be deeply missed by his adoring wife, Stepha nie Heidere; sister Maureen Bennett (Mark Bennett); daughters Susan Heidere (Michael Simko), Elizabeth Heidere, Katie Heidere (Scout Broadhead); as well as his grandchildren, Carter and Alex Simko. He is also survived by a niece, Marie Ford, and nephews Mark Bennett and Jeff Bennett. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathy Ford.
Jim was an accomplished pilot and taught flight in struction at both Princeton and Robbinsville airports. He was an active member of the Delaware Valley wing of the Commemorative Air Force. He was also an avid motorcyclist and rode for many years in the Colorado 500. Jim will be remem bered for his outstanding intellect, dedication to his patients, many acts of kind ness to his friends, and in credible laugh.
Jim was deeply committed
Diane Teresa Campbell, 83, of Princeton, NJ, died Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Princeton Care Center. Born and raised in Poland, she resided most of her life in Philadelphia where she owned and operated Camp bell’s Deli in the Kensington neighborhood. She eventu ally moved to Princeton in 2013. Diane was a commu nicant at Queen of the Uni verse Church, Levittown; St. Adalbert’s Church, Port Richmond (Philadelphia); and St. Paul’s Church, Princeton.
She is survived by four daughters: Elizabeth (Peter, d.) Meggitt of Princeton, Dianne Campbell of Bel leair, FL, Cecilia Campbell (Deborah Gagnon) of Ithaca, NY, and Roxanna (Eugene) Choe of Princeton; eight grandchildren: Dylan Hodill, Kelly (Kyle) Owens, Russell Hodill, Hugo Meggitt, Sin clair Meggitt, Hannah Choe, Derek Choe, and Phineas Choe; one niece Maryla Czebatul; and two greatnephews Mateusz Czebatul and Daniel Czebatul. She is predeceased by her parents Zygmunt and Zofia (Lewan dowska) Walczykiewicz and son-in-law Peter Meggitt.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, October 21, 2022 from 6-8 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Fu neral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue., Princeton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Satur day October 22, 2022 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princ eton. A luncheon will follow the services.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers dona tions can be made in Diane’s honor to the Alzheimer’s As sociation.
Andy was born in Petto ranello Di Molise, Italy. He had been resident of Princ eton since the age of 3. Andy served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was plank owner on the USS Intrepid earning the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class, and a lifetime mem ber of the USS Intrepid As sociation. A machinist by trade, he was employed as a maintenance foreman for Princeton Recreation De partment. He was a cross ing guard for Princeton Township for 47 years. Andy was a member of the Italian American Sportsman Club, Roma Eterna Lodge, and the Princeton Pettoranello Sister City Foundation. Andy was a handyman, he loved cooking, gardening, hunting, fishing, and especially spending time with his family. He enjoyed going down the shore to Ort ley Beach with his family for many years.
Predeceased by his parents Michael and Anna (Pinelli) Tamasi Sr., a brother Michael Tamasi Jr., two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law Peggy Carazzai, and Pat and Nor man Fairall.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Marianne (Petrone) Tamasi; two sons and a daughter, Joe and Nan cy Tamasi, David Tamasi, Debbie and Robert Nacarel la; seven grandchildren, Ari anna and her husband Joe Gallo, Daniella Tamasi, Tori Tamasi and her boyfriend Chris Ridolfi, Alec Tamasi, Deanna Nacarella and her fiancée Frank MacDuff, Nico Nacarella and his wife Van essa, Francesca Nacarella; a great-granddaughter Isla Mae Gallo; daughter-in-law Becky Tamasi; two brothersin-law and a sister-in-law, Renato Carazzai, Frank and Kris Petrone; and many niec es, nephews, and cousins.
A Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednes day, October 26, 2022 and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Mather-Hodge Fu neral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton 08542. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery 29 Greenview Avenue, Princ eton 08542.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hos pital in memory of Andy.
During these challenging times we are actively supporting our clients providing the following services as “your virtual home office.”
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To talk with us about our services and how we can help you or your loved one during this challenging time please call (609) 371-1466 or email us at info@ppsmore.com.
Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396.
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gut ter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years ex perience. (609) 271-8860.
