December 18, 2024

Stuart Hoops Has Strength in Numbers, Primed to Make a Big Jump this Winter

TAYLOR-MADE: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Taylor States dribbles past a foe in a game last season. Junior forward States, the team’s leading returning scorer, is primed for another big season. Stuart will be tipping off its 2024-25 season by playing at the Wilberforce School on December 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tony Bowman sees strength in numbers with his Stuart Country Day School basketball team as it heads into this winter.

“I have 13 kids, I have never had that many since I have been here,” said Stuart head coach Bowman who guided the Tartans to a 6-6 record last season. “It is great for the team. I am hoping for a better quality of play this year because I have a different mix. They have shown to be resilient and they work hard.” more

Writing in Favor of All Three Components on Princeton Public Schools Referendum

To the Editor:

We are strongly in favor of the three components of the schools referendum, which is up for a vote on January 28. As parents at Community Park (CP) for many years and now at Princeton Middle School (PMS), we have seen the best of Princeton education, and also the worst of PPS’ facilities challenges. CP is a phenomenal community where the innovative DLI program complements PPS’s strong pedagogy and student support programming. But it has been bursting at the seams for years, with some faculty/student meetings occurring in repurposed maintenance closets. With significant new housing development nearby, the time is right is to expand CP so that new kids can walk to their neighborhood school, fewer families in town will need to be redistricted, and the DLI program can remain for those who choose it. CP’s proximity to the municipal parking lot and a large playground also make it a good candidate for expansion, but the issues of traffic circulation, secure access to the school, and maximization of recreational facilities need to be carefully considered as part of the planning.

PMS is a special, nurturing environment where a fantastic mix of arts and enrichment opportunities build on the strong core educational foundation. There too though, facilities are a barrier — the schedule is super complicated to squeeze every inch out of the overtaxed building, which will be increasingly inadequate as the student body grows and technological change requires new teaching approaches. Our kids have been fortunate to benefit from HVAC upgrades at their schools that have brought better temperature control, air quality, and environmental sustainability. PHS, on the other hand, still has ancient boilers that are surviving on duct tape and a dream.  more

Viewing Upcoming PPS Referendum As a Moral Good for the Community

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of the upcoming Princeton Public Schools referendum (January 28, 2025) which will approve raising money to alleviate crowding in many of the schools and update the high school HVAC system, and to encourage Princetonians to vote “Yes” to all three questions.

As a supporter of both public education and more affordable housing, I view the referendum as a moral good for our community. Expanding Community Park, Littlebrook, and Princeton Middle School will accommodate the predicted growth in the number of students in the district as well as current overcrowding and will also prevent more redistricting. The new classrooms planned for Community Park will allow more students living in that neighborhood to walk to school instead of being bussed elsewhere. Expansion of Littlebrook, where my granddaughter is a third grader, would allow the restoration of rooms for the school’s music and language programs. Changes to Princeton Middle School with close to 800 students, with nearly 900 expected, will prevent existing crowded conditions from worsening. The high school’s HVAC system was old and poorly functioning when our youngest child graduated in 2010, and 15 years later it has not improved. more

Westminster Community Orchestra Thanks All Who Contributed to Annual Collection

To the Editor:

The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO) would like to extend its thanks to the members of the Princeton community who attended our recent holiday concert and contributed to our annual collection for area service organizations. This year’s donations were divided between Mercer Street Friends, TASK, Arm In Arm, HomeFront, the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, and the Rider University Food and Resource Pantry.

Over the past 12 years, the WCO has been able to donate thousands of dollars to worthy organizations, thanks to the generosity of our holiday concert audiences. We greatly appreciate the kindness and compassion of our concert attendees and hope to continue to support the important work being done in our community for our neighbors in need for years to come. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming concerts.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and musical New Year!

Dr. Ruth Ochs
Conductor, and the members of the Westminster Community Orchestra
Walnut Lane

Voting “Yes” on All Three Questions on PPS Referendum is Right Choice

To the Editor:

I write to you today in order to encourage my neighbors to support the January 28, 2025 Princeton Public Schools referendum.  Our town is growing quickly — well over 1,000 units will be added in the coming decade — and our schools must grow accordingly. The district has designed an efficient, strategic solution to handle growth while maintaining high quality.  The election allows voters to respond to three tiered questions (Question 1 must pass for Question 2 to pass, and both Question 1 and Question 2 need to pass in order for Question 3 to pass).

