November 13, 2024
On Sunday, November 24 at 3 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium, performance faculty from the Princeton University Department of Music comprising the Richardson Chamber Players will present “Songs With/out Words,” a program of songs with and without words written by female composers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Songs for mezzo-soprano and piano by lieder composer Josephine Lang, and for mezzo-soprano and mixed chamber ensemble by Dame Ethel Smyth, bookend the program. Included are works for string quartet, solo piano, and flute, viola, and harp that reference American, Jamaican, and European song and poetry in between. In addition to Lang and Smyth, the program includes music by Florence Price, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, and Eleanor Alberga. more
HOLIDAY MUSICAL REVUE: The MTM Players celebrate Christmas at Kelsey Theatre, on the campus of Mercer County Community College, November 29-December 1.
The MTM Players bring the family-friendly musical revue “The Best Time of the Year – Music & Memories of Christmas” to Kelsey Theatre, on the campus of Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, for one weekend and five performances, November 29-December 1.
The show celebrates the holiday season with song, dance, visual projections, snow — and even kazoos — featuring carols and Christmas songs. The hour-long performance is followed by treats and pictures in the lobby with Santa. more
JOINING FORCES: Voices Chorale NJ and the Trenton Children’s Chorus are presenting a concert together to celebrate the holiday season on December 14 at Trinity Church.
A celebration of the holiday season featuring Voices Chorale NJ and the Trenton Children’s Chorus will take place on Saturday, December 14 at 4 p.m., at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street.
“Sing Out, My Soul!” features Vivaldi’s Gloria accompanied by a chamber ensemble, as well as contemporary choral compositions and arrangements that invoke the many moods of the holiday season. Following Gloria, which Vivaldi wrote over 300 years ago, the program fast-forwards through the centuries, presenting old and new texts set to music by contemporary composers as well as a Hanukkah prayer, and a song of rejoicing in Latin (Gaudete!). more
FESTIVE GATHERING: Members of the Princeton High School Choir are among the performers at the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s annual Holiday POPS! concerts on December 14, at Richardson Auditorium. (Photo courtesy of PSO Staff)
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is set to celebrate the holiday season with Broadway vocalist Andrea Ross at this year’s Holiday POPS! concerts on Saturday, December 14 at 3 and 6 p.m., at Richardson Auditorium.
Mentored by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ms. Ross, a soprano, will perform “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” and more. The Princeton High School Choir lends its collective voice to choral favorites including “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night,” and leads the audience in the annual carol sing-along. Returning to Princeton from West Virginia’s Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, John Devlin conducts both performances. more
“COTTAGE FLOWERS”: Works by Karen Caldwell of Sunflower Glass Studio and others can be viewed November 29 through December 1 on the 30th Annual Covered Bridge Artisans Studio Tour.
This Thanksgiving weekend, the Covered Bridge Artisans will celebrate three decades of artistry, craftsmanship, and community with their 30th Annual Studio Tour. Taking place from November 29 to December 1 from 10 a,m. to 5 p.m. each day, this event invites visitors to explore the studios and workspaces of some of the Delaware River Valley region’s most talented artisans.
This self-guided tour will take place in nine professional artists’ studios in Lambertville, Stockton, Sergeantsville, and New Hope, Pa., areas with 12 additional artists at the Sandy Ridge Church. more
This acrylic on canvas work by Larry Mitnick is featured in “Making Space,” an exhibition of his paintings at Belle’s Tavern, 183 North Union Street, Lambertville, through the end of December. Mitnick’s work has been exhibited internationally and he is currently a member artist at Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville.
Mary Waltham of Princeton received an honorable mention for this watercolor work at the “11th Annual New Jersey Highlands Juried Art Exhibition,” presented by New Jersey Highlands Coalition at the Maxfield Engine House in Boonton. The exhibit features a mix of photography, paintings, mixed media, prints and sculpture focused on the landscapes, flora, fauna and historic and cultural resources of the Highlands region. A virtual exhibit featuring all of this year’s artists can be viewed at highlandsart.org.
MASTER POTTER: Caryn Newman, shown here creating a hand-built vase, holds her annual Open Studio Holiday Sale this Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Willowood Pottery, 7 Willowood Drive, Ewing.
Once a year local Master Potter Caryn Newman opens her studio to the public – this year on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Busy firing work in her kiln from the past six months for this show, Newman said her latest work has some changes.
Decades of pottery-making added up, and she needed a shoulder replacement this past May. After a short break, she got back into the studio and started with hand-building new pieces as she recovered, instead of using the pottery wheel. more
COOPERATION AND COOKING: “With the program, I can dedicate my efforts to focusing on community, cooperation, acceptance and kindness for and with children.” Chris Johnson, owner of the Sticky Fingers Cooking franchise in Princeton, is enthusiastic about this new after school cooking program for children.
By Jean Stratton
Chris Johnson knew about cooking from a young age.
“I was always interested,” he recalls, “and I especially enjoyed watching and helping my favorite aunt in the kitchen.”
A New Englander from Maine and Massachusetts, he headed to New York for job opportunities, eventually working in the corporate world, focusing on legal technology. more
BIG MAC: Princeton University women’s soccer player Heather MacNab, left, chases after the ball in recent action. Last Sunday, senior defender MacNab had two assists to help top-seeded Princeton defeat third-seeded Brown 2-0 in the Ivy League Tournament final. The Tigers, now 14-4, are headed to the NCAA tournament where they will play at Virginia (12-5) in a first round contest on November 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
In early October, Princeton University women’s soccer player Heather MacNab left the field at Roberts Stadium on a cart after suffering a severe gash to her forehead in a scary collision with a Penn player.
As senior defender MacNab lay on the ground that night, she was already planning her return. more
STICKING OUT: Princeton University field hockey player Beth Yeager, right, dribbles the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, junior star Yeager picked up an assist in a losing cause as Princeton fell 2-1 to Harvard in overtime in the Ivy League Tournament final. Yeager, a U.S. Olympian who was named the Ivy Offensive Player of the Year this fall, will look to keep producing as the Tigers, now 13-5, start play in the NCAA tournament where they are an at-large selection and will face Boston College (14-6) in a first round contest on November 15 at Saint Joseph’s. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Justin Feil
The last time Beth Yeager and the Princeton University field hockey team lost, they bounced back with seven straight wins.
The Tigers would settle for four straight this time in the wake of being awarded an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament hours after falling to Harvard, 2-1, in the Ivy League Tournament final in overtime Sunday. When Harvard scored with less than three minutes to play in regulation, Princeton responded with Yeager’s corner smash redirected in by Ella Cashman with 59 seconds left to force overtime. The Crimson scored 4:11 into the OT to pull out the win. more
HILL TO CLIMB: Princeton University football defensive back Nasir Hill tracks down a Dartmouth ball carrier last Friday night. Junior defensive back Hill made 12 tackles in the game as the Princeton defense battled hard in a 27-16 loss to the Big Green. The Tigers, now 2-6 overall and 1-4 Ivy League, play at Yale (5-3 overall, 2-3 Ivy) on November 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
On paper, it looked like a mismatch when the Princeton University football team hosted Dartmouth last Friday night.
Ivy League frontrunner and once-beaten Dartmouth entered the evening tied for first place in the league standings while Princeton was mired in a three-team tie for last, having been routed by Harvard (45-13 on October 26) and Cornell (49-35 on November 2) in its last two contests. more
By Bill Alden
Playing in its first game under new head coach Ben Syer, the Princeton University men’s hockey team put on quite a show as it hosted Harvard in its season opener last Friday.
Battling the Crimson in a back-and-forth contest before a standing-room only crowd of 2,352 at Hobey Baker Rink, Princeton jumped out to a 2-1 lead and then rallied from a 3-2 deficit to force overtime before falling 4-3.
Heading into its game against Dartmouth a night later, the Tigers were looking to build on their effort against Harvard. more
GROUP LEADERS: Members of the Princeton High girls’ cross country team show off the hardware they won for placing first in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state meet last Saturday at Holmdel Park. It was the first Group 4 title in program history. The Tigers will next be in action when they compete in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on November 16 at Holmdel Park.
By Justin Feil
Kajol Karra was looking for a new start and a positive community when she joined the girls’ cross country team last fall in her first year at Princeton High.
A year later, she’s helping to pace the Tigers’ historic season.
Junior standout Karra placed eighth individually to lead PHS to its first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship at Holmdel Park on Saturday. more
HITTING THEIR STRIDE: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Kaelin Bobetich goes up for a big hit in recent action. Last Friday, junior star Bobetich contributed nine kills, five digs, and two blocks to help top-seeded PHS defeat fourth-seeded Jackson Memorial 2-0 (25-9, 25-8) in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional semis. The Tigers, who improved to 25-1 with the win, were slated to host third-seeded Middletown South (22-6) in the sectional final on November 12 with the victor advancing to the Group 3 state semis on November 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Many coaches aim to have their teams peaking as they head into postseason action but not Patty Manhart.
Having guided her Princeton High girls’ volleyball team to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title last season and the squad to a 25-1 record this fall and a spot in the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional final, PHS head coach Manhart strives to have her players clicking on all cylinders any time they step on the court. more
STEPPING UP: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Azariah Breitman goes after the ball in a 2023 game. Last Friday, senior star Breitman scored two goals to help third-seeded PHS defeat 11th-seeded New Brunswick 3-0 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 sectional quarterfinals. The Tigers, who improved to 16-2-4 in the win, were slated to play at second-seeded Manalapan in the sectional semis on November 12 with the victor advancing to the final on November 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
As the Princeton High boys’ soccer team battled New Brunswick in the first half of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 sectional quarterfinals last Friday, Azariah Breitman implored his teammates to pick up the intensity.
Yelling “Let’s go boys, energy” at various points, PHS senior striker Breitman made several forays into the box to no avail in the early going as the third-seeded Tigers were locked in a scoreless draw with an upset-minded 11th-seeded New Brunswick. more
HEADY PLAY: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Romy Johnson, right, heads the ball last Thursday as PHS played at Montgomery in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. After upsetting top-seeded Freehold on penalty kicks in the first round of the sectional, the 16th-seeded Tigers fell 1-0 to eighth-seeded Montgomery. PHS ended the fall at 7-10-3, rebounding from a shaky 1-8-2 start. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
When the Princeton High girls’ soccer team lost 2-0 to Steinert on October 7 to fall to 1-8-2, it would have been understandable if the squad threw in the towel on the campaign.
The defeat marked the sixth straight loss for the Tigers in a stretch that saw them outscored 11-1. more
STANDING TALL: Hun School boys’ soccer goalie Diego Pena surveys the action in a game earlier this fall. Last Wednesday, senior standout Pena made 12 saves and scored a goal on a penalty kick as second-seeded Hun fell 6-1 at top-seeded Pennington in the Prep A state final. The Raiders finished the fall with a 13-4-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
When the Prep A boys’ soccer final was over last Wednesday, Hun School stars Luciano Verduci and Gonzalo Perez Nunez were lying prone on the ground near the bench, getting treated for some knocks to their legs and spent from running all over the field.
Verduci and Perez Nunez exemplified how hard second-seeded Hun battled as it fell 6-1 at top-seeded Pennington. more
TITLE DOUBLE: Members of the Princeton Day School boys’ cross country team are all smiles after they placed first in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B state meet last Saturday at Holmdel Park. It marked the first Non-Public title in program history for the squad. It was also the second title this fall as the Panthers had previously won its first Prep B state championship in 15 years on October 30. PDS is next in action when it races in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on November 16 at Holmdel Park.
By Justin Feil
The Princeton Day School boys’ cross country season that began with uncertainty is ending with confidence.
Last Saturday, junior star Grayson McLaughlin finished third to lead a young Panther boys’ team to its first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B state championship on the heels of its first Prep B state championship in 15 years. more
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the recent Princeton Board of Education election results. First and foremost, I extend my congratulations to Ms. Franceschi, Mr. Santarpio, and Mr. Meisel on their election to the Board. Their dedication to our community is appreciated, and I trust they will work diligently to serve the best interests of our students.
However, I must express my disappointment at the placements of Lisa Potter and Shenwei Zhao. Although I no longer have children in PPS — my 19-year-old is now in their second year of college — I remain deeply invested in the future of our education system. After witnessing the tumultuous four years my child experienced in high school, marked by challenges such as COVID-19 and administrative upheavals, I recognize the significant impact that Board of Education decisions have on our students’ lives. more
To the Editor:
On page 1 of the October 30 issue of Town Topics is a report of a discussion by the Princeton Council of a proposal to “revitalize’” Hinds Plaza [“Council Hears Report from Consulting Firm on Revitalizing Hinds Plaza” ]. In my opinion, the plaza is a valuable, charming, and functional component of the downtown landscape just as it is, and is in no need of reconstruction.
What particularly galls me is the assertion by the consultant, Mr. Ribaudo, that the honeylocust trees in the plaza are at the end of their life span and need to be replaced. more
To the Editor:
I am writing to express my gratitude to the Princeton community. I am humbled and honored by the support shown in reelecting me to a second three-year term on the Board of Education.
Thank you to everyone who hosted a lawn sign, amplified my name, and otherwise supported me. It is a privilege to serve you all and, most especially, the children of Princeton. I look forward to continuing my work on the Board and building on the positive momentum in the district as we work together to provide the best education possible for all our children.
Running for the Board is demanding and difficult. I applaud all the candidates for the effort they put into their races and their dedication to public service. Their ideas and perspectives challenged us all to think more deeply about our schools’ needs and future. It has been a pleasure getting to know them and I look forward to working with Chris and Ari on the Board.
Thank you again for your support.
Mara Franceschi
Greenhouse Drive
In the October 16 issue of Town Topics readers were presented with the decision of the Princeton University Trustees regarding the fate of the John Witherspoon statue on Firestone Plaza [“Despite Controversy, Witherspoon Statue Will Stay at University,” page 1]. After two years of “debate and deliberations,” the Trustees decided the statue should remain. The question Princeton Trustees had to wrestle with was whether to honor Witherspoon’s legacy in light of the fact that he was a slave owner and advocate against abolition.
One of the main arguments forwarded by Witherspoon’s apologists during those two years of deliberations was that Witherspoon was “more enlightened” than many others of his time, as he provided educational opportunities for some “free Blacks” and made some semblance of arguments for eventual abolition. They also lauded Witherspoon’s advocacy for the humane treatment of the enslaved. more
To the Editor:
This is a request to all Town Topics readers who have a birdbath in their yard.
As the days and weeks tick by with little or no rain, I’ve observed an ever increasing number of birds of all kinds (and squirrels) drinking from the two birdbaths in my yard from dawn ’till dusk, indicating to me that their usual sources of hydration have vanished. Yes, we need to conserve water more than ever, but the joy that New Jersey’s native flying feathered creatures bring to our lives merits the small amount of effort and resources required to keep these avian water resources of last resort clean and replenished.
Waking up to the sound of birdsong may seem like a small thing, but life’s simple pleasures are often the things we take for granted, until they’re gone.