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11-09
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06-28-23
• Fully Insured • Free Consultations
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10-19
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PRINCETON PUBLISHER
SEEKS PART-TIME HELP (high school or college student) to do computer/internet work for about 4-6 hours a week. Pay: $15/hour. Flexible hours; after school is fine. Office loca tion: Nassau Street at Olden Street, walking distance to PHS and Princ eton University Contact: Markus Wie ner at publisher@markuswiener.com. or text 609 240-4477.
10-19
Town Topics is the most comprehensive and preferred weekly Real Estate resource in the greater Central New Jersey and Bucks County areas.
Every Wednesday, Town Topics reaches every home in Princeton and all high traffic business areas in town, as well as the communities of Lawrenceville, Pennington, Hopewell, Skilllman, Rocky Hill, and Montgomery.
We ARE the area’s only community newspaper and most trusted resource since 1946!
Call to reserve your space today! (609) 924-2200, ext 18
QUALITY ITEMS AT BARGAIN PRIC ES! SATURDAY, October 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Rain Date 10/23.) 147 Wilson Road, Princeton. Clothing, Hallow een Costumes, Home Furnishings, Houseware, Wall Art, Linens, Books, CDs/DVDs, Vinyl, Toys, Games, Mu sical instruments and much more! Cash Only.
10-19
NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALES: Homes on Wilton Street and Markham Road. Saturday, 10/22. Starts at 9 am. New gift items, furniture, ski equip ment, books, tools, home furnishings, Playmobile sets, toys. 10-19
LOOKING TO BUY vintage cloth ing for period costume. 1980s and earlier. Few pieces to entire attic. Men, women and children. Call Terri: 609-851-3754. 11-23
STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT 10 minutes north of Princeton, in Skill man, Montgomery. 10x21, $200 dis counted monthly rent. Available now! https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ or call/text 609.333.6932. 10-19
All phases of home improvement. Serving the Princeton area for over 30 yrs. No job too small. Call Julius: (609) 466-0732
Painting, hang cabinets & paintings, kitchen & bath rehab. Tile work, ma sonry. Porch & deck, replace rot, from floors to doors to ceilings. Shelving & hook-ups. ELEGANT REMODEL ING. You name it, indoor, outdoor tasks. Repair holes left by plumbers & electricians for sheetrock repair. RE agents welcome. Sale of home ‘checklist’ specialist. Mercer, Hunt erdon, Bucks counties. 1/2 day to 1 month assignments. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, Covid 19 compliant. Active business since 1998. Videos of past jobs available. Call Roeland, (609) 933-9240.
Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com
Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com Text (only) (609) 356-9201 Office (609) 216-7936 Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500
tf KARINA’S HOUSECLEANING: Full service inside. Honest and reli able lady with references. Weekly, biweekly or monthly. Call for estimate. (609) 858-8259.
11-02
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I BUY ALL KINDS of Old or Pretty Things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fan cy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.
10-12-23
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 apprais als. (609) 306-0613. 06-28-23
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, so your ad is sure to be read. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
Stay connected by receiving a mailed subscription! Call (609) 924-2200 ext 10; circulation@towntopics.com
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.
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gut ter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years ex perience. (609) 271-8860.
HOUSECLEANING: Experienced, English speaking, great references, reliable with own transportation. Weekly & bi-weekly cleaning. Green cleaning available. Susan, (732) 8733168. I have my own PPE for your protection. 11-30
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CLEANING, IRONING, LAUN DRY by women with a lot of expe rience. Excellent references, own transportation. Please call Inga at (609) 530-1169 and leave a message. 10-19
HOUSE FOR RENT: One-of-a-kind spacious dairy barn conversion with Princeton address, on private es tate. Open floor plan, 3 BR, 2 bath, breathtaking 2nd floor versatile room. Fireplace, 2-car garage, central air. Includes lawn maintenance & snow removal. No pets, smoke free, $3,500. Available November 1. (609) 7316904.
11-09
HOUSE & OFFICE CLEANING: By an experienced Polish lady. Call Barbara (609) 273-4226. Weekly or biweekly. Honest & reliable. Refer ences available.
10-19
THE MAID PROFESSIONALS: Leslie & Nora, cleaning experts. Resi dential & commercial. Free estimates. References upon request. (609) 2182279, (609) 323-7404. 03-29-23
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“The Town Topics provides excellent service and gives our marketing the exposure through out the Princeton area.”
- Gerri Grassi, Vice President/Broker Manager, Berkshire Hathaway, Fox & Roach, REALTORS®, Princeton Office
Town Topics is the most comprehensive and preferred weekly Real Estate resource in the greater Central New Jersey and Bucks County areas.
Every Wednesday, Town Topics reaches every home in Princeton and all high traffic business areas in town, as well as the communities of Lawrenceville, Pennington, Hopewell, Skilllman, Rocky Hill, and Montgomery.
We ARE the area’s only community newspaper and most trusted resource since 1946!
— J. S. Singer| 609
|
COMPANION/CAREGIVER: Compassionate and caring certified nurse’s aide available for live in/live out. I also have a driver’s license. Excellent references. (609) 531-6021; (856) 325-0989. 10-19
Fri & Sat 10/21 & 10/22, 9:30 -3:00 Chanel, Gucci, Michele, Pottery Barn, Stickley DR, outdoor furniture, decorative accessories, kitchen items. 10-19
SEEKS PART-TIME HELP (high school or college student) to do computer/internet work for about 4-6 hours a week. Pay: $15/hour. Flexible hours; after school is fine. Office location: Nassau Street at Olden Street, walking distance to PHS and Princeton University Contact: Markus Wiener at publisher@markuswiener.com. or text 609 240-4477.
10-19
MOVING SALE: 422 Terhune Road, Princeton. Saturday, October 22, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Furniture, housewares, rugs, and more! 10-19
Recent renovation/expansion provides dramatic offices from 500 to 6,000 sq. ft. Two third floor, one bedroom apartments with balconies and gas fireplaces in kitchens. Center Hall oak stairwell and elevator. New appliances and handicap restrooms. Parking on site. Call: (609) 240-9900. 11-02
QUALITY ITEMS AT BARGAIN PRICES! SATURDAY, October 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Rain Date 10/23.) 147 Wilson Road, Princeton. Clothing, Halloween Costumes, Home Furnishings, Houseware, Wall Art, Linens, Books, CDs/DVDs, Vinyl, Toys, Games, Musical instruments and much more! Cash Only.
10-19
NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALES: Homes on Wilton Street and Markham Road. Saturday, 10/22. Starts at 9 am. New gift items, furniture, ski equipment, books, tools, home furnishings, Playmobile sets, toys. 10-19
LOOKING TO BUY vintage clothing for period costume. 1980s and earlier. Few pieces to entire attic. Men, women and children. Call Terri: 609-851-3754.
11-23
STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT 10 minutes north of Princeton, in Skillman, Montgomery. 10x21, $200 discounted monthly rent. Available now! https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ or call/text 609.333.6932. 10-19
All phases of home improvement. Serving the Princeton area for over 30 yrs. No job too small. Call Julius: (609) 466-0732
Offering professional cleaning services in the Princeton community for more than 28 years! Weekly, biweekly, monthly, move-in/move-out services for houses, apartments, offices & condos. As well as, GREEN cleaning options! Outstanding references, reliable, licensed & trustworthy. If you are looking for a phenomenal, thorough & consistent cleaning, don’t hesitate to call (609) 751-2188. 04-06-23
Painting, hang cabinets & paintings, kitchen & bath rehab. Tile work, masonry. Porch & deck, replace rot, from floors to doors to ceilings. Shelving & hook-ups.
ELEGANT REMODELING. You name it, indoor, outdoor tasks. Repair holes left by plumbers & electricians for sheetrock repair. RE agents welcome. Sale of home ‘checklist’ specialist. Mercer, Hunterdon, Bucks counties. 1/2 day to 1 month assignments. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, Covid 19 compliant. Active business since 1998. Videos of past jobs available. Call Roeland, (609) 933-9240.
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I BUY ALL KINDS of Old or Pretty
Things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.
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. 06-28-23
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, so your ad is sure to be read. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
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. 06-28-23
Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131 Ask for Chris
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