Question 1: Expands Community Park Elementary School and replaces Princeton High Schools’ end-of-life HVAC. Question 2:  Expands Princeton Middle School and strategic renovations at Princeton High School. Question 3: Expands Littlebrook Elementary School. more

Encouraging Community to Vote in Favor of PPS Referendum in January

To the Editor:

In 1837, Horace Mann laid out the definitions of public education in America:

  1. Public Education for All: Mann believed that ignorance and freedom cannot coexist, advocating for universal education funded and maintained by the public.
  2. Inclusivity: Education should be accessible to children of all social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds without discrimination.
  3. Nonsectarian Approach: Schools should be free from sectarian or partisan religious influence, focusing instead on universal moral principles.
  4. Democratic Ideals: Education should reflect the discipline and spirit of a free society, promoting democratic values.
  5. Professional Teachers: Emphasized the importance of well-trained, professional teachers to deliver quality education.
  6. Moral and Character Development: Schools should build character and values through structured regimens and discipline.

I write to encourage all of us to vote yes on January 28, 2025. As to No. 3, let us remember that the conversations between young Jemmy Madison and the Rev. John Witherspoon led to the Establishment Clause in our Bill of Rights. Our public schools are excellent and they matter!

Sheldon Sturges
Birdie Way

Noting “A Christmas Carol” Actor’s Close Ties to Princeton Public Library

To the Editor:

Several of us retired librarians from the Princeton Public Library were happy to see your coverage of the current production of A Christmas Carol featuring Vivia Font [“Actor Appearing in A Christmas Carol Credits McCarter with Inspiring Her Career,” December 11, page 5].

She was sort of our institutional child as we worked side by side with her mom Elba Barzelato. We watched Vivia grow from preschool days through her graduate studies and many theatrical assignments to  become the  lovely professional actor she is. We are all the beneficiaries of her fine talent.

Mary Louise Hartman, MLS
James Court

December 11, 2024

Seasonal Sounds

Members of the Princeton High School Choir entertained passersby Sunday afternoon on Witherspoon Street. Residents and visitors discuss their holiday plans in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Council Takes Next Steps for Seminary Redevelopment

By Anne Levin

Princeton Council introduced an ordinance at its Monday, December 9 meeting that approves an application for a tax exemption and PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the redeveloper of the former Princeton Seminary property on Stockton Street at Hibben Road.

Herring Properties, formally known as HP 108 Stockton Urban Renewal LLC, plans to build a multi-family residential development of 240 units, 48 of which would be designated as affordable housing. The plan, which has been controversial, also includes public open space, 262 parking spots, and the renovation of an existing historic house.

According to a memo by Mayor Mark Freda recommending the agreement to members of Council, the project “will result in significant benefits for the health, welfare, and financial well-being of the municipality and its citizens.” In addition to the 20 percent affordable housing set-aside, Freda notes a $200,000 contribution by the redeveloper to the town’s Sustainable Transportation Fund, the enhancement of the gateway into town, and the creation of jobs during the project. more

Town Health Officer Offers Advice on Flu, COVID-19, RSV

By Donald Gilpin

As the season for cold weather, holidays, and respiratory illnesses advances, the Princeton Health Department will be closely monitoring the health of Princeton residents, particularly those most susceptible to serious sickness.

Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser stated that his department’s “greatest concerns right now are the seasonal increase in respiratory illnesses and ensuring that the community remains prepared.”

He continued, “Of course we focus much of our efforts on our most vulnerable, our younger and older population. With respiratory infections rising, particularly flu and RSV, the focus is on vaccination efforts, public education, and maintaining health care capacity.” more

NJ Leaders to Discuss Protecting Rights; Platkin, Howard, Sinha Join Zwicker Panel

By Donald Gilpin

As the town of Princeton, along with the whole state, prepares to face changing federal priorities from the new Trump administration, a panel of New Jersey leaders will gather on Thursday, December 19 at 6 p.m. in the Nassau Presbyterian Church (Livestream available) to discuss “State of Protection: Strengthening New Jersey’s Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law.”

NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Princeton University Professor and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard, and ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha will be leading the deliberations, moderated and organized by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (District 16).

“After the results of the presidential election, I started to think quite a bit about the first Trump administration and what I could do as a member of the N.J. state legislature to protect the people of New Jersey from what we expect will be coming out of Washington, D.C. over the next four years,” Zwicker said in a recent phone conversation.  more

Actor Appearing in “A Christmas Carol” Credits McCarter with Inspiring Her Career

“GOD BLESS US EVERYONE”: Vivia Font, in the back row at right, is happy to be back on stage at McCarter Theatre, playing Mrs. Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol.” Also pictured are Andrea Goss (Christmas Present), Kenneth De Abrew (Bob Cratchit), and Joel McKinnon Miller (Ebenezer Scrooge). (Photo by T. Charles Erickson)

By Anne Levin

For Vivia Font, who plays the role of Margaret Cratchit in McCarter Theatre’s current production of A Christmas Carol, the stage and rehearsal rooms of the venue on University Place feel like home.

It was at McCarter that the actor, who has appeared in regional theater, television, and films, found her vocation as a high school-aged participant in McCarter’s Summer Shakespeare program — first as a student, and later as a teacher. She also appeared at McCarter as a soldier in the annual production of The Nutcracker by Princeton Ballet, now known as American Repertory Ballet.  more

Coalition for Del. River Watershed Celebrates $17 Million in Grants

MARKING A MILESTONE: Enhancing the Health of the Delaware River Watershed was the focus of an awards presentation held by the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed is celebrating a significant milestone as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announces 45 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) awards, totaling over $17 million. Several grants went to projects in New Jersey.

This funding, which includes supplemental funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is made possible through the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) and is administered by the NFWF in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). more

Princeton Public Schools Takes on Positive and Negative Potential of AI

by Donald Gilpin

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving at a rapid rate, bringing huge advantages along with some significant harms to all areas of society, and Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is looking for the best ways to benefit from AI’s potential to enhance the education of its students.

“We’re approaching the AI frontier together, and we’re all riding that balance of using it but also not abusing it,” said PPS Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Tew in a December 3 webinar, sponsored by PPS in collaboration with Common Sense Media, an organization working with the district to develop plans and policies concerning the use of AI in PPS.

Common Sense reports that 70 percent of teens nationwide have used at least one type of generative AI tool, with 53 percent using generative AI for homework help. Only 37 percent of parents with teens using gen AI, however, know that their children are using these tools. more

A Week of Wonders: Emily Dickinson, Hector Berlioz, and John Lennon

By Stuart Mitchner

If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

In the opening sentence of Franz Kafka’s unfinished novel Amerika (New Directions), the Statue of Liberty is holding aloft a sword instead of a torch. There are disputes online about whether this was unintended or intentional. Not to worry. With a writer as infinitely suggestive as Kafka, errors can have prophetic consequences, and since he has, in effect, arrived in post-election America for a centenary exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum, some interesting connections are already in play, notably Barry Blitt’s New Yorker cover depicting a very nervous, verge-of-vertigo Lady Liberty walking a tightrope.

It’s also worth mentioning that the November 11 issue is centered on “The Home Front,” an article subtitled, “Some Americans are preparing for a second civil war.” A few days ago my wife and I watched Alex Garland’s dystopian fantasy Civil War. The week before, we saw London being spectacularly bombed in Steve McQueen’s no less devastating Blitz just as we were also finishing Josh Zetumer’s Say Nothing, a searing miniseries about “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland. more

Princeton University Concerts Presents Award-Winning Vocal Ensemble

By Nancy Plum

The Christmas season and choral music are practically synonymous. To many audience members, the only choral concerts attended during the year are annual Messiah performances or carol sings. The Princeton area has always had many high-quality musical Christmas events to choose from, and one of the finest this year took place this past weekend. Chanticleer, a professional men’s vocal ensemble based in San Francisco, brought its special artistry to the Princeton University Chapel on Saturday night as part of the Princeton University Concerts series. The 12-member ensemble’s music director, Tim Keeler, was a 2011 graduate of Princeton, and the chorus has maintained a close association with the community. The nearly-full house in the Chapel on Saturday night was a tribute to both Chanticleer and the region’s appreciation for choral music in the holiday season.

Saturday night’s concert featured more than 20 choral selections grouped in a variety of ways, including works on the same texts by composers of different eras sung in succession. Chanticleer opened the evening with a candlelight procession singing four settings of a ninth-century Christian hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary. Beginning with the stark open chords of early 15th-century composer Guillaume Du Fay and leading to the complex melodic writing of Renaissance master Tomás Luis de Victoria, Chanticleer’s presentation of “Ave maris stella” traced the evolution of music history at the highest level of singing. With six counter-tenors, the upper voices carried well through the expansive Chapel space as the singers made their way down the long Chapel center aisle. As with most of the music within a given “set,” the works were sung one after another without pause, and before the audience knew it, 150 years of music history had passed, and the musicians were in position on the chancel steps.  more

Giggles Galore

On Saturday, December 14 at 11 a.m., wintry children’s classics come to life with “Merry, