Town Topics Newspaper, May 3, 2023

Union Workers Protest

Non-Local Labor at Graduate Hotel Site

An inflatable giant rat, a pig, and a cat, along with a skinny Uncle Sam and an inflated image of a construction worker have towered over pedestrians and cars outside the Graduate Hotel under construction at the corner of Chambers and Nassau Streets.

A cluster of construction workers, members of the IBEW Local Union 269, has been standing on the edge of the street for several hours every day for more than two weeks, carrying signs and protesting the Graduate Hotels’ hiring of non-local workers.

“The contractor on site, Academy Electric, is not from this area and doesn’t pay the wages and maintain the standards that we fight for in Mercer County,” said Robert Beerhalter, one of the demonstrators and a representative of the union.

“They’re from South Jersey — Hammonton. They’re cheating us and Mercer County.”

He continued, occasionally drowned out by passing cars honking their horns in support of the demonstrators, “The wages and standards that we fight for in Mercer County are able to support the businesses and living standards in the area, and the wages here don’t compare,” he said. “We’ve had great support from the community and local businesses. It would be nice to have a local contractor and local workers on this project.”

Work on the hotel has been ongoing since August 2021, with completion anticipated by the end of the year. Graduate Hotels, which is run by AJ Capital Partners, focuses on college towns and has 30 other locations across the country and two in England.

IBEW Local Union 269 President Wayne DeAngelo, who is also a New Jersey assemblyman, emphasized that the protests would continue. “We want to give notice to the public that Academy Electric, contracted by Hunter Roberts Construction Group, is not paying their employees the level of wages and benefits that have been established in this area. New Jersey states a prevailing wage in Mercer County, and we’re informing the public that this employer is paying substandard wages. We have also asked them about health and retirement benefits and we got no answer.”

De Angelo continued, “We’re letting

Chmiel Requests Public Hearing with BOE

Frank Chmiel, Princeton High School (PHS) principal who on March 17 was removed from his position, has formally requested a hearing with the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), and he has requested that the hearing be public.

Described by a New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) document on nonrenewals and RIFS as “an informal appearance before the board” (known as a “Donaldson hearing”), the session is expected to be scheduled by the BOE for a date in the next three weeks.

Chmiel has received from the BOE a statement of reasons for nonrenewal, but he and his lawyers have not stated when and if they will reveal those reasons before the hearing takes place.

The hearing, according to the NJSBA document, provides the employee with an opportunity “to convince the board members that they have made an incorrect determination by not offering reemployment.” It continues, “The employee will probably try to refute the board’s reasons and possibly present an assessment of his/her value to the school system.”

The NJSBA document goes on to state that the hearing “is not an adversarial proceeding” and “is not intended to be protracted,” with the BOE charged with determining a reasonable length of time for the proceedings. “The purpose of the hearing is not for the Board to prove its reasons,” the document states.

At the hearing, Chmiel may be represented by his lawyer, and he may also present witnesses on his behalf.

After the hearing the BOE can overrule

the superintendent’s recommendation for nonrenewal by voting to offer the employee a contract. An override would require a majority vote of the full membership of the BOE. But the Board is not obligated to vote after the hearing, and if the Board does not vote, the superintendent’s recommendation not to renew will stand.

Chmiel’s dismissal continues to generate controversy at PHS and around town, though a new interim principal, Kathie Foster, has been on the job since

With One-on-Ones at Local Establishments, Leighton Newlin Plans to Keep Listening

When Leighton Newlin was elected to Princeton Council in 2021, he promised voters that he would represent them and listen to them — not just during his campaign, but throughout his time in office. The Princeton native has been making an effort to fulfill that promise with “Leighton Listens,” a series of informal one-on-one chats with members of the public at such area locales as Sakrid Coffee Roasters, LiLLiPiES, and Arlee’s Raw Blends. The gatherings have gone so well that Newlin has scheduled another round. On

Wednesdays this month, between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., he plans to visit Earth’s End (May 3), Delizioso Bakery + Kitchen (May 10), Café Maman (May 17), Tipple & Rose (May 24), and Bagel Nook (May 31). The idea is twofold: to hear people’s comments and concerns, and give exposure to local establishments.

“It seems to me that if you’re really doing this job right, you don’t stop campaigning,” Newlin said this week. “You listen to people. And you keep it up.

Continued on Page 11

PRINCETON PORCHFEST 2023: Rain didn’t deter the festivities on Saturday as 18 locations around town hosted 90 performers, including Dan Kassel, shown here on a porch on Jefferson Road, for the second annual music festival. Attendees discuss their favorite Porchfest performers in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Huang Helps

Tennis

TOWN TOPICS

Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946

New Role for Kate Bech at Princeton Community Housing

Kate Bech, who served as the Princeton Family YMCA’s CEO for 15 years, has joined the executive staff at Princeton Community Housing (PCH), building on a career of achievements focused on strengthening community. She started her new role in March.

“PCH is one of this town’s best assets, in my opinion,” Bech said. “For more than 55 years, this organization has transformed people’s lives, profoundly and deeply, by helping them access a quality, affordable home in this wonderful community. Every day, I discover something new about PCH – and it knocks me over. I can’t wait to help spread the word.”

Bech and PCH Executive Director Edward Truscelli have partnered for more than 10 years on the delivery of the YMCA’s Princeton Young Achievers afterschool program at PCH’s Marcy T. Crimmins Learning Center located at Princeton Community Village. Together, the organizations collaborated with the Princeton Public Schools to establish a free preschool program for residents in September 2020 that now serves 15 3- and 4-year-olds.

“We’re delighted to have Kate on board,” Truscelli said. “It all came together very quickly, and the timing worked out beautifully. We’ve just wrapped up a successful capital campaign, raising $2.2 million dollars, and now we look forward this summer to opening the doors of 25 new, energy-efficient apartments for individuals and families to call home at Princeton Community Village. This is

ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABILITY: Ed Truscelli, executive director of Princeton Community Housing, and the organization’s new director of mission advancement Kate Bech stand at the front entrance of the building which features 25 new affordable homes, scheduled to be completed soon. an ideal moment to help us build on the momentum and advance our efforts in welcoming more people to be a part of the Princeton community.”

In her new role, Bech will focus on expanding resources for the organization, developing opportunities to enhance residents’ lives, and engaging more people in the PCH mission.

“Over the years, one consistent theme I’ve heard from residents is how much a diverse community is a priority to them,” Bech shared. “The reality is that unless we can provide housing that is accessible and reduce barriers,

we won’t be able to welcome the people who contribute to the abundant richness, vibrancy and uniqueness of Princeton that we cherish.”

Bech is eager to see how she can help grow the many and diverse social services that enhance residents’ lives, including additional resources for PCH’s social work staff. “We call this ‘the PCH Difference’,” she said. “Very few affordable housing providers offer this level of support, and it speaks to the mission and vision of this nonprofit.”

Members of the community who wish to donate should visit www.pchhomes.org.

Princeton Human Services is collecting items for local food pantries through May 31 at 1 Monument Drive. They include laundry detergent pods, toothpaste , toothbrushes, toilet paper, and much more. Also, the department is collecting Workwear clothing through June 16 for the Summer Youth Employment Program participants.

Join Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) on Saturdays, May 6 and 20, for morning or afternoon volunteer sessions under the guidance of FOPOS’ director of natural resources and stewardship to assist with various conservation projects at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Visit fopos.

On Friday, May 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard, meet local health professionals, learn about healthy eating and exercise, and more. Family-friendly and open to all. Healthdepartment@princetonnj.gov.

Four new dual-port charging stations for eight vehicles are available to the public, including an accessible charger, at the municipal building, 400 Witherspoon Street. The cost is $2 an hour during the day and $1 for overnight charging between midnight and 8 a.m., the same as in the Spring

Annual Program Randomly Rewards Those Who Choose to Ride Bikes Rather than Drive

riding their bikes instead of driving their cars, it

TOPICS Of the Town

Fast forward 18 years, and 26 local stores, restaurants, and organizations have joined the effort. The 2023 Random Acts of Community program, an annual event that takes place in May to coincide with National Bike Month, is handing out a total of $2,250 in gift cards, in packets that now range from $55 to $65, to 30 cyclists.

“It has gotten so much bigger,” said Fran McManus, who handles marketing for the Whole Earth Center and has been part of the program since it began. “In 2007, Small World Coffee, the bent spoon, and Terra Momo joined us, and over the years, we just kept adding. At a PMA [Princeton Merchants Association] meeting, [former municipal administrator]

Bob Bruschi said to me, ‘I know this is weird, but how about if I give you two $20 parking cards?’ I knew he was excited about it, and I knew the town was in.”

When the program began, McManus stood on a corner and stopped cyclists as they rode by. “That was not necessarily a good thing to do,” she said. “It got a little crazy. Now, I wander up and down, say, Witherspoon Street, hitting the bike racks. Or I’ll do the Farmers Market, opening day of the [Community] pool, and other iconic May events.”

Sometimes people she approaches are suspicious at first. “Generally, they’re amazed and they’re not sure what I’m doing. I’ve had people say, ‘What’s the catch?’ But there isn’t one. I explain that we are both thanking them and rewarding them.”

The origin of Random Acts of Community was a program that the Green Line Diner, which no longer exists, had in place. Instead of a loyalty card, the diner had a $20 coupon they would randomly hand out to people

who happened to be in the right seat at the right time.

“I loved this idea of randomness,” McManus said. “Whole Earth picked up the ball in 2006, saying let’s reward people for cycling but maybe also encourage them to cycle when they wouldn’t normally do so. That’s still the thinking today. We’re encouraging people to come out, but also saying we appreciate that it takes more effort on a bike.”

After a few years, McManus started to put notes out

a bike instead of a car to get around town.

was the sole Princeton business involved.

Ride Bikes

Continued from Preceding Page

on Twitter, revealing that she’d be out looking for cyclists to reward, and in which areas of town. “I’m amazed at how far people ride to come into town,” she said, “like 15 miles. And people like to tell you their stories once they’ve gotten over the surprise of being handed a packet of gift cards. I try to relay that back to the businesses.”

In addition to Whole Earth Center, Small World Coffee, the bent spoon, and Terra Momo Restaurant Group, this year’s list of participants includes Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop (which also contributed printing costs), Hinkson’s, Homestead Princeton, Jammin’ Crepes, JaZams, JM Group, Kopp’s Cycle, Labyrinth Books, LiLLiPiES, Miya Table & Home, the Nassau Inn, Olives, Olsson’s Fine Foods, Orvana, Princeton Record Exchange, Princeton Tour Company, Princeton Soup & Sandwich Company, the Princeton Recreation Department, The Meeting House, Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar, Tipple & Rose, and Triumph Brewing Company.

Each packet of gift cards also includes tips from the League of American Bicyclists. McManus tries to get to Princeton University students early in the month so they can use the cards before they leave for the summer break.

“It’s a little bit of trying to figure out how they are best used,” she said. “I always tell people that if there is a card they won’t be using, like passes to the pool, please reward it to someone else — preferably someone riding a bike.”

—Anne Levin

UrbanPromise Trenton Has New Director

The board of trustees of UrbanPromise Trenton (UPT) has welcomed Sean McFadden as new executive director. McFadden succeeds Melissa Mantz, who retired after seven years of service to the organization.

During her tenure, Mantz led UPT’s expansion of programming and initiatives for students, as well as the employment of close to 200 Trenton teens who have become vital assets to the organization. Her leadership has made UPT better positioned to meet the emerging and evolving needs of our students.

Most recently, McFadden served as dean of students at Uncommon Schools in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he played an instrumental role in establishing a positive achievement-oriented school culture. Previously, he was assistant dean for the American Dream School in Bronx, N.Y., as well as athletic director, gym teacher and head coach, and spearheaded several athletic and music programs.

“On behalf of the many UrbanPromise leaders around the world, welcome Sean,” said Bruce Main, founder and president of UrbanPromise. “We wish you and the Trenton team abundant success in positively impacting the next generation of emerging leaders in your city.”

Question of the Week: “Who was your favorite performer today?”

(Asked Saturday at Princeton Porchfest)

(Photos by Charles R. Plohn)

Robert: “We just got done watching Plum play over at the Maclean House. They are a grunge band and played some amazing cover tunes.”

Andrew: “I guess like Robert said, out of the four bands we have seen so far, Plum was definitely the best.”

—Robert Becker, right, Nazareth, Pa., with Andrew MacTigue, Ewing

Tamara: “We were uncertain about coming because of the weather, but then we said, ‘Let’s do it’ and we are having a great time. We saw our daughter’s piano teacher, Jean Parsons, and that was a very special treat.”

Michael: “Maria Palmer on Wiggins Street was great.”

—Tamara Jachimowicz and Michael Kshirsagar, Princeton

Gia: “We definitely came to see Vertical Space and now are really just looking for any grunge music or alternative bands.”

AJ: “We came to see our friend’s band, Vertical Space, who played at noon on the Palmer Square Green. They were really good and we’re going to just cruise around and see who else is playing around town.”

—Gia and AJ DeMarco, Newtown, Pa.

Inae: “We are enjoying the music by Instant Bingo on the porch at the Arts Council from across the street here at the library. Owen has been dancing and loving everything.”

Pippa: “I liked Ruby West, Ride or Die, and Paul Pessutti.”

Teddy: “I really liked Ride or Die. This is really fun even in the rain and we’re going to go around and see as many bands as we can.”

George: “Paul Pessutti on Wiggins Street and Ride or Die on Linden Lane.”

—Pippa Henderson, Teddy Westrick, and George Hogshire, Princeton

—Inae Oh with Owen White, Princeton

Labor Protest

continued from page one the community know that this employer is not a good neighbor. We like to see local people on local jobs, people who live in the community or at least the greater Mercer County area.”

He explained that the large rat is a universal symbol for labor unrest. “People drive by and they know someone’s on strike, on the picket line,” he added. “Often they can’t slow down, but they know that some sort of job action is taking place. We want to make sure the community gets the message.”

A fl ier distributed by the electricians of IBEW Local 269 contends that Graduate Hotels “is simply interested in promoting corporate greed and other selfish interests rather than the welfare of Mercer County families.”

It goes on, “We believe that by renovating their new hotel on Nassau Street in Princeton, Graduate Hotels has endorsed lower wages, fringe benefits, and lower living standards for Mercer County residents by contracting with a general contractor that does not pay its employees the area standard for wages and fringe benefits.”

Princeton Municipal

Administrator Bernie Hvozdovic noted that there have been some complaints from local businesses about the presence of the demonstrators and their giant inflatables, but that the protestors were complying with all laws. Officials from various departments, including police and health, have been sent out to observe and address any problems to the extent possible.

Corporate headquarters at Graduate Hotels and Hunter Roberts Construction did not respond to requests for comment on IBEW Local 269’s charges.

—Donald Gilpin

Local Conservation Advocate

Awarded for His Work

D&R Greenway Land Trust has announced that local conservation advocate Johan Firmenich, president and co-founder, Nature360 Inc., as recipient of the land trust’s 2023 Donald B. Jones Conservation Award. The award ceremony will take place at the annual Greenway Gala on Sunday, May 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the new Discovery Center at Point Breeze, 101 Park Street in Bordentown.

The former estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, exiled King of Spain and older brother of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France, was preserved by the State of New Jersey, City of Bordentown, and D&R Greenway in 2020. Following two years of renovations by D&R Greenway, the land trust is opening the former Gardener’s House, the only remaining structure from the Bonaparte era, for the first time at the gala. Guests will be treated to stories of the Crown Jewels, archaeological displays and a circa 1819 painting of Joseph Bonaparte in its original frame that has never before been seen in public.

LABOR ACTION: Union workers, with sign boards and giant inflatables, are continuing their demonstrations into the third week in front of the Graduate Hotel construction site on Nassau Street. The IBEW Local Union 269 electricians claim that Graduate Hotels has hired non-local workers in order to pay lower wages and benefits.

Town Topics

a Princeton tradition!

Peter Dawson, chair, board of trustees of D&R Greenway, said, “We are excited to offer this first opportunity to discover a new place that is important in history and as a unique natural area, while recognizing people whose stewardship of land has protected this place and others for generation upon generation.”

Many centuries before Bonaparte lived at Point

Breeze, the land was occupied by the Lenape. Chief Red Feather and Jane Walkingstick Roop, whose wood carvings and beadwork is displayed inside the Discovery Center, will join the festivities. Recognition of the Lenape as the Original People of the Lenapekoking (land of the Lenape) will be commemorated with a newly-designed flag that recognizes the three Lenape clans: the turkey, the wolf, and the turtle. The native peoples are known for their spiritual connection with the natural world that will be recognized in the new Discovery Center.

D&R Greenway will present its premiere 2023 Conservation Award to Firmenich in recognition of his leadership in land stewardship. The annual award is a high honor that stands for personal commitment with on-the-ground results.

Firmenich and his wife Emily transformed their Montgomery Township farm into a native paradise that includes pollinator fields alongside agricultural fields, and woodlands restored with native trees and shrubs that provide critical habitat for wildlife.

The couple have hosted gatherings at their farm to demonstrate their native habitat and talk about the stewardship process. Firmenich also co-led D&R Greenway’s Land for Life campaign that established its Revolving Land Fund. To date, the fund has protected close to a dozen properties.

“My interest in land preservation was motivated by the farm Emily and I purchased 11 years ago,”

Firmenich said. “We have always felt so fortunate for the people who came before us and had the foresight to preserve the land and home we love. My family and I were direct beneficiaries of these gifts and I want to leave a similar impact for future generations.”

He continued, “After living on our farm a couple years, we began work to rehabilitate our 10-acre forest. The space was overgrown with invasive species, brambles, and trees hung with vines. Initially we thought it was hopeless but with a lot of time, effort and patience, the forest is now truly a magical place. It is a sanctuary for my entire family and what I have learned and experienced I want to share with other people to benefit their own properties.”

Members of the public are invited to the gala for an exclusive firsthand tour of the new Discovery Center and Historic Garden, an opportunity to celebrate the land in a historic garden party setting, view art and never-before-seen exhibits, and a Delaware River sturgeon sculpture by artist Kate Graves. Internationally-flavored musical entertainment will be provided by Bronwyn Bird & Justin Nawn of the Bird House Center for the Arts located in Lambertville.

Admission is by advance ticket or sponsorship purchase by May 3 at drgreenway.org or by calling (609) 924-4646. Gala sponsorships and tickets benefit D&R Greenway’s conservation of this historic and ecologically sensitive property.

(Photo by Jeffrey Tryon)

School of Public and International Affairs Launches

NJ-Focused Policy Initiative

Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), best known for its extensive international scope, with scholars and programs “shaping public policy around the world,” according to its website, is ramping up its focus on issues closer to home.

About 200 students, professors, officials from state and local New Jersey government, and others from across the Garden State, gathered in SPIA’s Arthur Lewis Auditorium in Robertson Hall last Friday morning, April 28 to help launch the SPIA in New Jersey initiative.

A longtime advocate for increasing SPIA’s footprint in New Jersey, SPIA Dean Amaney Jamal, who is also a professor of politics at the University, welcomed the participants to the three-and-ahalf-hour event.

“This morning you will hear from a distinguished group of New Jerseyans from across the political spectrum who have made meaningful contributions to cities and communities in our state,” she said. “Their presence here today reflects our commitment to take the research-driven nonpartisan approach to promote policies that foster racial, economic, and social justice statewide.”

The keynote speaker, New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, later affirmed the important role of Princeton University and SPIA in providing expert insights, research, and scholarly engagement in policymaking in New Jersey public affairs.

Stuart Rabner

”I don’t have to tell you that throughout the nation, the leadership role this University plays is so widely known, and that applies to SPIA as well — professors, graduate fellows, and its students,” said Rabner, who received his undergraduate degree from SPIA in 1982. “What better place to turn to for assistance for research-based public policy that advances racial, social, and economic justice in the state of New Jersey.”

After speaking in particular about progress that the state judiciary has made in the areas of criminal justice, particularly bail reform, and in the justice system’s response to individuals suffering from mental illness, Rabner closed by congratulating SPIA on the kickoff of its New Jersey initiative. ”We look forward to working with you on these challenging issues. I wish you success for a very simple reason: it will help the people of our state.”

Anastasia Mann, founding director of SPIA in New Jersey, went a step further in highlighting the program’s goals and endeavors.

“Whether it’s climate, health care, housing, immigration, education, public finance, or any number of other issue areas, SPIA faculty, students, and researchers are teaming up with partners statewide to ask hard questions and find policy solutions,” said Mann. She emphasized the importance of “cross-fertilization among researchers, advocates, organizers, policymakers, and elected officials.”

Highlights of the April 28 launch also included discussions with two panels of experts on “Mt. Laurel at 40: The Past and Future of Affordable Housing” and “Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis in New Jersey”; a keynote address by John Farmer, former New Jersey attorney general, and now director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University; and Richard Roper’s reflections on his 12 years of running the SPIA’s former Council on New Jersey Affairs.

“New Jersey is one of the most populous and influential states in the union, and its most densely populated,” said Jamal as quoted in a University press release.

“We are proud of the myriad strengths of our home state and also clear-eyed about the challenges it faces. I believe SPIA has an obligation to bring to bear its significant intellectual resources to better the lives of our neighbors.”

—Donald Gilpin

Princeton Public Library

Marks AAPI Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an opportunity to explore the stories and perspectives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Princeton Public Library has programming and content on AAPI heritage throughout the year, but has a particular focus during May.

A resource guide with an overview of the history of AAPI Heritage Month is available at princetonlibrary. org. In addition to programs planned in recognition of the month, the guide features nonfiction and fiction book selections for all ages highlighting the experiences and perspectives of members of the AAPI community.

On Friday, May 5, at 4 p.m., there will be Bhangra dance in the Community Room featuring a performance by Princeton Bhangra and a chance for attendees to participate. On Saturday, May 6, at 2 p.m. a workshop will be held where those 8 and up will learn about the ancient dye-making techniques used by Kalamkari, Phad, Madhubani, and other Indian folk artists and have the opportunity to create a cloth painting of their own.

The program on Tuesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. is “Amplifying Asian American and Pacific Islander History,” exploring the influences and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in U.S. history from the 19th through mid-20th centuries. The in-person program will be facilitated by Marianne De Padua, assistant manager of professional learning at the

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: On Arbor Day, seventh and eighth grade students at Montgomery Upper Middle School and their adult chaperone Chandni Gupta helped Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) plant and cage red bud and dogwood trees in the pollinator habitat garden located at the entryway to the Mountain Lakes Preserve in Princeton. The students are members of INTERACT, a community service organization at the school.

New York Historical Society.

On Thursday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m., master calligrapher Michael Shiue, whose work is on view on the second floor of the library, discusses his art and demonstrates calligraphy techniques in the Community Room, followed by a reception and tour of the exhibit on the second floor at 7 p.m. Shiue leads two hands-on calligraphy classes on Saturday, May 27 at 11 a.m. for youth 10 and up. A 1 p.m. session for adults is also scheduled. Registration is required for both classes.

Also on May 27, the awardwinning documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? will be screened in the Community Room followed by a Q&A

with filmmaker Christine Choy.

In addition to programs planned specifically for AAPI Heritage Month, families may also wish to take part in one of the library’s World Language Storytimes. Japanese Stories will be held on May 20 and Bilingual Urdu Stories on May 21 in the third-floor Story Room. Little Panda Storytime, in Mandarin Chinese, will be held virtually on the library’s YouTube channel on May 24. Also on YouTube, books by AAPI authors and illustrators will be featured throughout the month in the library’s Virtual Story Room. For more information, visit princetonlibrary.org.

Rider’s Bond Rating is Downgraded

For the Third Time in Three Years

For the third time since 2020, Rider University’s bond rating has been downgraded by Moody’s Investor Service, citing the University’s $111 million in outstanding debt as of the end of fiscal year 2022.

“The downgrade of Rider University’s issuer rating to B2 from Ba3 is driven by the University’s ongoing multiyear deep deficit of operations, and rapidly deteriorating unrestricted liquidity, at just 22 monthly days cash on hand for fiscal 2022,” reads the April 5 report from Moody’s.

The action means the University still has a noninvestment grade. Asked for comment, Rider’s Associate Vice President for University Marketing and Communications Kristine Brown said in an email on Monday that the announcement “reflects the reality that institutions like Rider University have been facing for years, such as challenging demographics and heightened competition. These financial concerns were only exacerbated by the pandemic, which unexpectedly drained our financial resources, bringing the situation to a critical point.”

Cited as a complicating issue is the ongoing uncertainty about the Princeton campus of Westminster Choir College, which Rider, which merged with the choral school in 1992, has been trying to unload since 2016.

“Governance considerations are also a key driver

of this rating action, including financial strategies and risk management and management credibility and track record, given Rider’s continued inability to balance operations, enrollment strategies that have not yielded at least stabilized enrollment, and ongoing litigation involving the proposed sale of the Westminster Choir College campus in Princeton,” the Moody’s announcement reads.

Brown said the sale of the campus cannot move forward because of that litigation. “The lawsuit brought by the Princeton Theological Seminary in 2018 continues to be tied up in litigation, and as a result, the Princeton property has not been marketed for sale,” she said.

That suit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, claims Rider’s attempt to sell Westminster goes against the school’s obligations to the Seminary and the conditions set by the original donor of the land in the 1930s, who stipulated that ownership of the land would move to the Seminary if Westminster ever ceased to operate as a choir college.

Rider was previously downgraded by Moody’s in April 2020 and July 2021. In an interview in The Rider News, the University’s Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer James Hartman said most universities of Rider’s size or larger have hundreds of millions of dollars in longterm debt.

“We’ve had some significant deficits in the last few years, but that’s all driven by the pandemic, and now we’re in a position where we’ve got a plan,” Hartman said. “We’re working on finalizing a plan over the next three years to bring us back to a surplus budget again.”

Members of the Rider chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) see things differently. The chapter has twice voted no-confidence, and has called for the removal of Rider President Gregory Dell’Omo.

“This entire downgrading from Moody’s is just a stark condemnation of where Rider’s leadership, through the board and through President Dell’Omo, has taken us,” said professor and past AAUP chapter president Arthur Taylor, in The Rider News story.

Michael Brogan, another former AAUP chapter president, was quoted, “The most recent Moody’s report sends a clear message to the board of trustees, all of whom have successful careers in business, that Greg Dell’Omo needs to go. We need to seriously consider demanding the resignations of all administrators responsible for this situation.”

Brown said that since the launch of Rider’s strategic plan in 2017, the school has been “working urgently on an aggressive plan based on enrollment growth and

long-term financial stability with a commitment to institutional-wide transformation. Our efforts to rightsize Rider’s operations, cut expenses and reallocate resources have only increased since the devastating effects of the pandemic.”

The size of the freshman class that enrolled last fall is a 17 percent increase from the previous year. For the class starting next fall, Rider is witnessing “historically high deposit rates at this point in time for both freshman and transfer students,” Brown said. “Overall, we feel confident about the path that we are on today, and the early, positive indications of this current enrollment cycle. Rider is an institution with many strengths that has endured for a very long time. We will continue to move forward with an aggressive plan to achieve financial stability with resources to invest in the priorities that support our mission of providing a high quality, affordable education.”

—Anne Levin

Did you forget your at home?

Find us on the web from your office!

ONLINE

www.towntopics.com

Farmers Market Returns To Princeton Junction

The West Windsor Community Farmers Market’s opening day is Saturday, May 6, from 9-1 p.m. Voted as New Jersey’s favorite farmers market last fall by the greater community, the market is held weekly, rain or shine until the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Opening day features a special “Cool-n-Airy” culinary event with local artisans on site selling functional pottery, handcrafted wooden cutting boards, turned bowls, refurbished cast iron, vintage Pyrex as well as other kitchen related wares.

Farm and vendor offerings include seasonal Jersey Fresh produce and bedding plants, mushrooms, sustainably caught seafood, poultry, pastured eggs, freshly milled oats, pickles, sauces, jams, fresh pasta, goats milk products, cheese, breads, baked goods, pastries, pastured meats, vegan savory and sweets, Lebanese salads, Eastern European favorites, Indian simmer sauces and prepared meals, alpaca fiber wear, vegan chocolates, pesticide-free flowers, bone broths, a knife sharpener as well as on-site food trucks with crepes, fresh pressed juices, bagel sandwiches, hot coffee and teas.

“To see the community support for our pop-up main street each and every week is so Rewarding. Folks love to connect with their neighbors, chat with the farmers and makers directly, and experience a robust openair grocery shop. Our 18 farms and 29 vendors come from within 60-70 miles of West Windsor, allowing us to highlight and promote New Jersey’s rich agricultural heritage,” said market manager Chris Cirkus.

The entrance is at 877 Alexander Road Parking is free. Visit wwcfm.org or call (609) 913-7581 for a complete list of farms/vendors.

Birders Invited To Trenton For Cadwalader Park Events

Trenton area residents can participate in two May birding events in Trenton’s celebrated Cadwalader Park. The events are co-sponsored by the N.J. Conservation Foundation and the Cadwalader Park Alliance, and supported by the City of Trenton.

The first event, to be held at Ellarslie museum on Wednesday, May 3, will feature an early evening slide show and a short documentary about the neotropical songbird migration and the common “backyard birds” seen throughout the year in our region. It will be followed that Sunday, May 7, by an early morning birding walk through the park. The first event introduces the general joys of birding, said Jay Watson, co-executive director of the Conservation Foundation.

In addition to a slide show, attendees will watch “Birders: The Central Park Effect,” a brief documentary that features some of the same species Cadwalader Park walkers may see on May 7. Light beverages and cheese will be served at the event, which will run from 6 to 8 p.m.

During the walk on Sunday, birding expert Jordan Parham, Watson and others will review bird identification processes, including

proper binocular techniques. Binoculars will be available, and participants will be coached on how to see and hear the common resident bird species and the neotropical migrants. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars if available ,as the number of pairs available for the event are limited.

The walk will start at 8 a.m. “The early bird gets the worm,” Watson noted. Attendees should meet along Cadwalader Drive at Stanley Avenue, Trenton, where parking is available. All ages are invited and admission is free. Participants are encouraged to sign up by emailing Watson at jay@njconservation.org

Police Blotter

On April 16, at 11:23 p.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle crash on Cherry Valley Road, a 24-year-old male from Lawrenceville was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, Assault by Auto, and Obstructing Administration of Law. He was also found to have several warrants for his arrest. He was charged and turned over to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 14, at 9:08 a.m., a 65-year-old male from Princeton was found to have shoplifted two items from a North Harrison Street retail establishment. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, charged, and released.

On April 13, at 1:55 p.m., three males entered a Nassau Street retail establishment where they stole two credit cards from an employee’s unsecured wallet. Two unauthorized purchases were made using the credit cards prior to their cancellation. The Detective Bureau is investigating.

On April 13, at 2:48 p.m., two males entered a State Road retail store and attempted to purchase $854.45 worth of merchandise using fraudulent credit cards. The cards were declined and the males left the scene. One is identified as a 28-year-old male from Philadelphia.

On April 12, at 9:14 p.m., subsequent to a call of an individual looking into the windows of a Leigh Avenue residence, a 50-year-old male from Princeton was located, placed under arrest, and transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged accordingly. He was later released.

On April 11, at 9:02 a.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle crash investigation, a 63-year-old male from Washington Crossing, Pa., was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released with appropriate summonses. Unless otherwise noted, individuals arrested were later released.

Tell them you saw their ad in

Chmiel continued from page one March 30. Online petitions at change.org calling for Chmiel’s reinstatement and/or PPS Superintendent Carol Kelley’s resignation have gathered more than 6,500 signatures.

In addition to large turnout for public comment at BOE meetings, there have been three well-attended rallies in support of Chmiel — one at PHS, one at Hinds Plaza, and the last a student walkout at PHS followed by a march to the PPS administration building on Valley Road on April 21.

As Chmiel and his lawyers prepare their appeal in response to the superintendent’s statement of reasons for nonrenewal, the community awaits the BOE’s announcement of the time and place for the hearing.

At last night’s BOE meeting, which took place after press time, Stephenie Tidwell, district supervisor of mathematics and business education, was, along with Chmiel, a noteworthy omission from the list of administrators to be reappointed. The PPS math program has been the subject of significant controversy over the past year.

Also on the agenda for last night’s meeting were the resignations of Dana Karas, director of school counseling services, and Jessica Kilgore, assistant principal at Princeton Middle School.

—Donald Gilpin

Leighton Newlin

continued from page one

It just makes sense to me to do a little bit more than show up. And by getting some exposure for local businesses at the same time, it’s a win-win.”

Newlin said he was struck by something Bishop William Barber said during a talk last Sunday at The Jewish Center of Princeton, where Barber delivered the 33rd Annual Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Lecture.

“His message was that people who are making rash decisions against the will of the people are not able to see the people,” Newlin said. “If they could see them, they would feel them. They would understand how poverty looks and feels. That just made sense to me, in a broad sense.”

While some who are angry about things going on in their communities have the resources to get organized and show up at municipal meetings to air their concerns, others do not.

“There are people who want your attention but either can’t show up, or might feel they don’t want to show up,” Newlin said. “They might have some personal issues they want you to address, but they don’t want others to hear. So, meeting them oneon-one is really helpful.”

Talking to residents, Newlin has heard a variety of concerns. “One guy comes by almost every Wednesday to talk about parking on Bank Street,” he said. “A lady from Dodds Lane wanted to know about the development at 375

Terhune Road, where a 30unit complex is going up. Another guy wanted to talk about how we have to be careful when we get addons to municipal projects with regard to engineering. He encouraged me to make sure plans we get are worth the money we’re spending.”

Two men who live on Witherspoon Street told Newlin they are worried about the coffee roaster that has been proposed for a new location of Sakrid Coffee at 300 Witherspoon Street, in the former Princeton Packet building. A woman told Newlin a contiguous sidewalk is needed on Terhune Road, from Mt. Lucas Road to North Harrison Street. Other concerns have centered around open space. Sometimes, Newlin gets positive feedback about the job the Council is doing. “You find out they like what you’re doing, and they want you to know that,” he said. With the level of interest expressed at the first round of “Leighton Listens” events, scheduling the May gatherings made sense.

“These are places I go. I love my coffee in the morning, and I like getting it at different places,” Newlin said. “I like this town. I love being out and about. There are some really cool, eclectic places. People really need to experience Princeton, and what a great way to do it. I can take concerns back to my colleagues and share with them. We all care about people in Princeton. I’m listening not just for myself, but for the [governing] body.”

—Anne Levin

Watershed Institute Presents Awards, Opens Boardwalk Trail

The Watershed Institute celebrated its 2023 Annual Meeting on Monday, April 24 at the Watershed Center, the organization’s LEEDPlatinum headquarters on its 950-acre nature reserve. The meeting featured the election and reelection of Trustees, presentation of awards to two environmental leaders, and the official opening of the Hickory Loop boardwalk trail.

“For more than seven decades, The Watershed Institute has been working to protect and restore clean water and healthy watersheds,” said Jim Waltman, the organization’s executive director. “The annual meeting is a great time to celebrate and thank our staff, members, volunteers, and partners for their commitment to this mission and the many successes that we’ve enjoyed together.”

He highlighted the work that the Watershed Institute’s scientists, advocates and educators are doing to help municipalities manage polluted stormwater runoff to improve water quality.

The trustees elected this year are Marc Brahaney of Princeton; Anna Catena, Ed.D. of Lawrence Township; Paula Figueroa-Vega of Lawrence Township; and Carolyn Powell Sanderson of Pennington. The trustees who were reelected to a second term are Rob Connor, Ph.D. of Trenton; Kurt Schulte of Lawrenceville; and Dr. Susannah Wise of Princeton. After the formal meeting, guests were invited to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Hickory Loop Boardwalk trail.

The fully accessible raised walkway spans 0.7 miles and provides ADA-compliant access to the forest, meadows, and stream. Hickory Loop is a model of accessibility, conservation, and research that benefits both visitors and the environment; the Watershed’s more than 10 miles of trails are open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

The event also celebrated the achievements of two exceptional environmental leaders. The Edmund W. Stiles Award for Environmental Leadership was presented to Daniel J. Van Abs, Ph.D., FAICP/PP, professor of professional practice for water, society, and the environment at Rutgers University.

The annual award recognizes a community leader who demonstrates outstanding leadership, dedication, and passion in advancing the cause of environmental protection and stewardship. The award is presented in honor of the late Edmund W. (Ted) Stiles, professor of ecology at Rutgers University. The Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education was presented to Tina Overman, STEM facilitator at Bear Tavern Elementary School in Hopewell Township. This award is given annually to an outstanding local teacher in recognition of their commitment to environmental education. For more information, visit thewatershed.org.

COLLECTIBLE GARMENT BUTTONS

COLLECTIBLE GARMENT

COLLECTIBLE GARMENT BUTTONS

BUTTONS

NJSBS SHOW AND SALE - FREE

NJSBS SHOW AND SALE - FREE

NJSBS SHOW AND SALE - FREE

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 9 AM to 3 PM

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 9 AM to 3 PM

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 9 AM to 3 PM

Union Fire Company, 1326 River Rd., Titusville NJ NewJerseyStateButtonSociety.com ButtonsinNewJersey@gmail.com

Union Fire Company, 1326 River Rd., Titusville NJ NewJerseyStateButtonSociety.com ButtonsinNewJersey@gmail.com

Union Fire Company, 1326 River Rd., Titusville NJ NewJerseyStateButtonSociety.com ButtonsinNewJersey@gmail.com

Arts Council Extends Thanks for Successful Princeton Porchfest 2023

To the Editor:

This past Saturday, the Arts Council asked the community to put on their rain boots and get ready to dance in the rain. The liquid sunshine could not keep this community from celebrating! Princeton Porchfest 2023 proved to be wet, but spirits were not dampened. You all rocked it!

We want to thank each of our porch hosts for welcoming our community to your homes and each performer for your willingness to go with the flow. Most importantly, we want to thank every Porchfest-goer who turned up in the rain to exemplify exactly what makes Princeton so special. At the end of the day, hundreds and hundreds of you turned out to support and enjoy the show.

Bringing live music to the streets of Princeton was made possible with the unending support of Princeton University, the municipality, Mayor Freda, Princeton Council, Princeton Police, porch hosts, musicians, our generous sponsors, and you. When we set out to fulfill this goal, we repeated the phrase “for locals, by locals”; Porchfest needed to epitomize the Arts Council’s mission of building community through the arts , bringing friends, families, and neighbors into the streets to connect and enjoy. Thanks to your support, it did just that.

2023 saw 18 porches + 90 performers + hundreds of neighbors and friends. Thank you!

For a full list of sponsors, please visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.

ADAM WELCH Executive Director

MELISSA KUSCIN Marketing and Program Manager Arts Council of Princeton Witherspoon Street

Highlighting Concerns About Appropriate Density at Seminary Development Site

To the Editor:

With reference to the ‘Future of Seminary Site Is Topic of Second ‘Roundtable’” article in the April 26 issue [page 1], it would be helpful to flesh out more of what was commented on during the first Community Roundtable, as well as what was presented in the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) public meeting of April 15.

In addition to public concerns about storm water management and the perceived implications of underground parking, other speakers at the March 18 roundtable noted concerns about preserving existing trees, and new building density that is a responsible fit for the neighborhood with regard to height, setbacks, massing, and aesthetics. The presentation at the PCRD meeting outlined the five lots currently owned by the Princeton Theological Seminary that are under contract to a private developer, along with an explanation of the current “as-of-right” R3 zoning. It was noted that the square footage of the former White ley Gymnasium was almost exactly what R3 zoning would allow for new building on those sites. Across the road, the sites of the former Tennent Hall and Roberts Hall would allow more than 18,000 additional square feet

of new construction beyond the areas occupied by those now-demolished buildings. That is a full 34 percent increase in area beyond what has existed on that site for well before the memory of any living person in Princeton. That increase, while very significant, is also acknowledged by PCRD as an amount of new building that could reasonably and carefully be accommodated on the former Tennent Roberts site. A conceptual site plan presented at the April 15 meeting was just one example of an approach to place R3 zoning “as-of-right” new construction on those five lots. Several attendees at that meeting expressed concerns about development on those properties that might exceed that currently-designated density, along with the well-documented issues of traffic, storm water, increased impermeable coverage, tree conservation, and historic preservation. So it is only fair to note that concerns about an appropriate density for these important sites in this historic neighborhood were expressed in both meetings.

CHRISTOPHER OLSEN Alexander Street

Showing Support for Hard-Working Princeton Board of Education Members

To the Editor:

Thousands of Princeton residents voted for the members of the Princeton Board of Education, described on the Board website as “an elected, unpaid group of 10 citizens who act as a single body to set policy and make decisions on educational, financial, and personnel matters for the Princeton Public Schools on behalf of all residents.”

I am one of the thousands who voted for our Board of Education members. I don’t know all the members of the Board of Education personally, but those I do know are intelligent, thoughtful, dedicated members of our community. They are knowledgeable about education and the needs of our students. As a parent and an educator, I am grateful for the willingness of our Board members to do the difficult work that is required of them. They deserve our respect and appreciation for serving our community in what seems to be an increasingly divisive atmosphere.

I am writing to thank and support these 10 members for their hard-working, time-consuming efforts on behalf of our community over the years, and especially over the past few months. We are fortunate that our democratic system makes it possible for us to elect such intelligent, caring citizens.

FRANCESCA BENSON Bainbridge

Street Sharing Concerns Regarding Request for Zoning Variance to Allow Coffee Roasting

thousands, of Princeton residents within the ¼ mile “smell zone” were not given notice.

An important purpose of Princeton’s zoning ordinances is to protect the public from potentially hazardous activities that can negatively affect health, air quality, and overall quality of life. The process of zoning adjustment through variance should not be used to re-zone an area as “Industrial” just because a commercial entity would “like” to benefit economically from a prohibited activity.

Any type of polluting activity, no matter how benign in the minds of the applicants, should not be permitted in the middle of Princeton’s most densely populated neighborhood (Witherspoon-Jackson) and most heavily used recreational area (Community Park) and certainly not next-door to an elementary school, without the full awareness and support of the affected communities. Hence, this letter.

The applicant has testified under oath that the coffee shop will be built and operated, whether or not the roasting variance is granted. Therefore, I believe that the air quality and quality of life of the neighbors can, and should, be protected.

Several of Princeton’s current coffee houses have roasters, but in other towns within industrial zones in industrial buildings in zones that the use is permitted. All in neighboring towns of Princeton and within reasonable driving times of Princeton.

The May 24 meeting will probably be interested residents’ only chance to register concerns before the Board of Zoning Adjustment makes its decision.

JEFF FUREY Witherspoon Street

Princeton Environmental Commission Thanks Stream Cleanup, Science Day Supporters

To the Editor: The Princeton Environmental Commission (PEC) would like to express sincere appreciation to our partners, volunteers, and participants for their involvement in Princeton’s Annual Stream Cleanup and Community Science Day!

There were 100 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and reached into the muck to support the cleanup, which was held at Hilltop Park on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. The stream cleanup was in partnership with the Watershed Institute and organized by Olivia Spildooren, river-friendly coordinator, Watershed Institute.

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

To the Editor:

Live music for meditation and introspection

Later this month, the Princeton Board of Zoning Adjustment will hear for the third time from an applicant seeking a zoning variance to allow coffee roasting at 300 Witherspoon Street. This “use” is currently prohibited everywhere in Princeton, as it is considered to be “food processing” and/or “manufacturing.” I and everyone I have spoken to are in favor of the café and look forward to it but not the

The application states that within its coffee shop will be an “artisanal, small-batch” roastery to enhance the coffee shop experience. This is a problem for two major reasons:

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

An estimated 780 lbs. of trash (722 lbs.) and recyclables (58 lbs.) were collected for proper disposal. Interestingly with New Jersey’s Plastic Pollution Reduction legislation in effect, the Princeton community is witnessing significantly less plastic bags in the cleanup mix. The cleanup would not have been complete without the Public Works Department, which is directed by Dan Van Mater, who ensured a neat and tidy cleanup after the volunteers’ efforts were exhausted.

Councilwoman Eve Niedergang was wearing two hats in support of the cleanup as she was checking-in volunteers as a Watershed Institute employee with Anne Soos, PEC vice chair. The Watershed Institute Executive Director Jim Waltman and Chief of Operations Sophie Glovier, also a former chair of PEC, were also in attendance.

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

Live music for meditation and introspection

and introspection

Commercial coffee roasting of the scale proposed by the applicants (between 20,000 and 70,000 pounds per year) will emit significant amounts of foul-smelling chemicals (described by some as smelling like “burned microwave popcorn”) and also CO2. Federal agencies CDC, NIOSH, and HHS have all issued warnings regarding some of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released during coffee

These airborne smells and chemicals will travel on the wind and could negatively impact the air quality of the 300 or so residential buildings, 300 plus rental units at Avalon, Clay Street, and Stanworth, and the 300 plus students at Community Park School, all of which are within ¼ mile

Zoning law requires variance applicants to notify property owners within 200 feet of the property, 45 of whom were properly “noticed.” However, many hundreds, if not

Wednesday September 14 5:30pm

Wednesday

Wednesday

Cunningham, a founding member of the world-renowned vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 and a sound healing practitioner, offers composed

Ruth Cunningham, a founding member of the world-renowned vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 and a sound healing practitioner, offers composed and improvised music for meditation, contemplation, and prayer.

The program continues monthly: 10/5, 11/2, 1/11, 2/1, 3/1, 4/12, 5/10

And although Sunday, April 23 was mystically wet, PEC Commissioners Inga Reich and Zenon Tech-Czarny organized a well thought-out Community Science Day with our Friends of Roger’s Refuge and Princeton Public Library partners. While waiting for participants to weather the storm, Winifred Spar, friend of Roger’s Refuge, pointed out goldfinches, a blue-winged warbler, and a red-bellied woodpecker as well as a few other of our winged friends. Keep your eyes open for our next Community Science Day so you don’t miss the opportunity to explore the fauna and flora.

The Princeton Environmental Commission is always delighted to witness extensive community involvement when it comes to the exploration and care of our local environment — and for Mother Earth as a whole. Again, sincere appreciation to our partners, volunteers, and participants.

TAMMY L. SANDS Chair, Princeton Environmental Commission Winant Road

Letters to the Editor Policy

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

Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

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

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

When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there.

Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.

Books

with the Palestinian people, to Fouad Ajami’s role in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, among other philosophers and critics who struggled to reconcile their writing and their politics, their thought and their commitments.

Raja Shehadeh, author of We Could have Been Friends: My Father and I: A Palestinian Memoir, calls Shatz’s book “astounding,” and continues, “The range, strength and intricate connectedness of these essays by Adam Shatz offers great intellectual nourishment for the reader, and his patient engagement with the work and life of the authors he follows to illustrate his ideas is staggering.”

Shatz is the U.S. editor of The London Review of Books and a contributor to the New York Times Magazine, the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and other publications. He is also the host of the podcast “Myself with Others,” produced by the pianist Richard Sears.

On Celebrity: Joyce Carol Oates Talks With Author Landon Jones

A former People magazine managing editor reveals how our cult of celebrity has shaped our politics, our culture, and our personal lives — for better or worse, with an author known for her craft. Landon Jones will speak at Labyrinth Books on his latest work, Celebrity Nation: How America Evolved into a Culture of Fans and Followers (Beacon Press, $26.95), and will be joined by renowned writer Joyce Carol Oates at the event Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m.

The book is an exploration of how and why fame no longer stems only from heroic achievements but from the number of “likes” and shares on social media, and what this change means for American culture. The in-person event is co-sponsored by Princeton Public Library.

Jones draws on his experience at People magazine to bolster his account with profiles of celebrities he knew personally, ranging from Malcolm X to Princess Diana, as well as observations about contemporary social media stars, and shows how celebrity has been wielded as a weapon of mass distraction to spawn narcissism, harm, and loneliness.

“As one of the founding editors at People, Lanny Jones helped chronicle and invent the rise of celebrity culture,” wrote Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and Einstein: His Life and Universe. “In this fun and insightful book, he explores the difference between celebrities and heroes, a distinction that is more important than ever in our age of Kardashians and Trumps.”

Jones is also the former managing editor of Money magazine and the author of William Clark and the Shaping of the West. Jones also edited a selection of the expedition journals, The Essential Lewis and Clark

His 1980 Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation , which coined the phrase “baby-boomer,” was a finalist for the American Book Award in Nonfiction.

Oates, Professor of the Humanities Emerita at Princeton University, is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Book Award, among many honors. She has written the national best-sellers We Were the Mulvaneys , Blonde , and The Falls. Her most recent novels are Babysitter and 48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister.

Author Shatz Discusses

Writers’ Commitment

A discussion on what it means to be a politically committed writer, shown by the lives and works of some of the greatest intellectuals of recent times, will be held at Labyrinth Books on Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m. (A previously planned livestream is canceled due to technical difficulties.)

In his new essay collection, Writers and Missionaries: Essays on the Radical Imagination (Verso, $34.95), author Adam Shatz asks whether writers have an ethical imperative to question injustice; and how they can remain a dispassionate thinker when involved in the cut and thrust of politics.

Shatz appears with Michael Wood, professor emeritus of English and comparative literature at Princeton University. This event is cosponsored by Princeton University’s Humanities Council and English Department.

Writers and Missionaries charts the role of the committed intellectual through the work of the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre on the Algerian War and Edward Said’s lifelong solidarity

include a Q&A and a book signing reception.

The May 6 lecture is titled “The President is Dead! Assassinations, bloodletting, medical malpractice and more dignified endings for American presidents.” The May 20 event will focus on “Presidents in the Garden State: Living, vacationing, and dying in New Jersey, with a special focus on Trenton.”

University. He has spoken widely on the topic of the presidents and the places we commemorate them.

Trenton City Museum is in historic Cadwalader Park, accessed by car from Parkside Avenue, and offers building-adjacent parking.

Admission is $25, or $20 for Trenton Museum Society members and covers the two-part series. Tickets can be reserved in advance at ellarslie.org/presidents-talks.

Economists Discuss

Recent Graham Book

Author Carol Graham will speak with Anne C. Case at the Princeton Public Library Community Room on Monday, May 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is part of the library’s Author Talks series.

critical problem of despair and proposes ideas on how to restore hope in America.”

Graham is the interim vice president and director of economic studies at the Brookings Institution and College Park Professor at the University of Maryland. She is the author of Happiness around the World: The Paradox of Happy Peasants and Miserable Millionaires ; The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-Being ; Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes and Lives in Pursuit of the American Dream , and other books, as well as numerous articles in academic journals.

Wood has written widely on 20th century literature, film, and literary theory and is a cultural critic who writes regularly for the New York Review of Books and the London Review of Books. He is the author of seminal books on Nabokov, Marquez, Yeats, and Oracles.

Trenton City Museum Hosts Presidential Lecture Series

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will host a two-part Saturday afternoon lecture series by award-winning author and presidential historian Louis Picone, both from 2 to 4 p.m. The events will

Picone is the awardwinning author of Grant’s Tomb: The Epic Death of Ulysses S. Grant and the Making of an American Pantheon; The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of the Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond; and Where the Presidents Were Born: The History & Preservation of the Presidential Birthplaces.

Picone is a member of the Authors Guild, the American Historical Association, the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Association, and is also a trustee on the board of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association in Caldwell. He holds a master’s degree in history and teaches at William Paterson

The economists will discuss Graham’s recentlyreleased book The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us from Despair (Princeton University Press, $35) and examine why hope matters as a metric of economic and social well-being.

The Library Journal notes that “drawing on research in the disciplines of economics, sociology, and psychology, Graham addresses the

Case is the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Emeritus at Princeton University. She has written extensively on health over the life course and is the recipient of the Kenneth J. Arrow Prize in Health Economics from the International Health Economics Association, for her work on the links between economic status and health status in childhood, and the Cozzarelli Prize from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for her research on midlife morbidity and mortality.

OUR 18th YEAR!

WONDERING WHERE WE ARE GIVING OUT REWARDS?

FOLLOW US:

TWITTER @WholeEarthNews

FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @wholeearthcenter

Olsson’s Fine Foods • jaZams

Princeton Recreation Department

Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop

Louis Picone

In Murakami’s Library: Entrance Stones and Tombstones

The human face is a terrible place, Choose your own examples ....

—Keith Reid, from “Your Own Choice”

Ipicked up Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore at the Princeton Public Library after dropping off his novel Norwegian Wood . Around 30 pages into Kafka , the 15-year-old runaway who chooses to call himself Kafka Tamura talks about how he’s lived in libraries ever since he was a kid: “Think about it — a little kid who doesn’t want to go home doesn’t have many places he can go. Coffee shops and movie theaters are off-limits. That leaves only libraries, and they’re perfect — no entrance fee, nobody getting all hot and bothered if a kid comes in. You just sit down and read whatever you want.” Eventually he moves on from children’s books to the general stacks. And when he needs a break from reading, he goes to the library collection of CDs which is how he got to know about “Duke Ellington, the Beatles, and Led Zeppelin.”

Sounds like a typically welcoming library, not unlike Princeton’s “community living room,” just as Tamura sounds like an interesting kid who might well grow up to be Haruki Murakami — except maybe for the name he’s chosen to go by when he’s on the road. The obvious assumption is that he’s named himself after the novelist Franz Kafka, which immediately puts a somewhat surreal spin on his typicalkidness. Only when the novel is moving toward one of its variety of endings does he tell Miss Saeki, the beautiful 50-something head librarian at the Komora Memorial Library in Takamatsu, that he gave himself the name because “kafka” means “crow” in Czech, and his alter ego is a boy named Crow. In fact, the title of the first chapter is “A Boy Named Crow.”

At this point, I should admit that my wife loved — I mean really loved — Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle . Until, that is, an ending she thinks he couldn’t find his way out of, trapped in the wonderland of his creation. In Patti Smith’s memoir M Train , she’s so enthralled by the book that she doesn’t wish to “exit its atmosphere.” Among features she mentions is the search for a lost cat, and as readers like my wife and I who both love M Train know, Smith ends up searching for her copy of Murakami’s book.

Reid

Kafka Murakami

When I began reading Kafka on the Shore I had no wish to exit the atmosphere of Procol Harum’s music and Franz Kafka’s Diaries . And having been focused on the Murakami-like lyrics of Keith Reid ever since Reid’s death at 76 on March 23, I’ve convinced myself that he and Murakami met up at least once to talk about words and music, perhaps during Procol Harum’s 1972 tour of Japan when Murakami was running a jazz club in

Tokyo. Or else in New York when Reid was living there in the 1990s and Murakami was teaching at Princeton. There’s even a remote chance they got together when Procol Harum toured Japan with pop star Yumi Matsutoya in 2012. That’s when they might have discussed Kafka On the Shore and Murakami’s use of Kafka’s name not only for the book but for a painting and a song with strange, Reid-like lyrics.

In Murakami’s Library

Murakami’s teenage Kafka finds sanctuary in the Komora Memorial Library in Takamatsu, where he is befriended by Oshima, the most personable of transgender librarians. On the wall of Kafka’s room in a closed-to-the-public area is the painting that inspired “Kafka on the Shore,” the song composed, sung and recorded in her teens by the head librarian Miss Saeki. When Kafka hears the song, which was a hit in its time, he wonders how a record with such “abstract and surreal lyrics” (“the drowning girl’s fingers search for the entrance stone”) could sell over a million copies. Meanwhile I’m thinking of Keith Reid’s surreal lyrics, most famously “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which sold 10 million records for Procol Harum.

A Tombstone Connection

There’s little doubt of course that Murakami read deeply in Kafka. The same could be said for Keith Reid, given his background, a Jewish father who was a lawyer in Vienna, arrested during Kristallnacht and interned in Dachau, from which he fled to England. The paternal grandparents Reid never knew were Holocaust victims, which he says is why the tone of his work is “very dark.”

The first of a lifetime of songs Reid wrote for Procol Harum, “Something Following Me” begins when the singer idly kicks a pebble, hears a “weird noise,” looks down, and sees “my own tombstone.” He goes into a shop, buys a loaf of bread, bites into it (“thought I’d bust my head”), runs to the dentist, and finds that the lump in his mouth is “my own tombstone.” So he ducks into a movie, gets the only empty seat, tries to stretch out, something’s blocking his feet, the lights come up, and he sees “a slab of engraved marble, just staring up at me.” Like the verses that precede it, the last one ends, “Imagine my surprise, I thought I’d left it at home, there’s no doubt I’m sitting on my own tombstone.”

Now imagine my surprise when I open

my brand-new paperback copy of Kafka’s Diaries to one of the first entries, December 15, 1910: “It is as if I were made of stone, as if I were my own tombstone, there is no loophole for doubt or for faith, for love or repugnance, for courage or anxiety in particular or in general, only a vague hope lives on, but no better than the inscriptions on tombstones.”

Kafka’s diaries have gone through 25 printings since 1949 (the year Murakami was born) and were easily available in English bookstores when Reid was first writing lyrics in the late sixties. Whatever you think of the tombstone coincidence, it shows how Kafka’s private thoughts — made public thanks to his dear friend Max Brod — might have inspired a Jewish songwriter and a Japanese novelist. As for the references to doubt and faith, love and repugnance, courage and anxiety, you don’t have to read far in Kafka on the Shore to know that Murakami would be struck by the tombstone passage. In fact, you can find anything you wish to imagine in Murakami’s library, and if you’re Kafka Tamura you can even sleep with the head librarian, who may also be your mother. It’s all in play in a novel in which Colonel Sanders is a pimp with divine powers who knows where to find the entrance stone that opens the way to the novel’s essence — and must be put back in place or else bring forth horror and confusion on a scale that would make Pandora’s Box look like a Disney cartoon.

A Great Creation

Think on libraries long enough, and you’ll land in the “Library of Babel” among the Ficciones of Jorge Luis Borges. There are times when it’s possible to imagine Kafka on the Shore as a vast library Murakami is building, each chapter a different gallery similar to the “interminably visible” galleries in Borges, where a spiral staircase “plunges down into the abyss and rises up to the heights.” Squeamish readers would be advised to avoid the deepest abyss in Murakami’s library, the gallery containing Chapter 16, except there’s no avoiding the murderous act that mobilizes the book’s greatest creation, the old sage Nakata who converses with cats he finds and rescues but who can’t read or write and has no memory (the victim of a freak wartime event that left him in a prolonged coma). Nakata is like Murakami’s genius come to life on a quest for the entrance stone.

Jersey’s

Over and over on his travels through the narrative, Nakata, who usually refers to himself in the third person, admits how dumb Nakata is, how stupid. Even so, he has a life-changing impact on Hoshino, the truck driver who gives him a lift and joins him in the quest for the entrance stone. If you find Murakami’s library a bit stuffy or confining at times, Hoshino is a charming alternative to Kafka’s mystical Oedipal entanglements. Hoshino is never without his Chunichi Dragons baseball cap, a reminder that Murakami was moved to become a writer by the live, in-the-moment crack of a bat striking a ball. When Nakata says he is as empty as a library without books, Hoshino tells him “we’re all pretty much empty, don’t you think?.... Still, you know, interesting things happen in life — like with us now.” Things like Hoshino’s discovery of Beethoven and the Archduke Trio. When he and Nakata inevitably end up in Miss Saeki’s library, Hoshino reads a biography of Beethoven while Nakata and the lovely head librarian have a fated rendezvous that takes the novel in the direction of its denouement. No need for a spoiler alert, but for me the best of all possible endings is Hoshino’s conversation with the black cat who tells him exactly what he must do to put the entrance stone back where it belongs.

A Place for Brahms

I’m saving a gallery in Murakami’s library for Brahms, whose 190th birthday is next Sunday, May 7. He’s definitely in the vicinity when Kafka and Oshima are listening to Schubert’s Sonata in D Major. As someone who drives around listening to Brahms and Procol Harum, I love it that Schubert enters the novel on the CD player in Oshima’s green Miata. The reason Oshima prefers to drive with the volume all the way up when this particular Schubert sonata is on is that “playing it is one of the hardest things in the world,” because “it’s imperfect.... As Schumann pointed out, it’s too long and too pastoral.” Play it as written “and it’s just some dusty antique.” So every pianist has to add “something extra.” Thus a “dense, artistic kind of imperfection stimulates your consciousness, keeps you alert.” Driving to an “utterly perfect performance of an utterly perfect piece,” you might want to close your eyes and “die right then and there.” Listening to the D Major, Oshima can feel “the limits of what humans are capable of — that a certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.”

So who expects a perfect ending? If you love the book, that’s enough to send you in search of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle . And if you’re looking to end a column, and if you love Procol Harum and Keith Reid’s lyrics, just listen to “Your Own Choice” and “Draw your own conclusions.”

—Stuart Mitchner

oldest

Indoor Market since

Year-Round

It’s

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 9am-6pm

SUNDAY

Year-Round Indoor Market since 1939 hours: wed - Sat 9am - 6pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence It’s a Tradition! Year-Round Indoor Market since 1939 hours: wed - Sat 9am - 6pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence It’s a Tradition! NEW JERSEY’S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY

609-695-2998

FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, PLANTS & FLOWERS, AMISH & POLISH MEATS, BREADS & BAKED GOODS, VEGAN, BBQ AND POULTRY EATERIES, FRESH SEAFOOD, TEAS AND COFFEE, CLOTHING, JEWELRY, WATCH AND CLOCK REPAIR, FLEA MARKET FINDS, AND MORE!

FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, PLANTS & FLOWERS, AMISH & POLISH MEATS, BREADS & BAKED GOODS, VEGAN, BBQ AND POULTRY EATERIES, FRESH SEAFOOD, TEAS AND COFFEE, CLOTHING, JEWELRY, WATCH AND CLOCK REPAIR, FLEA MARKET FINDS, AND MORE!

you

Emerson and Calidore String Quartets Join Forces for Dramatic Chamber Concert

The Emerson String Quartet has been a frequent performer on the Princeton University Concerts series over the past decades. In this final season in the Emerson’s storied history, the Quartet returned to Richardson Auditorium last week for a program of Shostakovich and Mendelssohn, as well as a world premiere. However, the Emerson did not return alone; joining them in the second half of the program was the young and vibrant Calidore String Quartet, whose 10 years of performing has propelled the ensemble to the forefront of the performance arena. Although Thursday night’s concert belonged mostly to the Emerson Quartet, the addition of the Calidore players enabled a performance of a hidden gem of Mendelssohn chamber music.

For her 2002 string quartet, composer and Princeton native Sarah Kirkland Snider drew inspiration from the recordings of the Emerson String Quartet, and she has been well acquainted with their sound for quite some time. Drink the Wild Ayre, which received its world premiere by the Emerson Quartet in Thursday night’s concert, was also inspired by the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s descriptions of natural beauty, and one line of poetry in particular. From its opening measures played by Emerson first violinist Eugene Drucker, Snider’s work was an appealing piece with driving rhythms propelling thematic material forward. Violinists

Drucker and Philip Setzer, violist Lawrence Dutton, and cellist Paul Watkins were often playing in similar registers, creating an unusually well-blended instrumental palette. Drucker and Setzer frequently paralleled each other in melodic material, while Watkins provided a rich cello line, especially in the upper register of the instrument.

Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s 1974 String Quartet No. 15 in E-flat Minor consisted of six consecutive “Adagio” movements capturing the composer’s decades of creating music under an oppressive political regime. The Emerson String Quartet began Shostakovich’s dark and personal work keeping the sound under wraps, emphasizing the unusual character of each movement. The folk-like fugue of the opening “Elegy” was initially presented by violinist Drucker, answered by violinist Setzer and unfurled by all four musicians, whose bows seemed never to leave the strings. The second movement “Serenade” was marked

by sharp sforzandi executed with unusual upbows from all players, with first violinist Setzer impressively demonstrating doublestop sforzandi

Lawrence Dutton’s lyrical viola line com plemented the contrasting cello and second violin lines in a poignant “Nocturne,” and a “Funeral March” displayed arpeggios recall ing “Taps” and a unison dotted rhythm re curring as a tragic reminder. Setzer’s swirl ing first violin solo over shimmering chords closed the Quartet in unsettled melancholy. While Shostakovich’s piece conveyed despair and tragedy, Felix Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat Major was a picture of exuberance and musical energy. Written when Mendelssohn was just 16 years old, the Octet was groundbreaking in its compo sition for an undivided chamber ensemble of two string quartets. The Emerson musi cians were joined in this performance by the Calidore String Quartet, with the two sets of players facing each other, yet inter estingly switching the chair placement of the two cellists. The Calidore cellist, Estelle Choi, proved to be a decisive instrumentalist, while Emerson cellist Watkins conveyed more delicate melodic lines. Although not quite dueling string quartets, the overall sound was definitely richer than normally heard in chamber music, and true to Mendelssohn’s instructions that the Octet should be played “in the style of a symphony.”

The first movement “Allegro” featured question-and-answer passages between the two sides of the stage, with the players continually watching one another. Mendelssohn scored different effects for each quartet, with the Calidore musicians often executing pizzicato against more intense lines from the Emerson Quartet. Emerson violinist Drucker often led the musical line with solo melodies, well matched by Calidore violinists Jeffrey Myers and Ryan Meehan, as well as violist Jeremy Berry. Cellists Watkins and Choi led the way in a fierce and intense second movement, as galloping rhythms contrasted with more delicate passages. All instrumentalists demonstrated fast and furious playing in the third and fourth movements of the Octet as motives traveled throughout the combined ensemble, and the concert drew to a celebratory close.

—Nancy Plum

Princeton University Concerts has announced the 2023-24 season, with performances ranging from recitals to chamber concerts to vocal ensembles, along with the popular “Healing with Music” and “Performances Up Close” series. Information about next season can be obtained by visiting concerts.princeton.edu.

HAROLD IN ITALY

ROSSEN MILANOV, conductor ROBERTO DÍAZ, viola

Saturday May 13 8pm Sunday May 14 4pm

Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Campus

Julia PERRY / Study for Orchestra

George GERSHWIN / An American in Paris

Hector BERLIOZ / Harold in Italy, Op. 16

ROBERTO DÍAZ

Jazz Small Groups A and Z

Directed by Rudresh Mahanthappa

Milan Sastry ’26 Alto Saxophone

Isaac Yi ’24, Tenor Saxophone

Pranav Vadapalli ’25, Trombone

Rohit Oomman ’24, Guitar

Shlok Shah ’26, Piano

Patrick Jaojoco GS, Bass

Ryder Walsh ’26, Drums

Directed by Ted Chubb

Henry Freligh ’25, Alto Saxophone

Elle Lazarski ’26, Alto Saxophone

John Cureton ’26, Trumpet

Isadora Knutsen ’25, Guitar

Jarod Wille ’24, Piano

Nikhil De ’23, Bass

Noah Daniel ’23, Drums

7:30 PM

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall

FREE + UNTICKETED

Performing music by Wayne Shorter, Tadd Dameron, Sonny Clark, James Williams and more.

Playing music by Michael Dease, Claudio Roditi, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and more.

The Mercer Oak, set of 4, 35mm colored film prints, by John Rounds

ROS S EN MILANOV Music Director

Blues for an Alabama Sky

McCarter Presents Harlem Renaissance-Set “Blues for an Alabama Sky”; Associate Artistic Director Nicole A. Watson Directs Pearl Cleage’s Drama

McCarter will present Blues for an Alabama Sky . Written by Pearl Cleage, the 1995 drama depicts a circle of friends living in a Depressionera apartment building amid the Harlem Renaissance. Performances start May 6.

New roommates — Angel, a recently fired blues singer; and Guy, a promising costume designer with Paris in his sights — live across the hall from Delia, a social worker “who sparks a relationship with the hardworking doctor Sam,” states McCarter’s website, summarizing the plot. “Their lives are upturned when Southern newcomer Leland arrives and falls hard for Angel, who is torn between a stable life in New York City and an exhilarating overseas adventure with Guy. Angel chooses her path, but the decision leads to devastating consequences that shift the trajectory of everyone’s futures and longheld dreams.”

Blues for an Alabama Sky marks the McCarter directorial debut of Associate Artistic Director Nicole A. Watson. Previously, Watson directed an acclaimed production that ran at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis earlier this year.

“This is a play where you can highlight many difference facets of it,” Watson remarks via Zoom. “The script itself is rich with things to talk about. It’s a characterdriven play.” She adds that she started with the characters, and “this idea that they were friends whose relationships are complicated by this outsider.”

“From there, the play reveals all the different things that are complicating those relationships: religious differences, sexism, class, geographical differences, and political differences,” Watson continues.

“You can be in community with people you don’t agree with, or you can choose not to. For me, the play highlights that ignorance is a choice .”

Later she adds, “But you don’t enter the play with that. You enter the play with getting to meet a group of people that you’re going to enjoy spending time with. That is the foundation of it.”

Actor Stephen Conrad Moore returns from the Guthrie production, playing the role of Sam. The remaining roles have been recast for McCarter. The cast includes Crystal Dickinson (Angel), Maya Jackson (Delia), Kevin R. Free (Guy), Brandon St. Clair (Leland), and Darian Dauchan (understudy).

The creative team — many of whom are veterans of the Guthrie production — includes: Costume Designer Sarita P. Fellows; Fight/Intimacy Director Teniece Divya Johnson; Lighting Designer Sherrice Mojgani; Scenic Designer Lawrence E. Moten III; Sound Designer Paul James Prendergast; Dramaturg Faye Price; and Dialect and Vocal Coach Kelly Wolter.

An April 13 Director’s Cut offered a glimpse into the rehearsal process. As a perk of membership at McCarter, the audience was given an opportunity to watch Watson direct the actors until the session’s conclusion, after which Director of Grants and Development Communications Molly Marinik hosted a conversation with Watson. In the course of that discussion it was revealed that Cleage has rewritten the last line of the play since its premiere.

“It’s just one line change, but I think it makes a difference to how you can understand what Angel is going through,” Watson says. “She asks rhetorically, ‘What is the cost to anyone — to a Black woman who can’t effect the changes that she wants to make?’ That’s what I’m interested in people thinking about: What are someone’s options in the world? It’s a misnomer to think that everyone has all the options all the time. That’s just not true. Things impact the options that we think we have.”

Recent Director’s Cuts have taken place comparatively late in the process, so the audience has been taken to the Berlind (or Matthews) Theatre. The event for this production, however, is hosted much earlier; the audience is taken to a rehearsal room. At this point, some actors still are referring to their scripts.

Furniture has been placed on the floor in approximation of the set, allowing Watson to incorporate it into her staging. (A subject of discussion is how far into a doorway an actor should stand before his character’s presence is known to the others.) The stage will be configured differently from the Guthrie production, because that 1,100-seat theater has a thrust stage, as opposed to the Berlind’s proscenium.

“A lot of the furniture pieces and props came from the Guthrie production, and that allowed us to have lots of things in the rehearsal room earlier” in the process,’ says Watson via Zoom. She adds that having this advantage is “important in this play, because people are living their lives in this apartment, and you want it to feel like home.”

At the time of this interview (April 28), the process of moving from the rehearsal room to the Berlind is imminent. “We move in tomorrow!” Watson enthuses. “We get a tour of the stage this morning, and then tomorrow we’ll spend the day on stage. It will be great to move into the theater.”

Watson observes that at McCarter the actors are handling the dynamics between the characters a bit differently from the Guthrie production. “The core of the relationships are still there, but I think …

there’s a level of tenderness in the Guy/ Angel scenes that is brand new and is in relationship to these two actors working together. That’s not to say that it was not there at the Guthrie; it’s just showing itself differently.”

She likens the two productions to different renditions of a song. “It’s still the same song, but it’s being sung a little bit differently.” She says that the process has yielded some “wonderful surprises; the actors are revealing who these characters are anew, and I’m like, ‘I didn’t know Delia had that in her! That’s a great way to tell that story.’”

Asked about her method of working with actors, and the direction she finds herself giving them, Watson emphasizes that the rehearsal process needs to be “a place for discovery. The play is revealing itself through these smart, talented actors, and you have to be in conversation about it. I know what I like; I have an overarching vision. There have been moments when we’ve tried something, and I’ve been like, ‘You know what? I feel pretty sure … this is how it has to work.’”

“I look at myself as the original audience member , ” Watson explains, adding that she continually assesses whether, as a viewer, she is having “positive experience in the play” and whether the story feels clear. “It’s like making a puzzle; you’re putting all the pieces together.”

She is being careful not to let the Guthrie production constrain this cast. “I saw a completed thing in Minneapolis not too long ago. It would be wholly unfair of me to put that play onto these artists” and impose ”something that I learned, four weeks into a process, into their first or second week. The last thing I want to do is get in their way; I have too much respect and love for them to muck up their good work.”

Watson gratefully reflects that the process has been a “beautiful showcase for how I love to work … it makes me want to make more plays.” Pointing to budget constraints that limit many theater companies, she particularly appreciates the extent to which both the Guthrie and McCarter have been able to support her vision. “I made my case as to the ‘why’ of this, and they were both able to support it. It makes the work richer and stronger, to have that.”

Directed by Associate Artistic Director Nicole A. Watson, “Blues for an Alabama Sky” will play May 6-28 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre. McCarter’s website offers this advisory: “This production includes sexual/suggestive content, the use of a prop gun, a gunshot sound effect, and references to alcoholism, abortion, birth control, homophobia, and death caused by childbirth.” Masks are required for the performance on May 24 at 7:30 p.m. On Thursday, May 4 the Princeton Public Library will present McCarter Live at the Library: “How to Plan a Season,” a conversation between Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Director of Special Programming Paula Abreu. For tickets or additional information, visit McCarter.org.

MERCER MUSEUM & FONTHILL CASTLE

TWO TREASURED CASTLES IN THE HEART OF BUCKS COUNTY, PA

Asked what she particularly wants audiences to know about Blues for an Alabama Sky , Watson responds that it makes for a “beautiful evening” of theater. “Pearl wrote a play, however many years ago, that is still relevant, still funny, still poignant — still worth our while, joining together to experience it.”

“It’s complete; it’s complicated; it’s rich,” Watson concludes. “You’re going to talk about it!”

—Donald H. Sanborn III

“BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY”: McCarter Theatre Center will present “Blues for an Alabama Sky.” Written by Pearl Cleage, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Nicole A. Watson (above), the play will run May 6-28 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre. (Photo courtesy of McCarter Theatre)

Performing Arts

“Cellissimo” Quintet Play

At Chamber Concert

A quintet of three cellos, piano, and clarinet will perform music of Bach, Shostakovich, Joplin, and other composers on Sunday, May 7 at the 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. The concert is part of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey’s chamber music series.

Cellists are Katrina Marie Kormanski, Elina Lang, and Tomasz Rzeczychi. John Kormanski plays clarinet, and Don Tenenblatt is the pianist.

Kormanski comes from a musical family. From 1987 until its closing, she was the principal cellist of the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra. She currently holds this position in the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, Boheme Opera, and Newtown Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Collegium of Musicum of Princeton, the Rutgers University Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra.

Snellman-Lang began her musical studies in Finland She continued at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv and received her MM Degree from the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She is an active chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher, and member of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey. Lang has performed extensively around the world with the Helsinki Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony

Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Scandia Symphony, Boheme Opera NJ, and on Broadway.

Rzeczycki has extensive experience as a chamber musician and orchestra player including with the Bach Academy with Helmuth Rilling (Arthuas Musik recordings); Pavarotti Orchestra (South American tour); Warsaw Mozart Festival (period instrument); Austin Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Lehigh University Choral Arts, Capital Philharmonic; Riverside Sinfonia. He has collaborated with numerous artists including Martin Ostertag, Thomas Brandis, Claus Kanngiesser, Krysztof Pendercki, Van Cliburn, Lynn Harrell, Boris Pergamenschikow, and Tabea Zimmerman. His most recent performances include Carnegie Hall and the White House. He teaches orchestra and music theory at Princeton Day School.

Kormanski graduated from the Naval School of Music in 1971. During his time in the Navy Band he made two deployments with the Sixth Fleet and toured from Iceland to Florida. He then attended the University of the Arts and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Music. In 1979, he became a band director in the Philadelphia Parochial School System. He has performed for three American presidents and performed alongside such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton and for composer Richard Rodgers. He has performed as a soloist for over 50 years in Europe and across the U.S., notably on tours in Austria

such as Rudolf Serkin, Efrem Zimbalist, and Josef Hofmann. Former principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he collaborates regularly with leading conductors on stages around the world.

He has also worked directly with 20th- and 21st-century composers including Krzysztof Penderecki, Edison Denisov, and Ricardo Lorenz, and has had concertos written for him by Bright Sheng, Jennifer Higdon, and Roberto Sierra.

Gershwin’s symphonic

“Now That’s Funny!”

Debuts at Phillips’ Mill

Drama at Phillips’ Mill presents its latest spring musical comedy, “Now That’s Funny!” from May 17-20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mill, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa. Seating will be cabaret-style in the historic mill.

show brings locals together for the sheer love of theater and the desire to entertain an audience.”

in 2006, Russia in 2008, and Ireland in 2016.

Tenenblatt has played piano and celeste with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey since 2015. He holds degrees in music from Yale University and Rutgers University. He has participated in productions by Pennsylvania Ballet; American Repertory Ballet; Opera Theater of The College of New Jersey; Plays-in-thePark Edison; and Delaware Valley University. Currently he plays in Bucks County Symphony, Southeaster PA Symphony Orchestra, and Riverside Symphonia. He teaches private piano and voice lessons in Bucks County, Pa.

For tickets, visit capitalphilharmonic.org.

Berlioz and Gershwin On PSO Program

At concerts on Saturday, May 13 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 14 at 4 p.m., the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) takes audience members to Paris and on a tour of Italy through George Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Hector Berlioz’s Harold in Italy , featuring renowned violist Roberto Díaz as soloist. Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts the program which includes Westminster Choir College alumna Julia Perry’s Study for Orchestra. The concert takes place at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, on the campus Princeton University.

Díaz is president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music, following in the footsteps of soloist/

An American in Paris is centered on an American tourist’s impressions of Paris in the Jazz Age; it is a treasured classic precisely because of its uniquely American character. French composer Berlioz’s Harold in Italy was inspired by Lord Byron’s narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, and depicts the contemplative travels of a young man through Italy.

Julia Perry studied voice, piano, and composition at Westminster Choir College from 1943 to 1948 before going on to study with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and composer Luigi Dallapiccola in Florence, Italy. She wrote Study for Orchestra in 1952.

Tickets start at $30; Youths 5-17 receive a 50 percent discount with an adult purchase. Visit princetonsymphony.org or call (609) 497-0020.

This year’s show includes four comedic short plays performed by Phillips’ Mill Players, a cameo performance by a four-legged rodent, a live band, and song and dance numbers. Audience participation and interaction with the cast are part of the experience.

Three of this year’s five local playwrights are previous winners of the Mill’s Emerging Playwright Competition. “We draw on the artistic community for the plays we’re performing, using all original works,” said director Fran Young. Valerie Eastburn, cast member and chairman of drama at Phillips’ Mill, added, “The communal effort of putting on a

Proceeds from this annual show help to fund the other drama programs, as well as provide for the preservation of the Mill. Audience members are invited to bring wine and refreshments and share tables with friends. The plays are appropriate for mature audiences. Visit phillipsmill.org for tickets.

Phillips’ Mill Community Association, 2619 River Road, New Hope, PA 18938.

Collegium Musicum NJ presents CONCERTSERIES

Three different concerts Culture for Understanding and Tolerance

Nassau Presbyterian Church

April 22 is at 6 pm: For Tickets - https://qrco.de/bdrkG7

May 4th is at 7 pm: For Tickets https://qrco.de/CMMay4

May 12 is at 7 pm: For Tickets https://qrco.de/CMMay12

Limited Seating Engagements https://collegiummusicumnj.org/2023-events/

CELLO AND MORE: Katrina Marie Kormanski, one of the performers at the May 7 concert, took this photo of her cello, which she calls “Luigi.”

DIRECT FROM CURTIS: Violist Roberto Diaz, president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, is the soloist in a program of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rossen Milanov. (Photo by Charles Grove) directors

May 17

Hopewell Theater

SHARING THE BILL: Mara Levine, left, and the folk-rock trio Gathering Time, collaborate at a concert on May 19 at Christ Congregation Church.

Presents a “Co-bill” Concert

Mara Levine and Gathering Time will perform an evening of socially conscious folk song and harmony arrangements on Friday, May 19 at 8 p.m. at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. The concert is presented by the Princeton Folk Music Society.

The performance is almost a double feature, because Levine and Gathering Time have independent acts. But they frequently collaborate. Gathering Time supports Levine on her sets, reproducing the intricate harmony arrangements of her recordings in detail, and also presenting their own vocal harmonies, guitar playing, and percussion.

Levine has been creating interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk songs for many years. Her voice is said to be reminiscent of her inspirations, Judy Collins and Joan Baez.

For over a decade, Gathering Time (Stuart Markus, Christine Sweeney, and Gerry McKeveny) has toured both in the U.S. and internationally, mixing new interpretations of traditional tunes with their original songs. Gathering Time

evinces deep roots in ’60s folk-rock, with a dash of traditional folk in the mix. Their sound reflects the voicings and arrangements of performers such as The Byrds, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, brought into today with an acoustic-electric alchemy all their own.

Tickets are $5-$25. Visit princetongfolk.org. Masks are required.

Library Seeks Entries

For Student Film Festival

Filmmakers ages 14-25 are invited to submit short films for consideration for screening at the 2023 Princeton Student Film Festival. Entries should be no longer than 20 minutes and must be submitted by June 15. There is no fee to enter.

Launched in 2003, the Princeton Student Film Festival provides the opportunity for young filmmakers, both beginners and advanced, to screen their work to a broad audience and receive feedback. Selected films include a variety of genres and styles and are intended for a teen and adult audience.

Films selected as part of the festival will be shown to a general audience in the library’s Community Room on August 2. Filmmakers and their cast and crews

are invited to participate in Q&A sessions following the screenings.The selected films are eligible to be included on the library’s Eventive platform for a limited time on dates to be determined.

Films must be submitted by completing the entry form available at princetonlibrary.org/psff. Additional information about the festival and selection process is available at princetonlibrary. org/psff.

LeAnn Rimes Appears

At State Theatre NJ

“LeAnn Rimes the story ... so far” comes to the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on Saturday, May 20 at 8 p.m. Opening for LeAnn Rimes is special guest Williams Honor. Tickets range from $39-$69.

Rimes has sold more than 48 million units globally, won two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, two World Music Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, and a Dove Award. At 14, she won Best New Artist, making her the youngest solo artist to take home a Grammy Award, and at 15, she became the first country artist to win Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards.

In 2022, Rimes was presented with the ASCAP Golden Note Award, which is presented to genre-spanning songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.

Williams Honor is comprised of singer/songwriter Reagan Richards and songwriter/producer Gordon Brown. They are the Jersey Shore’s first-ever country duo. With their sophomore album, eX, newly released and the first single “Can’t Wait 2 B Ashamed” coming to radio this summer, the duo continues to mix traditional country, along with its modern evolution and their Jersey roots, creating a sound they call their own: Jersey Country. Visit Stnj.org for tickets.

Mamas, Dating, and More

At State Theatre NJ

“Two Funny Mamas Live” featuring Sherri Shepherd and Kym Whitley comes to the State Theatre New Jersey on Friday, May 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$59.

Shepherd and Whitley deliver a night of comedy based on their podcast Two Funny Mamas, which speaks to culture, sisterhood, moms, and working women everywhere. Nothing is off limits when these two get together to talk about life, love, motherhood, singleness, relationships, dating, pop culture, sex (or the lack thereof), and everything in

LeAnn Rimes

The show features individual stand-up routines from

both, along with the two of them on-stage riffing on current events, telling stories, and answering questions from audience members.

Shepherd’s daytime talk show Sherri airs weekdays on FOX. She previously cohosted The View for over 600 episodes where she and her co-hosts won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Shepherd can also be seen as the nononsense Senator Yvette Chase on HBO Max’s Sex Lives of College Girls . Her credits also include three seasons on the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, opposite Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, the NBC sitcom, Trial & Error, along with iconic roles on KC Undercover, Friends, 30 Rock, and The Jamie Foxx Show Whitley has appeared on ABC’s My Wife and Kids , Two Broke Girls on CBS, and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm . She recently completed production of her docuseries Raising Whitley on the OWN network, and stars in Freeform’s sitcom, Young & Hungry .

The State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue. Visit STNJ.org for tickets.

New Plays Debuting At Crossroads Theatre

The Spring Festival returns to Crossroads Theatre Company through June 11

at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue.

The festival begins May 24-June 3 with Starchildthe Ballad of Debbie Walker, a new play by Divinity Roxx, former Beyoncé musical director, Grammynominated musician, author, and composer. The autobiographical work is a coming-of-age story, taking audience members through Roxx’s childhood in Atlanta and her journey to becoming a renowned musician.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill starring Terry Burrell as Billie Holiday will join the lineup May 31-June 8. The musical production, written by Lanie Robertson and directed by Count Stovall, takes place in a bar in Philadelphia, moving through Holiday’s canon of music including “God Bless the Child,” “When a Woman Loves a Man,” and “Ain’t Nobody Business If I Do.” Crossroads will wrap the Spring Festival with I Got Life: The Music of Nina Simone June 10-11. The play pairs jazz and soul music to celebrate Simone. Vocalist Carol Riddick and bassist Gerald Veasley lead the ensemble. Tickets are $20-$55. For more information, visit Crossroadstheatrecompany. org.

Princeton Folk Music Society

COMEDY NIGHT: Sherri Shepherd, left, and Kym Whitley bring the humor of their podcast “Two Funny Mamas” to New Brunswick on May 19.

The Lambertville Free Public Library, 6 Lilly Street, Lambertville, now features landscape paintings by Hopewell-based artist Nicky Belletier in “The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn.” The exhibition is on view through May 27.

For Belletier, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was a time of uncertainty and fear, but also presented time to devote to artistic expression. With even local parks closed, she revisited photos and memories of past travels to beautiful places as far flung as Rio de Janeiro and as close as the county park down the street. Remembering the sense of peace she felt in the presence of the natural beauty of those places was a comfort, and there was a wealth of inspiration to draw on for paintings that felt long overdue to be created.

As the pandemic and associated unrest wore on, the act of painting became less of an opportunity to relive happy memories of travel and more of a way to process the experience of living through unprecedented

times. Through that “pandemic winter,” she found new inspiration in the faint light and colors that persist after the sun has set. She said that creating these paintings felt like a meditation on finding beauty through dark times. Some of those darkest hours have now passed, giving way to glimmers of light, color, and hope through continued uncertainty.

The body of work featured in “The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn” reflects the range of emotion felt by Belletier since 2020 as filtered through painting the landscape, from the nostalgia of a sunny day on a weekend trip to the coldness of a bare tree on a February night, to the warmth and comfort of a colorful summertime sunset.

Belletier is a visual artist with a primary focus on landscape painting. Acrylic paints are her preferred medium and she particularly enjoys experimenting with metallic and iridescent materials. Her work has been featured in local exhibitions in New Jersey and Bucks County, Pa.

For more information, visit nickybelletier.com.

Shop, Sip, Get Crafty At Princeton Art Bazaar

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will present the Princeton Art Bazaar, a daylong celebration of creativity held in downtown Princeton on Saturday, May 6. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 80-plus vendors will line Paul Robeson Place off Witherspoon Street to sell their wares, ranging from ceramics, jewelry, wood, original paintings, printmaking, glass, photography, florals, and more.

Attendees will recognize local favorites from ACP’s fall market, Sauce for the Goose, including handturned bowls by Jerseywood, found treasures from Nook & Fern, felted dogs from Walking Olive, fresh florals from Sprouts, and crocheted apparel by Hooked on the Look. New finds will include vintage glassware from Lucid Ladybug, birdhouses from 100 Acres, and quality vintage clothing from Improv Goods.

From 1-3 p.m., the Arts Council welcomes attendees of all ages to get hands-on in their Open Studios. Activities include BYO T-shirt screen printing, watercolor,

printmaking for child and caregiver, Capoeira, and figure drawing with a live model. All Open Studio activities are free and open to the everyone.

For the adults, the ACP and Triumph Brewing Company have partnered for a Beer Garden from 12 to 4 p.m. Live music will be performed by the Band of Changes, featuring Steph Sanders, Jon Shaw, George Miller, Chris Harford, and Drew Wakefield. Proceeds benefit ACP community programming.

The Princeton Art Bazaar has a rain date of Sunday, May 7.

For a full vendor list and more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.

p.m. For more infor-

“The Darkest Hour” Exhibit at Lambertville Free Library

“REFLECTION ON MIRROR LAKE”: Paintings by Hopewell-based artist Nicky Belletier are featured in “The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn,” on view through May 27 the Lambertville Free Public Library.

BONAPARTE EXHIBIT REOPENS: The Bordentown Historical Society has announced the grand reopening of its “Joseph Bonaparte Exhibit,” which includes the single largest collection of Bonaparte artifacts in the U.S. including original paintings, French Empire-style furniture, gold and silver coins, letters, books, silverware, and more. The exhibit is located at 302 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown, and will be open certain Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4

mation, call (609) 298-1740 or visit bordentownhistory.org.

PRINCETON ART BAZAAR: The Arts Council will hold its Princeton Art Bazaar on Saturday, May 6, featuring more than 80 vendors, hands-on art making, and a Triumph Brewing Co Beer Garden. The rain date is May 7.

TAKE

52 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 609.466.3333 | antimositaliankitchen.com facebook.com/antimositaliankitchen antimositaliankitchen@gmail.com

Family owned and operated

Cold Subs ½ subs and whole subs available served with lettuce, tomato, onions

Italian – 9 / 15 ham, salami, cappicola, provolone, oil, vinegar

Napoletana – 10 / 16

prosciutto, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella olive oil, balsamic

Scarpariello w chicken – 25 / or veal 28

Day

wine

Large Cannoli – 3

Ice cream Truffle – 5

Tiramisu – 4

Ham & Cheese – 8 / 14

Turkey & Cheese – 8 / 14

Panino Rustico – 12 / 17

$39 Prix Fixe

sausage, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, in a marinara sauce

Alfredo – 18

Arrabbiata – 16

Kiddie Corner

Pasta with Sauce – 7

Hot Subs ½ subs and whole subs available

Meatball or Sausage – 9 / 16

marinara, garlic, red chili pepper

Bolognese angus beef – 19

Spaghetti or Penne – 9 with meatball and sauce

Dine-In or Take-out (reservations and Deposit required) 609-466-3333 or order online @antimositaliankitchen.com, “specials”

Cheese Ravioli (3) – 13

Course 1 (Choose 1)

Apple salad • Caesar salad

Buffalo Cauliflower • Fried Calamari

Course 2 (Choose 1)

Meatball; Sausage; Chicken or Eggplant Parmigiana – 9.5 / 16

Cheesesteak – 9/ 16

Chicken Cheesesteak – 9 / 16

Buffalo Chicken

Cheesesteak – 9/16

Chicken Primavera – 9 / 16 roasted red peppers, provolone, basil

Chicken Cutlet – 9 / 16

Manicotti-homemade French style crepes, 3 cheese, tomato sauce eggplant rollatini with angel hair

• Three Cheese ravioli with Vodka sauce

Chicken Daniella with rigatoni-mushrooms, caramelized onions, marsala cream

Chicken Francese with angel hair

Hot Grinder – 9 / 16 hot ham, salami, provolone lettuce, tomato, hot peppers

Homemade Wraps

Grilled Chicken, Spinach & Roasted Peppers – 9

Flame-Grilled 14-oz. ribeye with sautéed broccoli & portobello mushrooms (+$15) Grilled salmon with side sautéed broccoli & portobello mushrooms (+$5)

Course 3 (Choose 1)

Tiramisu • Cannoli • NY Cheesecake

house salad & homemade bread

Bianco garlic, basil, tomato, white wine

Fra Diavolo spicy marinara

Marinara plum tomatoes, garlic, basil

mussels 18 / clams 19 /

calamari 18 / shrimp 24 /

scallops 28 / mixed seafood 29

Shrimp Scampi with homemade pasta 24

all seafood is served with pasta with homemade pasta add 5 with gluten free pasta add 5

From The Grill

house salad & homemade bread

Rosemary Chicken veggie – 21

Salmon – 22 add shrimp 8

roasted garlic, oil, mixed veggie

Shrimp & Scallops – 29 lemon, butter, mixed veggie

Package #2 – 100

3 cheese Ravioli tomato sauce, Sausage & Broccoli Rabe, Mixed Green Salad

Package #3 – 160

Shrimp Scampi HM pasta, Ribeye

Steak

Arugula Salad Soda

2 Liter Soda 3.75 coke / diet coke / sprite

Catering & Parties

View full catering menu on web site: antimositaliankitchen.com/catering

We use Bell & Evans air chilled chicken, and milk fed top round veal.

Chicken Caesar – 9

Chicken Finger – 9

Paninis (more online)

Grilled Chicken – 9 eggplant, fresh mozzarella

Italiano – 10 prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, balsamic HM Sausage Broccoli Rabe – 12

Angus Burgers served with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and french fries or salad

Hamburger – 11

Cheeseburger – 12

Mushroom & Swiss – 12

Bacon Cheeseburger – 13

Jumbo Wings Buffalo ,BBQ, Garlic Parm or Sweet Red chili - all served with dressing 6 Wings – 8 12 Wings – 16

18 Wings – 24

24 Wings – 30

36 Wings – 42

48 Wings – 54

tomatoes, spinach, white wine

Daniella with chicken – 21

mixed mushrooms, caramelized onions, marsala, cream

Francese w chicken – 21 / or shrimp 24

egg, lemon, butter, white wine

Sides

HM Crumbled Sausage / Sauce – 6

Meatballs or Sausage Links

(2pcs) –6

Veggie – 6

Broccoli Rabe – 9

French Fries – 3.95 w cheese 5

Fried Pickles – 5

Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

Calzone & Stromboli served with tomato sauce

Plain Calzone – 10 small / 18 large mozzarella, ricotta

Plain Stromboli – 11 small / 21 large sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella

Extra Toppings – 1.5 / 2.5

Extra Premium – 2.5 / 3.5

Extra Sauce – 1.5

Local BBQ

Now Serving Up Authentic Southern Specialties in the Heart of Hopewell

Craving some good Southern-style barbecue? Meet Local BBQ.

Restaurateur Anthony Kanterakis of the Local Greek Restaurant Group is bringing Southern barbecue to Hopewell. Local BBQ brings the art of barbecue and the heart of old family recipes. This is not just another BBQ establishment — this is the real deal.

Momma Sally, the chef behind the 90-yearold secret recipe that has been handed down from her mother, now offers her authentic Southern barbecue specialties including a slow-cooked Memphis barbecue, beef brisket, baby back ribs, chicken wings, pulled pork, burgers, and of course macaroni and cheese, fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, and corn bread.

All sauces are exclusive to Local BBQ and made on-site, as are the homemade pies (true Southern pecan pie, anyone?) and special recipe chili. Family combos and platters allow you sample the flavors. And if you’re looking to take your backyard barbecue to the next level, catering is available.

Momma Sally’s motto is “Happy cooks make happy food.” Sally prepares her dishes with love and expertise. She says the ultimate compliment is when her customers rub their bellies and say, “Wow, what a memorable meal.”

OPENING May 13th!

Momma Sally

Anthony Kanterakis

“VIRIDITAS”: This painted on fabric and embroidered work is part of “Art in the Ballroom: Hanneke de Neve,” on view at the Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, May 5 through June 16. An opening reception is on May 5 from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call ahead at (609) 924-1014.

Art

Continued from Page 19

HomeFront Hosts ArtJam Pop-Up Gallery on Hulfish

A wide selection of styles of original art comes to Princeton this month to support a worthy cause — helping families in need in Mercer County. HomeFront’s ArtJam 2023 pop-up gallery will feature both the work of undiscovered artists who have been impacted by poverty and homelessness and professional artists.

The art event celebrates creativity and community, while proceeds benefit HomeFront and ArtSpace, HomeFront’s therapeutic art program for those experiencing homelessness. HomeFront is a nationallyrecognized program that supports Mercer County’s families that experience or are at risk of homelessness by providing wraparound services including safe secure housing, life skills, support for children and basic necessities.

ArtJam 2023 launches at 19 Hulfish Street in Palmer Square on Friday, May 5. More than 100 artists are represented in the gallery over the course of the show, which is open through May 27. The one-of-a-kind artwork for sale includes paintings, sculptures, pottery, glass, and hand-sewn items from SewingSpace, HomeFront’s sewing program.

“ArtJam 2023 brings together so many people who want to support the creativity of our HomeFront families,” said Ruthann Traylor, director of Artspace and SewingSpace, at HomeFront. “It is so important to build valuable skills in our clients. Prior to our show, our volunteer curators look close to home and beyond to find new and established artists of all genres. This year, HomeFront put out a wide-ranging ‘call for art,’ an open invitation for artists looking to join its efforts. As a result, several wonderful new artists are participating in the show.”

“ArtJam 2023 is an amazing experience, serving as a reminder of the creative spirit of both our client families and the community

exhibitions, ensuring individual and communal agency in the art of storytelling.

Both “Local Voices” and the second exhibition, “Spiral Q: The Parade,” are on view through January 7 in Grounds For Sculpture’s Domestic Arts Building. “Spiral Q’s” focus is on the locally and nationally recognized puppet-making organization Spiral Q, with its rich history of take-to-the-street advocacy processions for social and political change.

individuals were then invited to share their stories, select an object of meaning, and craft their image with full autonomy, to create a powerful exhibition.

by Optimism” through May 6. artscouncilofprinceton. org.

coming together to support the work that we do,” said Sarah Steward, HomeFront’s CEO. “The arts can lift spirits, empower our artists, and enhance their selfesteem.

“We continue to be very grateful for so much community support to do the important work of serving families in need in Mercer County. This event is supported by many local businesses, community members, our volunteers, and artists who contribute their works.”

Recognized as a fourstar charity by Charity Navigator, HomeFront clients use ArtSpace’s studios both in Lawrence and Ewing to participate in art programs that help them work through trauma, find new entrepreneurial skills, and discover themselves as artists.

The ArtJam 2023 gallery will be open between May 5-27. Hours are MondayWednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday-Friday: 12-8 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

For more information, visit homefrontnj.org.

New Spring Exhibitions

At Grounds For Sculpture

This spring, a Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) exhibition presents a multi-faceted portrait of the Indian diasporic community in New Jersey, through first-person narratives, images, and objects

“ Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits” is created in partnership with 15 community members and led by artist, teacher, and journalist Madhusmita

“Madhu” Bora. It is one of two concurrent exhibitions that inaugurate the new Perspectives series at GFS and explore the role of creating person-centered

“With the launch of the Perspectives series, Grounds For Sculpture is taking on new levels of engagement with our audiences as we organize artist-led, community-driven exhibitions to deepen our understanding of how we — as artists, individuals, and communities — are reflecting on our world and responding to subjects and issues of today,” said Gary Garrido Schneider, executive director of Grounds For Sculpture. “We remain committed to engaging and challenging visitors of all ages and backgrounds with exhibitions and collections that present the work of contemporary artists through sculpture, while developing greater understanding of our audiences through storytelling and listening to the voices of the communities around us.”

Kathleen Ogilvie Greene, chief audience officer at Grounds For Sculpture and lead curator of both exhibitions, added, “Regardless of our race, ethnicity, language, or age, most of us carry stories that offer themes of love, loss, and resilience. This connectivity is the impetus for ‘Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits.’ We stayed hyperlocal — both with the selected community and with storytelling sharing from a lived experience — to focus on the stories that connect us as human beings.

“Both Madhu Bora and Spiral Q have been amazing partners, and we are excited to present two distinct, yet connected, paths to storytelling: the individual narratives within one exhibition and the collective voice of a community in the other. I’m particularly delighted to be working on both shows with co-curator Quentin Williams, who brings his expertise as a curator, activist, and poet to the team.”

Grounds For Sculpture invited Bora — a folk and traditional artist, teacher, writer, and journalist, as well as an Assamese American dancer and founder of Sattriya Dance Company — to gather oral histories that would present a range of uniquely personal stories from New Jersey’s Indian diasporic community. The images, objects, and stories within the “Local Voices” exhibition are the result of her building relationships with individuals, the “storytellers,” over the course of 10 months. The selected 15

The “Local Voices” exhibition showcases portraits, hanging banners, personal objects of meaning, and video and audio clips of personal stories. Participants in this project reflect a broad scope of this community through the lenses of language, religion, ability, region of origin, caste, education, immigration, and sexual orientation.

Grounds For Sculpture is located at 80 Sculptor Way in Hamilton. It is open Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesday). For more information and extended hours in May through September, visit groundsforsculpture.org.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Cycle of Creativity: Allison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers” through July 9. artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Water Works” May 4 through June 4. An opening reception in on May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “You Belong Here: Place, People, and Purpose in Latinx Photography” through May 7. artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Inspired

Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, has “A Stolen Aesthetic” through June 3. artworkstrenton.org.

Ficus, 235 Nassau Street, has “In Reflection: SiriOm Singh & C.a. Shofed” in the upstairs dining gallery through June 4. ficusbv.com.

Gallery 14 Fine Art

Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has Martin Schwartz’s “Some Old Some New” and Joel Blum’s “Italian Light” through May 7. gallery14.org.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has works by the Cranbury digital Camera Club (CdCC) through May 31. cranburyartscouncil.org.

Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits” and “Spiral Q: The Parade” through January 7 and “That’s Worth

Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” through the end of 2024, 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

Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Alan Goldstein: Elemental” through September 4 and “Mid-Century to Manga: The Modern Japanese Print in America” through July 30. michenerartmuseum.org

Milberg Gallery, Princeton University Library, has “Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory” through June 4. library.princeton.edu.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Striking Beauty” through February 18 and the online exhibits “Slavery at Morven,” “Portrait of Place: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints of New Jersey, 1761–1898,” and others. morven.org.

The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, has “Christine Seo: Princeton Solo Show” through June 4. christineseo.com.

Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, has works by Hanneke de Neve May 5 through June 16. An opening reception is on May 5 from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call ahead at (609) 924-1014.

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Hinds Plaza Gates” and “THE Question: A Photographic Journey” through May 15 and “The Art of Calligraphy” through June 15. princetonlibrary. org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has art by Princeton Day School seventh-grade students supporting HomeFront through June 6. Watercolors by Anandi Kamanathan are at the 254 Nassau Street location through June 6. smallworldcoffee.com.

West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Member Exhibit: Yesterday Today Tomorrow” through June 3. westwindsorarts.org.

“KATAYUN K. KAPADIA”: This photo on fabric banner by Erica Lee is featured in “Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits,” one of two new exhibitions on view at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton through January 7. (Photo by Bruce M. White)

Mark Your Calendar TOWN TOPICS

Wednesday, May 3

6 p.m.: Screening of the documentary Aftershock , about disparities in mental health in the U.S., at YWCA Princeton’s W Center, 59 Paul Robeson Place. Free; registration required. Ywcaprinceton.org

7 p.m.: David Broza in concert at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street. A community-wide concert in honor of Israel’s 75th anniversary of independence. $36-$75. Thejewishcenter.org.

8-10:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers presents a contra dance at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Sue Gola and Christie Riel with Rhythmic Heart. $15. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

Thursday, May 4

10 a.m.: The 55-Plus Club of Princeton meets at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street. Princeton University professor Owen Zidar speaks on the topic “Main Street Millionaires.” In person or via Zoom. Princetonol.com/ groups/55plus.

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: At the May monthly membership luncheon of Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber at Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Road East, Captain Frank T. Ingargiola from Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst discusses experiences in the military. Princetonmercer.org.

5 p.m .: Art historian and Princeton professor Rachael Z. DeLue speaks on “Against the Grain or What We Can Learn from Early American Museums That Got It Wrong.” Sponsored by the Princeton University Art Museum. Free. At the Friend Center, Room 101. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

6 p.m.: Margot Canaday and Hendrik Hartog discuss Queering Career: Sexuality and Work in Modern America. At Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

6:30 p.m.: Alsarah & the Nubatones, a concert in tribute to Sudan at Frist Theatre, Frist Campus Center, Princeton University. Open to the public. Princeton.edu.

7 p.m .: McCarter Live at the Library: How to Plan a Season, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. McCarter Theatre’s Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Director of Special Programming Paula Abreu discuss their approach. Princetonlibrary.org.

Friday, May 5

4-7 p.m .: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Annual Spring Rummage Sale, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, electronics, office supplies, home appliances, kitchenware, art, furniture, toys, and more; plus a Mother’s Day plant sale. All proceeds are donated to Mercer area charities. $10. Uuprinceton.org/ uucp-spring-sale/.

4-7 p.m .: Community Health Fair at Princeton Shopping Center courtyard. Local health and wellness professionals, healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and more. Visit healthdepartment@princetonnj.gov for details.

4-8 p.m .: Mother’s Day Pop-Up Shop with Eternal Permanent Jewelry at MarketFair, 3535 U.S. Highway

1.

7 p.m .: The Danny Tobias Quartet perform outdoors at Plainsboro Preserve, 80 Scotts Corner Road, as part of the Plainsboro Jazz Appreciation Festival. Plainsborolibrary.org.

7:30 p.m.: Hamlet performed by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater at Drapkin Studio, Lewis Arts complex. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

8:30 p.m.: Princeton Amateur Astronomers Association holds public stargazing at the observatory in Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville. Call (609) 737-2575 to make sure it is open and get directions. No experience necessary. Princetonastronomy.org/ public_nights.html.

Saturday, May 6

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Windsor Farmers Market at Princeton Junction train station. Reopening day features a “Cool-n-Airy” culinary event. Fresh produce, plants, seafood, poultry, breads, baked goods, and more. Music by Ed Goldberg and Odessa Klezmer. Westwindsorfarmersmarket.org.

9 a.m.-2 p.m .: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Annual Spring Rummage Sale, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, electronics office supplies, home appliances, kitchenware, art, furniture, toys, and more; plus a Mother’s Day plant sale. All proceeds are donated to Mercer area charities. Free. Uuprinceton.org/ uucp-spring-sale/.

10 a.m.-12 p.m .: Community Roundtable on future development at Princeton Theological Seminary, at Witherspoon Hall. Princetonnj.gov.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Sheep Shearing and Herding at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Learn about sheep care, fleececlearing, and wool use, plus puppy training and whistle commands. Herding demonstrations at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Howellfarm.org.

10 a.m.: Tour of Princeton University Eating Clubs on Prospect Avenue with author Clifford Zink. Meet at Colonial Club, 40 Prospect. Advance tickets, at $20, are required. Princetonhistory. org.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1:30-3:30 p.m.: May in Montgomery, presented by the Van Harlingen Historical Society. With two field trips

led by Sean Kinney, focused on geological formations. Tours are also available at the Gulick House. $40 includes box lunch. For more information, email Candy at library@vanharlingen.org

10 a.m.-4 p.m ton Art Bazaar 2023, at Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Triumph Beer Garden is from 12-4 p.m.; open studios 1-3 p.m. Rain date May 7. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Kite Day at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Bring a kite or buy one at the farm; fly kites in the pasture. Music, pony rides, sheep-shearing, Morris Dancers, food, wine, and more. $15-$18. Tickets required. Terhuneorchards.com.

1-3 p.m .: At Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) sponsors “When Compassion Defeated Cruelty,” about how Martha’s Vineyard welcomed a planeload of Venezuelan immigrants; with speakers from the Vineyard and local and regional immigration authorities. Light refreshments will be served. Email info@ laldef.org with questions.

1:30 p.m .: Princeton Future sponsors “I Walk to Coffee,” with architects Cathy Knight and Marina Rubina, starting at the parking lot behind 335 Nassau Street (walking to Illy Coffee on Spring Street). Princetonfuture.org.

2 p.m .: Roxey Ballet presents Cinderella at Villa and more. $15-$18. Tickets required. Terhuneorchards. com.

12 and 4 p.m.: Princeton Youth Ballet performs Cinderella at Princeton High

School Performing Arts Center, 16 Walnut Lane. $25-$30. Princetonyouth-

.: Roxey Ballet Cinderella at Villa Victoria Academy, 376 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. Roxeyballet.org.

2, 5, and 8 p.m .: Princeton Pianists Ensemble presents “Eclipse” at Lee Auditorium in the Lewis Arts complex, Princeton University, 120 Alexander Street. $8-$10. Tickets.princeton.edu.

3 p.m .: The EnglishSpeaking Union Princeton branch presents “The Northwest Passage: Europe’s Most Profitable Failure,” at Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road. Bart Jackson, CEO of Prometheus Publishing, is the speaker. Esuus.org.

3 p.m .: “Cellissimo” concert by a chamber group from the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, at 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. Music for cello, clarinet, and piano by Bach, Shostakovich, Joplin, and others. Capitalphilharmonic.org.

3 p.m .: Concert/Lecture: “More Musical Gems from the Yiddish Theater.” Diane Cypkin will feature songs made famous by Molly Picon and Menasha Skulnik, and focus on the great Yiddish

songwriters, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

6-8 p.m.: “Giacomo Puccini and the End of the Golden Age of Italian Opera,” lecture by Joseph Pucciatti, co-founder and director of Boheme Opera New Jersey, at Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street. Free. Participants are encouraged to bring refreshments to share at a post-program reception. Dorotheashouse.org.

Monday, May 8 Recycling

5:30 p.m.: Economists Carol Graham and Anne C. Case discuss Graham’s book The Power of Hope at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Free. Princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, May 9

9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick program: Vegetables, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. For young children. $12. Terhuneorchards.com .

6 p.m.: Landon Jones is in conversation with Joyce Carol Oates about Jones’ book Celebrity Nation: How America Evolved into a Culture of Fans and Followers , at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Book

MAY signing to follow. Princetonlibrary.org.

6:30 p.m .: “What Our Kids Need Now: More Empathy and Empowerment Skills.” Interactive workshop teaches youth, parents, and families how to nurture empathy and empathic action. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m.: Professor and researcher Chung S. Yang discusses “Dietary Guideline for the Americans, Possible Benefits for Us and the Planet,” at a Zoom event presented by Eating for Your Health. Send questions prior to the presentation to programs@ eatingforyourhealth.org.

Wednesday, May 10

3 p.m.: Reception: Jewish Voices of Princeton. Celebrate the launch of an oral history project produced with the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Registration requested. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m.: Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts presents the 2023 Junior and Senior Film Festival, at James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

Springtime Array of Beautiful Blossoms

At Perna’s Florist, Plant & Garden Center

“

Imay be an old man, but I am a young gardener.”

These words were written in his later years by Thomas Jefferson to a friend. Always ready to learn more, he knew that gardening could be wonderfully rewarding, and also remarkably challenging.

When planting a garden, whether it is a casual or serious undertaking, relying on the most reliable and experienced helpers to guide the process is a priority.

IT’S NEW To Us

Perna’s Florist, Plant & Garden Center is such a resource. Located at 189 Washington Road in West Windsor since 1976, the longtime family business dates back even further. George Mazur, grandfather

of Perna’s current owner Sarah Conte, opened Mazur’s Nursery in 1931.

Family Business

Alfred Perna and Irene Mazur Perna, Sarah’s parents, became Mazur’s owners in the 1970s, and Perna’s and Mazur’s operated simultaneously until Mazur’s closed in 2019.

Sarah Conte grew up in the family business, and as she recalls, “Some of my fondest memories are of my brother and me when I was 6 or 7 running around, carrying plants, and helping Mom and Dad. I worked here a lot, and I always enjoyed it. My mother taught me about the flowers and the design work. I especially enjoyed the creative aspect of the design work.”

Growing up in the business also introduced her to a wide range of customers from Princeton and the surrounding area. Over the years, many have become friends, and she is happy to welcome

both the long-term regulars and the many new customers who keep coming.

“They are all ages, and some people are just starting their first garden, while others are more serious and experienced,” she reports. “We are very happy to help with advice, if people ask, and to answer any questions.

We have a very knowledgeable, helpful staff, including Suzanne Smith, our longtime colleague, who has a degree in horticulture from Rutgers.”

Among the most frequently asked questions are what to do about the deer, which plants like sun or shade, when and how much to water, appropriate planting time, etc.

“We like to educate customers about what they need to know to prepare and maintain a great garden,” explains Conte. “What are appropriate soil conditions, how often to water, which plants are unattractive to

deer — we can help with all of these questions.”

Native Plants

At this time of year, almost all plants can safely be put in the ground or in pots and planters, she notes. “All perennials can be planted now, including phlox, salvia, lobelia, and monarda. We have become a Certified Proven Winner garden center, and our goal is to provide customers with a wide variety of native plants to diversify our local yards, and help restore our natural ecosystem.

“Native plants have adapted to our regional climate for centuries, making them reliable growers and more tolerant of pests and diseases. They also provide crucial foliage and habitat for local wildlife, including song birds, butterflies, and bees.”

By mid-May, all the annuals can be planted, and Perna’s has an extensive selection of popular choices. Impatiens, petunias, snapdragons, geraniums, and vinca (the impatiens lookalike, which can withstand heat particularly well) are always favorites.

Among shade-loving plants are begonias, fuchsia, lobelia, and caladium, as well as ferns.

Hanging baskets and patio planters are big favorites now, reports Conte, as are the always popular rose bushes.

Vegetables and herbs are also in demand. “They are very popular, and especially with young people,” she adds. “These days, people like to eat what is in their garden. There is a lot of interest in this. We have several varieties of lettuce, also broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Basil, rosemary, and thyme are also

popular herbs, as well as mustard and oregano.

New Products

In addition, we plan to add some new products, including a selection of Asian vegetables and assorted varieties of plants.”

A full range of potting soil, top soil, mulch, peat moss, also cow manure, deer repellents, and fertilizers is available. These include products that are all natural and free of harmful chemicals. A selection of colorful ceramic and terra cotta planters, wind chimes, and bird feeders and bird supplies is also on hand.

The garden center, which now has an additional greenhouse in which to grow more plants, also provides materials and information regarding sun and shade-loving plants, deerresistant options (including marigolds), native plants, and those attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Easy maintenance is a priority for many, especially new gardeners, but it is a fact that all plants need a certain amount of ongoing care and attention. “There will always be watering and weeding,” points out Conte with a smile. “You can count on it!”

Perna’s is now in the midst of its busiest time, which doesn’t really end until October. The last four years have seen increased business, she adds.

“We were very busy during COVID,” she says. “People were home more, and they were doing more planting, wanting their gardens to be nice. Also, house plants, including orchids (we have an especially nice selection of orchids of all kinds), were especially popular again. People were really interested

in their surroundings, both indoors and outdoors.

Single Stem Perna’s is also a full-time florist, which is a big part of the business. Arrangements and bouquets for a variety of events, and gift baskets are all popular. Preparing for the upcoming Mother’s Day is especially time consuming.

“We also do a big business for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other events,” reports Conte. ”In addition, people often come in to get cut flowers as a hostess gift, or even a single stem. Some people like to come in every week to get flowers for their home. We also have gift items, such as candles, stuffed animals, candy, and balloons.”

Not everyone gets to do what they love, and despite the ongoing challenges of weather and unforeseen circumstances, Sarah Conte knows she is in the right place.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I still love it. I like putting in the seeds and cleaning the plants. It’s amazing to watch everything grow — a continuing miracle!

“I raised all three of my children here and at Mazur’s, and I wanted to share with them our family business, and my love of plants. It has truly been, and still is, a labor of love. We look forward to continuing the family tradition and serving our customers for a long time to come.”

Perna’s is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further information, call (609) 4521383. Website: pernasflowers.com.

—Jean Stratton

FAMILY TRADITION: “We are set apart by our long history and experience, and we are a real family business. I am the third generation to be part of it, and my son Michael is the fourth.” Sarah Conte, owner of Perna’s Florist, Plant & Garden Center, is shown with her son and colleague Michael Conte in the entrance to the garden center amid a display of May flowers.

S ports

After Exceeding Expectations for Maryland Women’s Hoops, Former PU Star Meyers Looking to Make Impact in WNBA

When Abby Meyers heard her name called as the 11 th pick of the 2023 WNBA Draft on April 10, it brought joyous screams from the family, close friends, high school coach, and his wife that had gathered at the basketball star’s family home in Potomac, Md.

They hadn’t anticipated her selection so early as Meyers was the final first-round pick of the Dallas Wings.

“We didn’t know what to say,” said Meyers. “It was like a star-struck moment. I was grateful for that number to be picked and for me to hear my name. My expectations were far exceeded. That’s kind of the story of this year. I have certain expectations. I set the bar low and always exceed them. I’m very happy with how it all went.”

After graduating from Princeton University in 2022 where she was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in her final season for the Tiger women’s hoops team, Meyers, a 6’0 guard, played this past year for University of Maryland as a graduate student and averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting almost 39 percent from 3-point range to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. In her final season at Princeton, she had averaged 17.9 points per game to amass the program’s highest single season scoring total of 538 points.

“I was there for four years, and I was only at Maryland for one,” said Meyers, who totaled 936 points in her Tiger career. “When they said, ‘11th pick in the WNBA draft, Abby Meyers from Maryland,’ it’s also Abby Meyers from Princeton. They were very supportive and they know they were the ones to really get me here.”

Meyers becomes the second player from Princeton to be selected by the Wings. Bella Alarie, who recently retired from the WNBA, was also a first-round selection by Dallas in 2020.

“I’ve been in touch with Bella a lot just the last couple of years with how she’s doing,” said Meyers. “She told me a lot about the organization. I had questions about the pros and the WNBA and overseas. She actually came over when she heard my name called because we both live in the same area, and she drove over and brought some Dallas gear with her and we celebrated a little bit.”

Meyers now has her sights set on making the roster for the Wings. She was one of 18 players competing for 12 spots when training camp opened last Sunday. Meyers fits the bill of what Dallas is looking for in their players.

“We prioritized shooting in this draft and she is obviously a premier shooter,” said Greg Bibb, the president, CEO and partner of the Wings. “But I think she has demonstrated the ability to be an all-around impact player. I was really impressed with how she handled the transition to the Big Ten and coming from Princeton I know she understands

how to play on the defensive side of the ball. In addition, her pre-draft interview was probably one of the top five I have done in my time running a WNBA Draft process. She is a really impressive young woman and I’m excited for her to comet into camp and compete for a roster spot.”

For Meyers, the move to the WNBA is the second time in two years that she will try to impress a new coaching staff. Meyers had to come from being an established commodity with Princeton to being one of nine transfers at Maryland.

“The biggest transition from Princeton to Maryland was finding ways to communicate with an entirely new group of girls and coaching staff,” said Meyers. “The communication aspect, we had a communications coach, and we made sure we were preparing ourselves for big-game situations when the moment was heated and there’s all this adrenaline, how can you best get your point across in an efficient and effective manner? That was the biggest challenge because I didn’t have that issue more or less at Princeton. Here at Maryland with so many new people everyone wanted their voice to be heard and to have a say and sometimes that would drown out certain voices, so we had to find a way to get things done verbally.”

Things worked out well for Meyers and the Terrapins. They went 28-7 overall, 15-3 in the Big Ten, and won their first and second round NCAA tournament games before upending Notre Dame in the NCAA Sweet 16. They fell to No. 1 South Carolina in the regional final despite 14 points, five rebounds and two assists from Meyers.

“I think it was an all-around success — individually and team-wise,” said Meyers, who had 21 points in an earlier meeting with South Carolina as well as a season-high 24 points against Penn State.

“We got a lot of great wins, we were able to go far in the tournament, really make a name for ourselves this year when a lot of people underestimated us with nine new transfers. It was a fun year of basketball because we found a way to make things work and to win. It was a lot of fun and for me personally, I figured out to how to mesh with the team and fit within the offense. I was able to contribute in a big way and just happy that I had a good year for Maryland.”

Meyers found time toward the end of the season to return to Princeton. She was on hand at Jadwin Gym for the Tigers’ win over Penn in the semifinals of the Ivy League Tournament after Maryland finished play in the Big Ten Tournament earlier that week.

“We had two days off which was amazing,” said Meyers. “I was able to go up to Princeton and see some friends and spend some time there. It was really good. It was a good moment. I was there for the first game of the two. It was great seeing them and

supporting them and being a part of that community again and being embraced like I always have been. It’s just a special family and I wanted to take that time to go visit and say hi to everyone.”

It was the only chance that Meyers had during the basketball season to return to Princeton. The rest of the year she kept in touch with former teammates and followed them from afar, and vice versa.

“We’re all very supportive of each other,” said Meyers.

“If there were any big games like against Columbia or Harvard, I wish them good luck beforehand. I remembered to reach out regularly before big games and they were very supportive of me. All my teammates from Princeton and the coaching staff congratulated me on getting drafted. They posted it on their stories.”

Now they’re pulling for her to make a WNBA roster. It’s no easy task, but Meyers feels like the graduate year helped. She competed at a Power 5 school against a difficult schedule.

“In terms of the actual play, I feel like it was a pretty seamless transition,” said Meyers, who earned a masters in management studies at Maryland. “I was able to adapt to bigger, stronger, faster players. I’m one of those so that wasn’t the biggest challenge. It was communicating with a new team.”

The challenges helped her to continue to develop her game. She worked each day in practice and in games to improve, and some areas stand out as she evaluates herself.

“My one on one game — my ability to break down my player — really improved,” said Meyers.

“And I think my defense as well. We have a saying, ‘guard your yard.’ I think my ability to guard my yard has dramatically improved just through the reps in practice and playing against great players. We had a practice squad of guys and we were with them every day. Those two aspects — my one-onone offense and one-on-one defense improved.”

Those improvements raised her status with the WNBA. She had some contact with teams before the draft but wasn’t sure when she might be drafted exactly.

“The week prior, I had a bunch of interviews with teams,” said Meyers. “I think that’s just protocol. Teams interview you and want to get to know you, get a vibe from you and see how you’re like as a player and pick your brain a little bit. They give you game situations. They ask you some personal questions to get to know you fast, kind of like a speed date. I talked with

Dallas and L.A. and a bunch of other teams. So I knew I was on Dallas’s radar and I knew I had crushed the interview, but I just didn’t expect to be called that early by them. It was quite an exciting moment. Other than that I was pretty much in the dark draft night. No call ahead of time, no updates, it was just very sudden.”

Her selection only put in motion the next steps for her. She immediately began gearing up for the three-week camp that she called “grueling.” Meyers headed to Dallas for a pre-camp physical and to try to start building relationships with the team. Dallas will test its draft picks in every facet as they try to determine their best 12 players.

“I’m going to make sure I bring my best game and be the best teammate I can be and show them what I’m all about,” said Meyers. “If that works for them, it works for them. And if not, it’s OK, I’m going to keep working and move on. It’s going to

be tough. Making a WNBA team is such a tough thing, especially with only 12 teams in the league. I think there’s a real shot to make the team. Any place, I’m going to make sure I put in my game, talk to the coaches, get to know them, watch film with them and get there early. I’m going to work my butt off to really make them think if they want Abby Meyers or not.”

Meyers feels good about what she can bring to a professional team. It comes down to the same assets that made her an All-Ivy and AllBig Ten player in college.

“I have to play as best I can,” said Meyers. “Knockdown shooter, confident driver, good teammate, good playmaker. I just have to do everything that I already do, make shots, and just do it better for those three weeks. That’s what I really have to do.”

If Meyers can do all those things, she could set herself up to exceed expectations once again.

—Justin Feil

PUMPED UP: Abby Meyers screams for joy during a game this past winter for the University of Maryland women’s basketball team. Meyers, a former Princeton standout who was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2022 in her senior season for the Tigers, helped Maryland advance to the NCAA Elite 8. In early April, Meyers was selected by the Dallas Wings in the first round of the 2023 WNBA Draft as the 11th overall pick. The Wings started training camp last Sunday. (Photo provided courtesy of Maryland Athletics)

Star Defender Berry Enjoys Special Senior Day As

PU Women’s Lax Tops Harvard in Home Finale

The constant rain and occasional downpours that soaked the Class of 1952 Stadium last Sunday afternoon didn’t dampen the spirits of the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team as it hosted Harvard in the regular season finale.

“I think we really embraced the rain, everyone was so excited to come out here,” said drenched senior defender Shannon Berry, clutching the bouquet of flowers she received in the Senior Day ceremony. “There were a ton of emotions definitely running through. It was our last game on ’52, it was a bittersweet moment.”

Overcoming a 6-4 second quarter deficit, Princeton pulled out a sweet 17-13 win over the Crimson.

The Tigers, now 7-8 overall and 4-3 Ivy League, are next in action when they compete in the Ivy postseason tournament in Philadelphia, which will determine the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. The third-seeded Tigers will face second-seeded Yale on May 5 in the semis with the victor advancing to the final on May 7.

“We really came out here today and fought hard and battled Harvard,” said Berry, who scooped up two ground balls and had one caused turnover in the victory. “It was a great game.

I am so proud of everyone, overall it was just an amazing day.”

the Tigers broke the game open with a 7-3 run in the third quarter as Kate Mulham, Grace Tauckus, McKenzie Blake, and Haven Dora triggered the Princeton attack. Tauckus and Blake each ended up with four goals in the win while Mulham and Dora chipped in three apiece.

“This team loves a dogfight; we love a tie game at half, stepping back on the field it is 0-0 again,” said Berry. “I think we handled it well. We thrived under that pressure and came out on top. Knowing that it is our last game on ’52 for our season, that energy really propelled us forward. We just wanted it so bad and we were hungry for this win. That was the driving force.”

The Tiger defense fought hard as it stymied a highpowered Crimson attack.

“I was so proud of our defensive unit,” said Berry. “We had each other’s backs and left our hearts on the field.”

Over the years, Berry has seen her role in that unit evolve as she has developed into the voice of the backline and a team captain.

“It has certainly changed a lot from freshman year to now,” said Berry, a 5’5 native of Setauket, N.Y., who has tallied seven goals and five assists in her career with 33 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. “I have certainly grown a lot in terms of developing my

honor to serve as a captain.

I know everyone on defense has my back, it has been great.”

Berry and her teammates are primed for a great fight against Yale, having fallen 15-10 to the Bulldogs in a regular season meeting on March 4.

“We are so excited to head to Philly next weekend and take it to Yale,” said Berry.

“We are on the upswing now, I think we will be hot heading into next weekend. I think the keys for us are keeping our energy up. We have had wins and losses this year. I think just learning from the mistakes we have made and fixing those and just bringing it all.”

The squad’s senior group, who helped Princeton win the 2022 Ivy tourney on the way to the second round of the NCAA tournament, is looking to go out with a bang.

“It is make the most of it,” said Berry. “This is it for us so hopefully we will come out on top in the Ivy tournament and start dancing for the NCAAs.”

No matter what happens this weekend in Philadelphia, Berry has gotten a lot out of her Princeton experience.

“I am so blessed to have such amazing teammates and amazing coaches,” said Berry. “I have developed so much as a person but would not have done that without the amazing people around me.”

—Bill Alden

GETTING

DEFENSIVE: Princeton University women’s lacrosse senior defender Shannon Berry guards the crease in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, Berry and her classmates enjoyed a special Senior Day, helping Princeton defeat Harvard 17-13 in the regular season finale. The Tigers, now 7-8 overall and 4-3 Ivy League, are next in action when they compete in the Ivy postseason tournament in Philadelphia, which will determine the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. The third-seeded Tigers will face second-seeded Yale on May 5 in the semis with the victor advancing to the final on May 7.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU Sports Roundup

Trio of Football Stars

Headed to the NFL

A trio of Princeton University football senior stars, Andrei Iosivas, Henry Byrd, and Matthew Jester, is headed to the NFL.

Star wide receiver Iosivas was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals last Saturday as the 206th pick overall.

Iosivas, a 6’3, 205-pound native of Honolulu, Hawaii, earned four All-American honors following his 2022 season when he led the Ivy League in receptions (66), receiving yards (943), and touchdown catches (seven) while being ranked ninth in the FCS in receiving yards and 14th in receptions per game (6.6) and 16th in receiving yards. Iosivas ended his Princeton career ranked sixth all-time in receiving yards (1,909), 12th in receptions (125), and third in touchdown catches (16).

In addition, Iosivas was also 2022 NCAA All-American in the heptathlon at the indoor championships highlighted by the fastest 60-meter time (6.71). He was also a three-time Ivy champion in the heptathlon.

Byrd, a standout offensive lineman, signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos following the NFL Draft. Byrd, a 6’5, 301-pound native of Nashville, Tenn., was a Stats Perform FCS All-American in 2022 after helping Princeton post the Ivy’s No. 1 passing offense and the No. 2 scoring offense. During his career, Byrd was a threetime All-Ivy selection including two first-team accolades in 2021 and 2022.

Linebacker Jester signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams after the draft. The 6’4, 250-pound Jester, who hails from Spring, Texas, was first-team All-Ivy in 2022 after leading Princeton in both tackles for loss (six) and sacks (three). He had sacks in Ivy League wins over Brown, Harvard and Dartmouth.

Tiger Men’s Lacrosse

Edged by Cornell in OT

Lukas Stanat had a big game in a losing cause as the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team fell 1413 in overtime at Cornell last Saturday in a battle for the Ivy League regular season title.

Junior attacker Stanat tallied two goals and four assists as Princeton overcame an early 6-1 deficit to turn the contest into a nail-biter.

The Tigers, now 6-6 overall and 4-2 Ivy, will next be in action when they face Penn in the semis of the Ivy postseason tournament on May 5 in New York City with the victor advancing to the final on May 7.

Pronceton Softball Wins Ivy Regular Season Title

Serena Starks proved to be the catalyst as the Princeton University softball team topped Dartmouth 10-9 last Saturday to go 2-1 in the series and clinch a share of the Ivy League regular season title.

Senior outfielder and leadoff hitter Starks went 3 for 5 with two runs and one RBI in

the win as Princeton earned the right to host the upcoming Ivy postseason tournament, which will be for the league’s NCAA tournament automatic bid. The Tigers, 24-18 overall and 16-5 Ivy, tied Harvard for first place but topped the Crimson 2-1 in a series to secure home field advantage for the tourney which is slated for May 11-13.

Princeton will be the top seed in the double-elimination competition followed by Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. Princeton will open the tournament on May 11 against Columbia.

Princeton Baseball Goes 2-1 at Yale

Continuing its late surge and making history in the process, the Princeton University baseball team went 2-1 in a three-game set at Yale last weekend.

The Tigers swept Yale 8-0 and 9-1 in a doubleheader last Friday. In the 9-1 win, pitchers Jackson Emus, Jacob Faulkner, and Justin Kim combined on a no-hitter. Starter Emus went 6 2/3 innings and got the win with Faulkner pitching 1 1/3 innings and Kim coming in to pitch the ninth. It was the first no-hitter for Princeton since April of 2008 (Steven Miller) and the 15th in program history.

On Monday, the Tigers fell 7-6 to the Bulldogs to snap their eight-game winning streak.

Princeton, now 21-18 overall and 12-6 Ivy League, plays at Rutgers on May 3 and then hosts Brown for a three-game set with a doubleheader on May 6 and a single game on May 7.

The Tigers have clinched a spot in the upcoming fourteam Ivy postseason tournament which is slated for May 19-22.

Tiger Women’s Tennis

Facing Fordham in NCAAs

In the wake of winning its fourth straight Ivy League title, the No. 49 Princeton University women’s tennis team will be facing Fordham on May 5 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in Charlottesville, Va.

The Tigers, 16-6 overall, would play either No. 11 Virginia or Long Island University in the second round on May 6 if they are able to defeat Fordham.

PU Women’s Golfer Liu

Headed to NCAA Regional Princeton University

women’s golf sophomore star Victoria Liu has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals, named as one of six players to join the field at the regional held in at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

This season, Liu won three tournament titles, at the Princeton Invitational, the Columbia Classic and the UNCW River Landing Classic, while turning in five top10 finishes on the way to a 72.47 stroke average.

Liu placed second individually in the Ivy League Championships in late April and was later named the Ivy Player of the Year.

Last season, Liu competed at the NCAA Regionals after Princeton earned the Ivy League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, helping the team to its best regional finish in program history as the Tigers took sixth at Stanford while Liu tied for 14th overall.

SOAKING IT IN: Members of the Princeton University women’s water polo team celebrate after they defeated Harvard 12-8 in the final of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Tournament last Sunday at DeNunzio Pool. Freshman star Kayla Yelensky tallied four goals to help No. 10 Princeton top the 18th-ranked Crimson and improve to 29-3. The Tigers will now compete in the NCAA tournament where they will face No. 3 California in a quarterfinal contest on May 12 at the Douglass

The NCAA Regional will be held May 8-10. The top player not on one of the top five teams, of the 12 in the regional field, will advance to the NCAA Championships held May 19-24 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Liu is the sixth Tiger to earn an NCAA Regionals bid, all by at-large selection, joining Laura Gilmore ’98 (1995), Mary Moan ’97 (1995, 1996, 1997), Avery Kiser ’05 (2003), Susannah Aboff ’09 (2009), and Kelly Shon ’14 (2011, 2012, 2013).

PU Track Athletes

Excel at Penn Relays

Sondre Guttormsen provided a highlight as Princeton University track athletes enjoyed a big weekend.

Competing in the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas, Guttormsen had produced a historic performance in the pole vault with a leap of 5.90 meters, setting a new school and Ivy League record as well as the new NCAA and world best this year. His also set a new Norwegian outdoor record with the vault.

At the Penn Relays last weekend at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Abby Loveys placed fifth in the college women’s 5,000 meters championship, with a time of 16:05.11, the sixth-fastest time in program history.

In upcoming action, the Tigers track athletes will competing in the Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 6-7 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

PU Women’s Open Crew Defeats Pennsylvania

Remaining undefeated this spring, the top-ranked Princeton University women’s open crew varsity 8 defeated Penn last Saturday on Lake Carnegie.

Princeton posted a winning time of 6:27.8 over the 2,000-meter course with Penn coming in at 6:29.8.

The Tigers are next in action when they compete in the Ivy League Championships on May 14 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

PU Women’s Lightweights

Capture Eastern Sprints Title

Continuing its dominant campaign, the top-ranked and defending national champion Princeton University women’s lightweight

varsity 8 cruised to first place in the Eastern Sprints last Sunday on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

The Tigers covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:29.29, well ahead of Boston University who finished second in 6:33.58 with Georgetown taking third in 6:35.38.

In upcoming action, Princeton will look to win its third straight national title as it competes into IRA national championships from June 2-4 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor.

Tiger Men’s Heavyweights

Top Brown for Content Cup

Producing a solid effort, the No. 4 Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity 8 defeated No. 10 Brown last Saturday in the race for the Content Cup.

The Tigers clocked a time of 5:42.8 over the 2,000-meter course on Lake Carnegie with Brown coming in 5:46.0.

Princeton will be competing in the Eastern Sprints on May 14 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

PU Men’s Lightweights

Defeat Harvard, Yale

Coming through in some hotly-contested racing, the No. 2 Princeton University

BOARDING

men’s lightweight varsity 8 defeated No. 4 Yale and No. 5 Harvard last Saturday on the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass.

One-Year Subscription: $20

Two-Year Subscription: $25 Subscription Information: 609.924.5400 ext. 30 or subscriptions@ witherspoonmediagroup.com princetonmagazine.com

In the race for the Goldthwait Cup, Princeton’s top boat clocked a winning time of 5:40.5 over the 2,000-meter course with Yale just behind in 5:40.9 and Harvard taking third in 6:05.2.

The Tigers’ second varsity 8 won an even closer race by .2 seconds (5:43.1) over No. 5 Harvard (5:43.3).

Yale’s varsity four (6:53.8), third varsity 8 (5:52.5) and fourth varsity 8 (5:59.6) also collected wins in the regatta.

Princeton and Yale were tied with 24 points and the varsity 8’s win broke the tie, giving the Tiger program the Vogel Cup.

Princeton is next in action when it competes in the Eastern Sprints on May 14 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

One-Year Subscription: $20

Two-Year Subscription: $25

Subscription Information: 609.924.5400 ext. 30 or subscriptions@ witherspoonmediagroup.com princetonmagazine.com

SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TO MULCH with Pepper deTuro WOODWINDS ASSOCIATES

Spring is a great time to be out in the yard spreading shovels full of composted woodchip mulch under your trees. Trees with mulched root zones are usually large, more vigorous, develop faster and have higher rates of survival than plants surrounded by turf grass or bare dirt. Mulches retain soil moisture and reduce erosion and soil compaction. Mulched trees also have fewer weeds which reduces the need for the roots to compete for limited resources.

Good mulching

How wide is wide? A good mulch bed should extend out at least three feet from a tree’s trunk in all directions, though extending out to the drip line is preferred. This is where the fine, absorbing tree roots extend out into the soil and mulch provides many health-related benefits for these roots.

PERSONAL PAPERWORK SOLUTIONS...AND MORE, INC.

During these challenging times we are actively supporting our clients providing the following services as “your virtual home office.”

www.ppsmore.com

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.

How deep is deep? The mulch bed depth should be maintained at two to three inches.

Bad mulching No volcanoes please! Volcano mulching is when the mulch is piled high around the base of the tree. This practice traps moisture around the trunk and root flare, leading to decay, girdling roots and often structural failure.

Call WOODWINDS (609) 924-3500 or email treecare@woodwinds.biz

to schedule a spring tree inspection and evaluation.

M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center in Stockton, Calif.

(Photo by Sideline Photos, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

well loved and well read since 1946

Displaying its Depth, Talent with Dominant Effort, PHS Boys’ Tennis Wins MCT for 1st Time Since ’03

It was a shot that exemplified the skill and verve displayed by the Princeton High boys’ tennis team last week at the Mercer County Tournament.

Playing in the second singles final last Wednesday at the Mercer County Park tennis complex, junior star Melvin Huang chased down a shot from Joshua Chu of Princeton Day School in the first set and flipped it between his legs over his foe for a winner.

Huang went on to win the match in straight sets, providing one of many highlights as PHS rolled to the title, winning the program’s first MCT crown since 2003.

The Tigers advanced to the semifinals in all five flights of the tourney, making the finals in four as they piled up 26.5 points with runner-up Pennington well behind with 20. In addition to Huang’s win at second singles, the pair of Aman Kapur and Andrew Kuo prevailed at second doubles. Jonathan Gu placed second at first singles while Garrett Mathewson was the runnerup at third singles. The first doubles pair of Nikita Medvedev and Shaan Zaveri took third.

For Huang, the squad’s dominant performance served notice that it is a force this spring.

“It feels really great,” said Huang. “It feels like now we are proving to everyone that we are a team that people should watch out for.”

Huang proved he is someone to watch, rolling to a 6-0, 6-3 win over Joshua Chu of Princeton Day School in the second singles final.

“My game play was just to stay consistent because I knew he has big weapons but his backhand is not as strong,” said Huang. “I was just trying to play his backhand, make him play balls, and just try to tire him out.”

Playing the shot between his legs for a winner against Chu didn’t come out of nowhere. “I have been working on it in practice,” said a grinning Huang.

Huang worked hard to improve his game over the last year.

“I have raised my level at everything,” said Huang. “I have the same base but at a higher level; I am a little bit faster, a little bit heavier. My serve is a lot better than last year. Last year I was struggling with injuries so I wasn’t 100 percent. I was working on conditioning this summer and it paid off a lot.”

Getting the county crown as a payoff meant a lot to Huang. “It is my first title here,” said Huang. “It is a big confidence boost, finally ending on a win not a loss. It is really nice.”

It was very nice for PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert to see her team end its title drought.

“It has been a very long time, it is great for them,” said Hibbert. “It is a really solid group. I think it is the depth and they are hard workers. We have the returning one-two punch of Jonathan and Melvin and then bringing in Garrett as a third singles as a freshman. He really solidified our

singles lineup. We have the depth throughout the lineup. It is nice having the 1-2-3 singles punch but every once in a while there are going to be players that are better so to have the doubles teams with Nikita and Shaan and Aman and Andrew be strong and back up the singles is crucial.”

Huang’s strong performance was crucial to the win. “Melvin has absolutely raised his game, he works so hard on his game,” said Hibbert. “Melvin played fantastically, it is his first county title. He puts in all of the hard work and sweat. He has a lot more power. He is able to finish points a lot quicker. In his freshman year, he was very steady but he couldn’t finish the points with the same vigor. This year, he has the ability to rally but he can step up and really put the point away.”

While first singles senior star Gu fell in three sets in the first singles final to PDS sophomore standout Heyang Li, Hibbert was proud of his effort.

“Jonathan played a good second set, he forced a third, it was a couple of unforced errors for him at times that he doesn’t usually make,” said Hibbert.

“He was a little disappointed, he is focusing on school as well. He is an all-around student athlete; he is incredibly bright in addition to his fantastic tennis game. It is a little disappointing for him, maybe it will motivate him to up the game a little bit going forward. He fought hard.”

Mathewson has been a big help at third singles for the Tigers.

“Garrett is playing fantastic tennis, he is left-handed and has a great all-around game coming in as a freshman,” said Hibbert of Mathewson who lost in the third singles final to Pennington’s Ishan Gupta in a hard-fought three-setter.

“He brings a lot of experience from the tournaments. He has been doing fantastically well in the final, raising his game. He played a solid player and played him really well.

The second doubles pair of junior Kapur and freshman Kuo is developing into something special.

“It is a new pairing, it is a freshman/junior, Aman only saw time for us at the end of

last season,” said Hibbert of the pair who edged Pennington’s Rishabh Ramaswamy and Shubh Gangrade 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in their final.

When it really counted, he stepped in last year in a big way. He helped clinch two of the state matches for us. It is nice for him to get the opportunity to be in the lineup. Andrew comes with a really strong singles game. It is getting the two of them to mesh and became a doubles team. They had some amazing matches today. Against South, it was a tiebreak to get through. They had to fight through that match in the final, they had to play a third set. It is a long day for them but they really stepped up and it is fantastic.”

At first doubles, the duo of junior Medvedev and sophomore Zaveri fell 6-4, 6-4 to Prithvi Sunkavelli and Lukas Karapelou of WW/P-North in the semis before topping Oliver Silverio and Steven Li of PDS in the third place match.

“They had a bit of a shaky semi, it is the same exact result as the last time they played them,” said Hibbert. “They know they can do a little better, I am sure we will see them another time. We will just have to keep working on the consistency at the right time. It is a good pairing. They came back and won that third place match and that is a solid PDS team.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming state tournament, Hibbert believes that PHS can make a deep run in the wake of its championship performance at the MCT.

“We just have to keep focused and healthy,” said Hibbert, whose team is 6-0 in dual match play so far this spring. “We all had good draws to get all five through to the semi and four through the finals. It is a great showing and hopefully we will be able to build from there.”

Huang is confident that the Tigers will keep playing great over the final weeks of the season.

“With our team, this is the year,” said Huang. “Being able to take a title here means we can beat guys at states. We have a lot of depth and lot of high level players like Garrett and Jon. It gives us something to look forward to in our matches.”

— Bill Alden

SERVING NOTICE: Princeton High boys’ tennis junior star Melvin Huang follows through on a serve last week at the Mercer County Tournament. Huang took the title at second singles, helping PHS roll to the team title. It marked the first county crown for the program since 2003. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming Through in Dramatic Playoff, PHS Boys’ Golf Wins MCT Championship

For Pat Noone, it had the feel of a movie scene when his Princeton High boys’ golf team faced Allentown in a 10-man playoff after the foes had tied for first at the Mercer County Tournament last week at the Mercer Oaks West course.

“It was cool because you had 200 people standing around watching, it looked like something out of the Legend of Bagger Vance,” said PHS head coach Noone, whose squad and the Redbirds both had a score of 299 at the end of the 18hole competition. “It was a great atmosphere.”

The Tigers came through in the playoff, winning the first hole by one stroke as they carded three pars and a bogey while the Redbirds had two pars and two bogeys.

In Noone’s view, the team’s familiarity with the playoff format helped it prevail.

“The funny thing was that we got into the same thing last year at the state sectional when we won it,” said Noone. “We had a 10-man playoff also, so maybe we were a little bit used to it.”

Winning the county title was special on many levels for the Tigers since they had placed second in the 2022 MCT and last won the title in 2007.

Junior star Brooks CahillSanidas led the way for PHS, tying for third individually with a two-under 70 while senior Wes Yonish placed fifth in 72 and junior Peter Eaton took 15th with

a 76. Benji Tarter placed 24th with an 81 while Walter Gumbinger fired an 84 to tie for 32nd.

“It is huge, we won the CVC match play in 2021 and these guys kind of all came in with me,” said Noone.

“Brooks was a freshman, Pete was a freshman, Benji was a freshman, Wes was a sophomore. It was the first year I was on with coach [Sheryl] Severance. We have grown together. We got the match play championship and the sectional championship and now we have this championship too. It has just been such a good thing they have been building.”

In his second year at the helm of the program after succeeding the legendary Severance, Noone minimizes his role in the team’s building process.

“It is pretty cool, it is the guys who put in the work,” said Noone. “I get to be in a practice with them and watch them play. It is the work they put in. I just sign the scorecard and call it a day.”

The play of Cahill-Sanidas has made a big difference for the Tigers.

“First of all, our No. 1 Brooks, has worked his tail off and has gotten so good,” said Noone. “He is so deserving because of his effort and work.”

Yonish and Eaton stepped up when it counted at the MCT.

“Peter and Wes were big, important pieces to our

team last year and they didn’t play so well in the MCT; that was on me for not getting enough 18-hole tournaments,” said Noone.

“We got one in Wall early in the year and they played a little bit better but they still weren’t where they wanted to be. For those two guys, it was such a honor for them to do what they did. In today’s day and age, kids are likely to quit when they hit roadblocks. It is unbelievable what Wes did. He kept working and working and he gets a 72. Pete was the same way, it is so easy to get frustrated but he kept working.”

A key factor in the squad’s success is the way the players have come together.

“They work so hard and they get along so well,” said Noone.

“They have a special bond. They really pull for each other, they are always working together. Practices are so much fun, they are always going to eat afterward. You hear at the end of practice, Jersey Mike’s, WaWa, Brooks leads the charge. They are always together, it is really cool. It is great that the work paid off, a lot of times the work doesn’t pay off.”

With PHS slated to start state play by competing in a sectional on May 9, Noone believes his squad’s work will keep paying off.

“We are in a really good place; the MCT is great but seeing them get better is really awesome,” said Noone. “Nobody gets frustrated

Best Pizzeria

Thank you to our customers for voting us Best Pizza

Thank you to our customers for voting us Best Pizza

CROWNING

when they play bad, they don’t get upset. They keep rebounding — the resilience is awesome.”

—Bill Alden

you to our customers for voting us Best Pizza

Since [1950] Conte’s has become a Princeton destination; a great old-school bar that also happens to serve some of New Jersey’s best pizza, thin-crusted and bubbly. The restaurant hasn’t changed much since then; even the tables are the same. It’s a simple, no-frills space, but if you visit during peak times, be prepared to wait well over an hour for a table.

We could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers.

We could not have reached these accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers.

We could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers.

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Serving the Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more.

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Serving the Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more.

Now

Mon – 11:30-9 Tues-Fri – 11:30-10:30 Sat – 4-10:30 Sun – 4-9

serving gluten-free pizza, pasta, beer & vodka!

339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8041 • www.contespizzaandbar.com

339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8041 • www.contespizzaandbar.com

could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers.

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more. 11:30-9 Tues-Fri – 11:30-10:30 Sat – 4-10:30 Sun – 4-9 339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8041 • www.contespizzaandbar.com

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s

MOMENT: Members of the Princeton High boys’ golf team are all smiles as they won the Mercer County Tournament last week at the Mercer Oaks West course. The squad tied Allentown at 299 through 18 holes and then won the title after carding the lowest score on the first hole in a 10-man playoff. It marked the program’s first MCT crown since 2007. Pictured, from left, are Walter Gumbinger, Brooks Cahill-Sanidas, Wes Yonish, Peter Eaton, Benji Tarter, and head coach Pat Noone.

With Ewanchyna Sparking Stifling Defensive Effort, PDS Boys’ Lax Tops Gill St. Bernard’s in Prep B Final

After edging Gill St. Bernard’s 8-7 in a regular season contest on April 11, the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team found itself trailing the Knights 4-2 at halftime last Monday when the foes met for a rematch in the Prep B state final.

PHS senior defender Ace Ewanchyna, though, was not concerned about fourthseeded Gill turning the tables on the second-seeded Panthers.

“It was the first half, the coaches were saying there was a long way to go, a whole new game,” said Ewanchyna. “We were doing some preventable things, like letting guys cut backside, stuff like that. On offense we were just a little bit slow; we made some errors like dropping passes, stuff like that. We just had to clean some things up and play our game.”

In the second half, PDS cleaned up, outscoring the visiting Knights 3-1 in the third quarter to seize momentum and never looked back on the way to a 9-6 triumph and the program’s first Prep B crown since 2017.

With Ewanchyna gobbling up ground balls all over the field, the Panther defense put the clamps on the Knights as it held them to two goals in the second half.

In the aftermath of a raucous celebration which included group hugs and numerous photo ops, Ewanchyna downplayed his role on the PDS backline.

“I just have to mesh in and be part of the unit, like the rest of them,” said Ewanchyna. “Things go our way and I am part of something bigger.”

Ewanchyna enjoys being part of the unit which includes classmates Milan Patel, Nico Cucchi, and Will Brown.

“All of us are seniors, we have good bonds on and off the field,” said Ewanchyna. “We are really tight — they are some of my best buddies. In our free time, I see them all of the time. That is a good part, it comes naturally on the field.”

At the offensive end of the field, junior attacker Sebastian Rzeczycki made the difference for the

Panthers, scoring four goals in the second half to power the squad’s second half surge.

“He is always showing up consistently putting up a lot of numbers,” said Ewanchyna of Rzeczycki. “If I get the ball on the defensive end or one of the other guys does, we look to him. We can trust him to score.”

Winning the title was particularly meaningful for the Panthers after they went 6-11 in 2022, getting knocked out in the first round of the Prep B tourney and losing in the Mercer County Tournament quarters and the semis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tourney.

“It is one of three and now we are looking ahead to the next one,” said Ewanchyna. “It feels great. Last year was a little disappointing, we worked hard and it didn’t really pay off. It shows what we are capable of and it shows what we can do.”

In reflecting on the progress from last season as PDS improved to 8-4 with the win over Gill, Ewanchyna views it as product of experience and toughness.

“We matured a little bit, it is finding some confidence,” said Ewanchyna. “Everybody has been working together more as a unit. Last year, we were a little shy, a little scared, but we are not backing down this year. We are working hard.”

PDS head coach Joe Moore, for his part, was confident that his squad wouldn’t back down against Gill despite the shaky start.

“Knowing how much talent we have with this group, I am never really concerned,” said Moore. “It is more of finding a way to pull it out of these guys. At halftime, it was more playing with confidence and knowing that we were the better team and we just have to prove it. The third quarter was going to be the decision-maker for us and we told them that. We are going to show up in the third quarter and we are going to get out of here with a win or we are going to keep playing like we did in the first half and it is going to be a rough day.”

Getting a big day from sophomore Asher Lewis proved crucial for the Panthers.

“Asher did a great job to give us 50/50 chances on the X,” said Moore of Lewis, who won 12-of-18 face-offs on the day. “Ace and Nick Somogyi did a great job picking up the balls up and possessing the ball from there.”

Moore credited Rzeczycki with doing a great job triggering the PDS attack.

“He was unbelievable, he finds the back of the net when he really needs to,” said Moore, who also got one goal apiece in the win from Ollie Hall, Harry Bernardi, Hart Nowakoski, Matt Whittaker, and Andrew Ahrens. “I was proud of what he did today, being a downhill dodger.”

The Panther defense held the fort as the offense started clicking.

“I love those guys, they continue to evolve,” said Moore. “They had a really rough day on Saturday against Princeton (a 10-9 loss), so they were itching to get back on the field. We don’t win a championship today without our defense playing the way that they play.”

The play of Ewanchyna has sparked that unit. “Ace is amazing, he is the heart of our team,” said Moore. “Today, you saw it on the ground balls. He doesn’t just pick them up, he goes down and makes the right play as well which is really not easy. Ace is a great leader.”

In Moore’s view, winning the Prep B crown should be a great impetus as the Panthers go after MCT and Non-Public titles over the next month.

“It is amazing; ultimately we are going to use this to give us confidence,” said Moore. “We know we can win a championship now. We just have to continue to prove it and get better every day in our own way. I know we really wanted to get this one. It is nice to have a championship at this stage of the season where you can use it to build momentum.”

Ewanchyna concurs, believing that coming through Monday sets up PDS for a memorable postseason run.

“We have got one and we have a couple more to go,” said Ewanchyna. “This is the spark for the rest of it.”

—Bill Alden

PDS Boys’ Tennis Takes 3rd in County Tournament

As Li Makes Memorable Debut by Winning 1st Singles

Heyang Li opted not to play for the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team last spring as a freshman so he could focus on USTA tournaments.

Coming into 2023, Li took some advice to heart and decided to join the PDS squad.

“One of my private coaches, Glenn Michibata, helped convince me to play high school tennis because he thought it was really fun,” said Li. “It is really fun playing with all of these guys.”

Last week, Li had a lot of fun as he won the first singles title at the Mercer County Tournament, upsetting defending county and state champion Jonathan Gu of Princeton High 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the final.

In facing the formidable senior star Gu before a big crowd at the stadium court at the Mercer County Park tennis complex, sophomore Li kept things simple.

“It was staying solid and being positive the whole time, playing my game, getting to the net, and hitting to his backhand,” said Li, reflecting on taking the first set. “I was taking my time, creating space and finding an opportunity to win the point.

After losing the second set, Li caught his breath and looked to take his time in the final set.

“I wasn’t playing my own game, I was making more unforced errors in general and then I just started play ing more solid,” said Li. “I went to the bathroom and I filled my water. I took my time. One of the strategies I used was taking more time between points and not rushing at all. I don’t think I showed any frustra tion in the whole match, that was one positive thing that helped me through the third set.”

For Li, winning the MCT title in his debut at the com petition was special.

“It is my first time playing high school tennis,” said Li. “It means a lot, I have never played this before.”

PDS head coach Michael Augsberger was impressed with the way Li kept his composure in overcoming Gu.

“That shows a lot of men tal toughness to be able to think it might be there in the second set and then you have to re-set yourself,” said Augsberger, whose team rode Li’s heroics to finish third in the team standings at the event won by PHS.

“Jonathan is smart, he is a senior and a savvy player. He knows how to handle things, the pace of the game. He made the adjustments that you needed to make. Heyang had to adjust and readjust. It was really a nuanced match that was played. To pull it out in the last part of the third set is really satisfying for him.”

In pulling out the win, Li displayed his savvy and skill. “It was about attacking his backhand,” said Augsberger of Li’s approach. “I think in the third set, it is hard to keep that up. Both guys were tired, it was their second match of the day. Heyang had really good touch at the net today. He was able to pull him in when he didn’t necessarily want to be in.

His drop shots were good, that was where he was able to get it done.”

Senior star Joshua Chu produced some good moments, placing second at second singles.

“We are really proud of Josh, he wasn’t feeling 100 percent today but he fought really well,” said Augsberger of Chu who fell in straight sets in the final to Melvin Huang of PHS. “Melvin is a really tough guy to play, he gets to everything. He has got power, he is not just a pusher. You have to have a lot of patience to play Melvin. When it is your second match of the day, it is tough.”

The first doubles pair of senior Oliver Silverio and junior Steven Li advanced to semis and ended up taking fourth in their flight, falling to Nikita Medvedev and Shaan Zaveri of PHS in the third-place match.

“It is good for the Prep B for them to play this level of competition and push themselves,” said Augsberger. “We pushed ourselves against Germantown

Academy (Pa.) and against Rutgers Prep. You get here and we had really good aspirations as a team. You realize that Princeton is out of this world this year and that is just the way it is.”

With the Prep B state tournament and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tourney on the horizon, Augsberger believes that his players will benefit from the MCT experience as they go after titles in those competitions.

“You want to be able to peak at the right times and the boys season is longer than the girls so you have to manage it a little bit more,” said Augsberger. “This is one of those peaks in the middle of the entire season, hopefully we can ride the momentum. You can’t stay on that high because it is just too long of a season. The state tournament is not for another month.”

Li, for his part, gained confidence from his triumph over Gu and is looking to have more fun over the rest of the spring.

“It is mentality, it has made me a lot stronger,” said Li. “I feel great.”

—Bill Alden

DAZZLING DEBUT: Princeton Day School boys’ tennis player Heyang Li smacks a forehand last week at the Mercer County Tournament. Sophomore star Li made a memorable debut at the MCT, upsetting defending county and state champion Jonathan Gu of Princeton High in the final to win the title at first singles. Li’s heroics helped PDS finish third in the team standings at the event.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

CREASE CONTROL: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse goalie Jake Harrison and the PDS defense stifle a foe in recent action. Last Monday, the Panther backline stood tall as second-seeded PDS defeated fourth-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s 9-6 in the Prep B state final. It marked the first Prep B crown for PDS since 2017. The Panthers, now 8-4, play at Hun on May 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Outfielder Xiong Enjoying Big Senior Year, Helping Hun Softball Get Off to 12-0 Start

Kat Xiong got off to a rough start as the Hun School softball team hosted South Hunterdon last Thursday.

Senior star center fielder Xiong uncharacteristically struck out looking as she batted second in the bottom of the first inning.

Displaying her poise, Xiong didn’t let that disappointing at-bat get her down.

“I just cleared my head and forgot about it,” said Xiong. “It was just a fluke, it was next one.”

In her next at bat, Xiong hit a bloop single over second base in the second inning as Hun exploded for a 10-run rally. Later in the frame, she smacked a triple to left center to drive in three runs.

“Everyone else was getting ups there and getting hits,” said Xiong. “The momentum was building, I was using that to carry on to my next at bat.”

Hitting the triple was a highlight for Xiong as Hun rolled to a 12-0 win over the Eagles, improving to 12-0 in the process. “I was relieved, it felt great to get three more runs on the board for our team,” said Xiong, who ended the day going 2 for 3 with a run and three RBIs.

Getting runs on the board for the Raiders has become a calling card for Xiong this spring as she and Lexi Kobryn are tied for the team lead in RBIs with 27.

“I don’t try to hit home runs or anything,” said Xiong. “I know my job is to get people home, get on base, and put the ball on the ground. I have been getting on base a lot more, my onbase percentage is up, most of the time I am on base. I hit a home run a few games ago against Hopewell Valley, that was my first of the season.”

With Hun heading in the homestretch of the season,

Xiong is looking to make the most of her final spring with the Raiders.

“I can’t think about it, I get so sad, it is very bittersweet,” said Xiong. “I am just trying to soak it in.”

Having committed to attend Colby College and play for its softball program, Xiong is looking forward to some more sweet moments in the game.

“I wanted the highest education possible, it is a great school,” said Xiong, reflecting on her decision to attend Colby.

“I love the coaching staff there and the girls and the environment there. Everyone was just so nice, unbelievably nice, so I knew it was the place for me.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk loved the contributions she got throughout the batting order against South Hunterdon as the Raiders pounded out eight hits.

“That is what we have been working on,” said Quirk. “We can’t have one person try to carry the team.”

Quirk credited a pair of seniors, Xiong and Nina Amodio, with providing a spark against the Eagles.

“Kat is a leader in RBIs; when she is on, she is on,” said Quirk. “She does have a nice bat and she controls the outfield for us. We have actually been having Nina at designated hitter and today we said we are going to let her have a chance to be in the field. She has a nice catch out there in right field and had two nice hits up the middle.”

In reflecting on Hun’s 12-0 start, Quick credits the nice chemistry that has developed among the players.

“They are just a great bunch of kids; they support each other, everybody gets along,” said Quirk. “The younger kids don’t play much, it was very nice to get everyone in today. We have

won big in other games, you get to 10 runs ahead and the game is over. They played two defensive innings today.”

With the Raiders playing at Robbinsville High on May 4 and at the Blair Academy on May 6 before hosting the Peddie School on May 9, Quirk wants her players to keep focusing on doing their jobs and not on the undefeated record.

“I do like where we are at, we don’t use the ‘U’ word,” said Quirk, who guided Hun to an 18-1 mark last spring on the way to a Prep A state title. “We just do one game at a time, we don’t talk about the future. I am just happy with all of them. Bri Riviello at third base does a nice job for us. Anna Murphy has been doing a nice job for us out in the field and with the bat. Sam Jolly is very patient at the plate. I am happy with Emma Eisenberg behind the plate.”

Xiong is very happy with how things are going so far this spring.

“We actually love each other, it is genuine; the team chemistry is great,” said Xiong. “We are undefeated right now and it is because we know we are a family. We fight sometimes but that is because we know at the end of the day, it will be forgotten. We are like sisters, we have so much fun.”

—Bill Alden

Rider Furniture

Fueled by Sophomore Lee’s Dynamic Play, Stuart Lax Displaying Growth, Improvement

Allison Lee is piling up some impressive stats this spring for the Stuart County Day School lacrosse team.

Talented sophomore midfielder Lee tallied 51 goals through Stuart’s first nine games, the seventh most goals in the state.

But Lee will tell you that her prolific scoring is the product of a group effort rather than any individual brilliance on her part.

“I could not have done it without this team, they have always been supporting me and have been with me every step of the way,” said Lee, after scoring four goals in an 11-8 loss to Steinert last Wednesday evening under the lights at Hamilton Veterans Park.

“All of the seniors and upperclassmen creating this great sense of team, it is such a great team culture and it really reflects how Stuart girls are in general. Everyone on the team has their own goal and responsibility and mine just happens to be helping us score goals. I think it is my privilege.”

In the matchup against Steinert, the Stuart girls showed their character as they played on grass rather than field turf for the first time this season, had to play through with rain showers, and deal with a tough Steinert squad.

“It was really tough, we had to adjust to the conditions as well with the weather,” said Lee. “It was a very physical game, so we had to be mentally tough. We embraced the physicality and realized that the refs and the conditions weren’t going to change. It was the same for both teams. We realized that we had to focus and play our game.”

The Tartans drew within one goal of the Spartans twice in the second half but couldn’t get over the hump over the final minutes of the contest.

“We were definitely close there a lot of times,” said Lee. “It was definitely a team effort but we needed

to finish that one more play. I think we were right there with them. Everyone played hard and I am really proud of them.”

Lee has formed a close bond with senior star Emily Ix. The players each hit the 100-goal career mark earlier this season.

“I am so happy for her, she works so hard,” said Lee of Ix. “She is such a great teammate. I am super proud of her.”

Over the last year, Lee has worked hard to hone her skills.

“I have been working out, getting stronger in the past year,” said Lee, who scored six goals in a 16-13 loss to Pennington School last Monday, giving her 61 for the season. “I play club for Philly Blast in Pennsylvania.”

Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik liked the strong effort she got from her players in the loss to Steinert.

“We did a lot of things well today under adverse conditions and against a very good team,” said Bruvik. “I am really proud of the improvement I am seeing from end line to end line and in the midfield with some better connections. Our kids battled right until the end, that is all I can ask for.”

Bruvik is getting all she could ask for from sophomore star Lee.

“She is dynamic,” said Bruvik of Lee. “She can do everything. You find her on big defensive plays and ground balls. She has been great in terms of helping everybody on the field continue to build, whether it is skills or knowledge of the game. She is the quarterback on the field.”

The one-two punch of Lee and Ix has powered Stuart this spring.

“They have a connection, we really rely on them to do a lot,” said Bruvik. “That was so exciting to see them get the 100 goals. I am so proud of both of them. Emily lost her freshman year when we didn’t have a

lacrosse season and for Allison to do it as a sophomore is fabulous.”

Stuart got contributions all over the field against Spartans.

“Everybody else has roles and they are ready for whatever is thrown their way,” said Bruvik. “I thought Sydney [Amato] had a great game. Our defense was better, Abby [Snyder] made saves. I have to make a huge shout-out to our midfield for how much they have to handle, game in and game out. It is Emily and Allison and Abby [Chirik] jumps in there along with Sydney. We were able to rotate.”

With Stuart, now 2-9, hosting Steinert in a rematch on May 6 and then starting play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8, Bruvik is excited to see her squad make more progress over the final weeks of the season.

“They came out ready to play tonight; we took what we learned yesterday (in an 18-7 loss to MorristownBeard in the Prep B state quarterfinals) and said let’s try this today,” said Bruvik. “It was what else can we do today to make this team better. I am just so happy these kids decided to play. This group has good chemistry. There is always something to learn, for me too. There is always something for everybody to learn.”

Lee, for her part, believes that the Tartans are putting those lessons to work.

“We are definitely way more experienced than the start of the season,” said Lee. “I think we just need to put all of the things we have learned together and we will be in good shape.”

—Bill Alden

ALL IN: Stuart County Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee heads upfield in a 2022 game. Sophomore star midfielder Lee has sparked the Stuart attack this spring, tallying 61 goals through 11 games to rank in the top 10 in goals in New Jersey. The Tartans, who lost 16-13 to Pennington last Monday in moving to 2-9, host Steinert on May 6 and then start play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

KAT QUICK: Hun School softball player Kat Xiong makes contact in recent action. Senior center fielder Xiong has been starring with her bat and glove as Hun has gotten off to a 12-0 start. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at Robbinsville High on May 4 and at the Blair Academy on May 6 before hosting the Peddie School on May 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hun

Baseball : Michael Jolly starred as Hun defeated Seton Hall Prep 7-1 last Thursday. Jolly went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs, and three RBIs to help the Raiders improve 9-5. Hun plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on May 3, at Steinert High on May 4, and at Peddie on May 9.

Boys’ Lacrosse: Coming through in a defensive battle, Hun defeated the Christian Brothers Academy 8-5 last Monday. The Raiders, now 5-4, host PDS on May 3.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Abby O’Brien, Hun edged Hopewell Valley 11-9 last Monday. Senior star O’Brien tallied three goals and two assists to help the Raiders improve to 7-4. In upcoming action, Hun will start play in the Prep A state tournament where it is seeded sixth and will play at third-seeded Trinity Hall on May 3 in a quarterfinal contest. In addition, the Raiders will play at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on May 6 in a regular season contest and then start play

in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8.

Boys’ Tennis : The second doubles pair of Scott Richmond and Brandon Scileppi advanced to the Round of 16 as did Julien

Arseneault at third singles to provide highlights for Hun as it finished 11th at the Mercer County Tournament last week. The Raiders host the Hill School (Pa.) on May 3 and then play at the Peddie School on May 9.

Lawrenceville

Baseball : Liam O’Hearen came up big as Lawrenceville defeated Hun 5-1 last week. O’Hearen got the win on the mound for the Big Red, pitching a complete game with 10 strikeouts and also went 2-for-3 with one RBI in the April 25 contest. Lawrenceville, who improved to 6-6 with the victory, hosts the Peddie School on May 3, Lawrence High on May 5, and Princeton High on May 8.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Lexie Koch, Lawrenceville defeated Mercersburg

Academy (Pa.) 19-7 last Saturday. Koch tallied six goals as the Big Red improved to 8-2. In upcoming action, Lawrenceville will be starting play in the Prep A state tournament where it is seeded second and will host seventh-seeded Peddie School in a quarterfinal contest on May 3. In addition, Lawrenceville will be hosting the Pingry School on May 6 in a regular season game before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8.

PDS

Baseball : Running into a buzz saw, PDS lost 16-0 to Pennington last Saturday. The Panthers were held to four hits as they dropped to 0-13. PDS plays at the Peddie School on May 5 and at Lawrence High on May 6. In addition, the Panthers will be starting action in the Prep B state tournament where they are seeded seventh and will play at second-seeded Rutgers Prep in a quarterfinal contest on May 4.

Softball : Adriana Salzano starred as PDS defeated Hopewell Valley 4-2 last Thursday. Salzano went 2 for 3 with two runs and one RBI and pitched a complete game with six strikeouts and one walk for the Panthers.

PDS, who fell 6-1 to Lawrenceville last Monday to move to 1-5, plays at Rutgers Prep on May 8.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Tessa Caputo, PDS defeated Peddie 14-9 last

Wednesday. Junior star Caputo tallied four goals and three assists as the Panthers improved to 6-3. PDS plays at Notre Dame on May 3 and then hosts Lawrenceville on May 5. In addition, the Panthers will be starting play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8 and hosting Pennington in the Prep B state semis on May 9.

defeating Garrett Mathewson of Princeton High 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in the final last Wednesday at the Mercer County Park tennis complex. The pair of Rishabh

Ramaswamy and Shubh

Gangrade placed second at second doubles as the duo of Andrew Kuo and Aman Kapur of Princeton High prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the final. PHS placed first in the team standings with 26.5 points with the Red Hawks accumulating 20 in taking second.

Pennington PHS

Baseball : Caleb Hibbert had a huge game as Pennington defeated Princeton Day School 16-0 last Thursday. Hibbert went 3 for 4 with a homer, four runs, and four RBIs for the Red Hawks, who improved to 11-1. Pennington hosts the Blair Academy on May 3 and Hopewell Valley on May 6. In addition, the Red Hawks will start play in the Prep B state tournament where they are seeded first and will host eighth-seeded MorristownBeard on May 4 in a quarterfinal contest.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Led by Hailey Adamsky, Pennington defeated Stuart Country Day 16-13 last Monday. Adamsky tallied four goals and four assists as the Red Hawks improved to 7-2. Pennington plays at WW/P-North on May 3 and at Hightstown on May 5. In addition, the Red Hawks will start play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8 and continue action in the Prep B state where they will be playing at Princeton Day School on May 9 in a semifinal contest.

Boys’ Tennis: Ishan Gupta provided a highlight as Pennington placed second in the Mercer County Tournament last week. Gupta won the third singles title,

Softball : Erin Pilicer starred in a losing cause as PHS fell 5-2 to Ewing last Monday. Pilicer had two hits and pitched a complete game with two strikeouts and a walk for the Tigers, who dropped to 2-9. PHS plays at Steinert on May 3 and at Hopewell Valley on May 8.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Patrick Kenah triggered the attack as PHS edged Princeton Day School 10-9 last Saturday. Junior star Kenah tallied

five goals and one assist in the win for the Tigers, who improved to 6-4. PHS plays at Robbinsville on May 4 and then hosts Lawrence High on May 8.

Local Sports

Princeton Post 218 Legion Baseball Evaluations May 7, 13

The Princeton American Legion Post 218 baseball team is holding player evaluation/workouts on May 7 from 3-5 p.m. and May 13 from 2-4 p.m., with both sessions to take place at Smoyer Field on Snowden Lane.

The program encourages all interested high school players from Princeton High, Princeton Day School, Hun School, and Notre Dame High or any players who live in the towns of Princeton and Cranbury to attend these two sessions. In addition, college freshman born in 2004 may also be eligible to play. For more information on the program and to RSVP for the tryouts, contact Jon Durbin at jonwdurbin@ gmail.com.

MOUND GEM: Princeton High pitcher Wes Price fires a pitch in a game last year. Last week, senior Price hurled a no-hitter as PHS defeated Trenton Central 10-0. Price struck out seven while walking two in the April 25 contest which

ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule. The Tigers, who lost 9-2 to Ewing last Monday to move to 4-10, play at Steinert on May 3, at WW/P-North in May 5, at Lawrenceville School on May 8 and at Hopewell Valley on May 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

CENTURY CLUB: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Riley Devlin, behind sign, celebrates with her teammates last Monday after she scored her 100th career goal in a 19-15 win over WW/PNorth. Junior star Devlin tallied five goals and three assists in the victory as PHS improved to 6-3. In upcoming action, the Tigers play at Allentown on May 3 and at the Peddie School on May 6 before starting action in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Annette (Cottrell)

Merle-Smith

Annette (Cottrell) MerleSmith died on Monday, April 3, 2023, at the age of 92, in Princeton, New Jersey, from complications related to stomach cancer. She was in her own bed, in her own home, surrounded by her surviving family — daughter Meg, son-in-law Tomas, and grandchildren Max and Karolina — which was precisely the way she wanted it.

Annette was born on Christmas Eve, 1930, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to parents Annette (Brinkerhoff) and William Cottrell, both passionate readers, environmentalists, activists, and ornithologists. As an only child, Annette was heavily influenced by her parents’ curiosity of the world around, and every evening before dinner they would all sit down for “drink time,” when they would look at art and discuss it together.

During high school (Buckingham School) in Cambridge, Annette volunteered in the Print Department at Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum. She then went on to attend Bennington College (Vermont) while she continued to volunteer for organizations such as Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, and the Corning Museum of Glass. She graduated in 1951 with a BA in Art History, and soon after, moved

PERSONAL PAPERWORK SOLUTIONS...AND MORE, INC.

During these challenging times we are actively supporting our clients providing the following services as “your virtual home office.”

www.ppsmore.com

Our expert services include:

• Personal accounting

(Bill payment/check writing)

• Household financial management

• Tax preparation

(Assembly & analysis of financial information for tax purposes)

• Income & expense management

• Healthcare cost administration

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.

Specialized Services for Seniors and Their Families, Busy Professionals

back to Boston, where she began her work at the MFA as the Director of the Children’s Room, wrote a book about dragons, and collaborated with PBS to create a children’s television program about art.

Annette’s marriage to “Mike” (Fowler) would take her to Princeton, New Jersey, for Mike’s work at the Princeton Day School. Here, their children Meg and Peter were born, and Annette became a long-serving docent for the Princeton University Art Museum. It was also through Mike and his family’s roots, which stretched back several generations, that Annette would find her self-described “spiritual home” amongst the Adirondack Mountains in Keene Valley, upstate New York. Although she traveled widely, Annette cherished the town and she managed to spend her summers at the family retreat here. Her love, care, and concern for the community was boundless, and she was a benefactor to a wide range of organizations and causes spread out across the region.

A dedicated nature-lover and patron of the sciences as well as the arts, Annette served as President of ‘Friends of Marquand Park’ until recently, was on the board of trustees at the Cunningham Dance Foundation and subscribed to the Metropolitan Opera of New York City with Mike for many years. She funded performances, publications, and research projects through the Institute for Advanced Study, and established fellowships at The American School of Classical Studies at Athens in Greece, the

Center for Research and Training in Anthropogeny, and at the Jonas Salk Institute, where she tried to visit annually. She was involved in countless other cultural, educational, and environmental initiatives, including Little Peaks Preschool in her beloved Keene.

Annette possessed a truly generous and curious spirit along with a fierce intelligence and sparkling wit. She was a thoughtful person, always as concerned for her people as for her causes, and she spent her entire life tirelessly devoted to them. Although she found joy in so many things, and committed herself far and wide, it was her love for her family that drove her in life, and it was evident in all she did. She will be dearly and deeply missed, and her absence felt by many, including her extended family, those in her local communities, and beyond.

A memorial service was held in Princeton, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 23. Annette will also be remembered at a second service on Friday, May 12, 12 p.m., at the Congregational Church in Keene Valley, New York. This will be followed by a reception at the Little Peaks Preschool in neighboring Keene. In lieu of flowers, Annette would have loved for people to support their local parks and communities through donations, their time, or in any sort of meaningful way they can.

Tell them you saw their ad in

Paul Jeanes III, Rector, The Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector, The Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt, Assoc. Rector, 33 Mercer St. Princeton 609-924-2277 • www.trinityprinceton.org

The

THE BENEFITS OF A CASH OFFER

When selling a home, a cash offer can be the most desirable option for a seller. A cash offer means that the buyer is offering to pay the full purchase price in cash without needing to secure financing or a mortgage. There are several reasons why this can be appealing to a seller.

Firstly, a cash offer eliminates the possibility of a buyer's financing falling through, which can cause delays and even lead to the sale falling through. With a cash offer, the seller can be assured that the buyer has the funds available to complete the transaction.

Secondly, a cash offer typically has a shorter closing period because there's no need to wait for a lender's approval or any paperwork to be processed. This can be particularly appealing to sellers who need to sell their property quickly.

In addition, a cash offer can eliminate the need for a house appraisal, which is often required for a traditional mortgage to determine the property's value, adding more to the sale process.

Overall, a cash offer provides a secure and fast transaction for the seller, with the added benefit of potentially avoiding a house appraisal and a quicker closing period. It's easy to see why it's often the preferred option for home sellers.

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. 10-11

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

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS! Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. 06-28

WE BUY CARS

Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris

EXPERIENCED ELDER CARE

for your loved one. Compassionate caregiver with 16 years experience will assist with personal care, medication, meals, drive to medical appointments, shopping. Many local references. Call or text (609) 9779407.

My name is Asher Severini and I’m a professional classical pianist and piano teacher based in Princeton, NJ. After studying piano and music theory at New England Conservatory of Music for my undergraduate degree I then obtained a master’s degree in piano pedagogy and performance from Westminster Choir College. I then studied collaborative piano for my doctoral degree at UC Santa Barbara.

I am currently accepting piano students of all ages and levels. I believe that the goal of teaching piano is to create smarter, and happier people who can explore their own ability to express themselves through this artform. I believe that every person is deeply creative and I honor that by always designing a learning program that fits the individuals learning style, goals, and needs.

My teaching philosophy is built on two fundamental assumptions:

1. Prodigious technique and strong musicianship can be taught.

2. Each student has a say on the pace we take and the plan of their study.

As a teacher it is my duty to adhere to these principles. Students will have the opportunity if desired to perform and they will learn genres of music that they are interested in with the benefit of having a solid background in classical piano.

My hope is that my students find joy in the learning process, joy in music, and joy in exploring the capabilities of this wonderful instrument, the piano.

Website: www.asherseverini.com

Email: ashersev@me.com

Phone: (458) 225 2316

www.princetonmagazinestore.com

Your search for a top-notch realtor in greater Princeton ends with our 66 members.

• Experts: we negotiated 1,500+ deals representing $1+ BILLION last year

• Experience: enjoy the highest level of customer service, negotiation and local market expertise

• Execution: tap into our trusted partners — from appraisers to well water inspectors.

Your home is a big asset. Trust the transaction to the local experts.

www.TopProducersMercerCounty.com

05-17

WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?

A Gift Subscription!

Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!

Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know!

Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf

EXCELLENT HOUSECLEANER NOW AVAILABLE! Long experience, super references, good rates. Call Slava for an estimate: (646) 5003729.

05-10

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. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860. tf

HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:

Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet

tf

tf

ALL TO THE COMMUNITY PARK ELEMENTARY CAR WASH! Saturday, May 6th, 10 am - 1 pm. 372 Witherspoon Street. $8 per car. 05-03

HOUSE & OFFICE CLEANING: By an experienced Polish lady. Call Barbara (609) 273-4226. Weekly or biweekly. Honest & reliable. References available. 05-10

GARAGE/ESTATE MOVING SALE Saturday 5/6/23 - 9:00 - 4:00 54 Hillside Avenue Princeton, NJ 08540 05-03

YARD SALE: 25 McLean Street, Saturday, May 6, starting at 9 am. Furniture, tools, clothes, books, artwork, bicyles, etc.

05-03

CARPENTRY–PROFESSIONAL

All phases of home improvement. Serving the Princeton area for over 30 yrs. No job too small. Call Julius Sesztak: (609) 466-0732 tf

HANDYMAN–CARPENTER:

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. tf

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.

10-11

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

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!

Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com

tf

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613.

06-28

WE BUY CARS

Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris

EXPERIENCED ELDER CARE for your loved one. Compassionate caregiver with 16 years experience will assist with personal care, medication, meals, drive to medical appointments, shopping. Many local references. Call or text (609) 9779407. tf

Featuring gifts that are distinctly Princeton NEW PRODUCTS ADDED WEEKLY!

Exquisite Living in

Exquisite Living in Rumson

Exquisite Living in Rumson

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make ————————

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier coastal community the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are designed in the timeless Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make for an

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier coastal community just the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are designed in the timeless Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make for an exceptional lifestyle.

MODEL GRAND OPENING

MODEL GRAND OPENING

Models Open: Thurs–Mon 10:30AM –4:30PM & Tues–Wed by Appointment Only.

Models Open: Thurs–Mon 10:30AM –4:30PM & Tues–Wed PRICED FROM $2,695,000

BinghamParkRumson.com • 132 Bingham Ave, Rumson, NJ Call Brenda from Brenda McIntyre Realty at 732.859.5622

COMMUNITIES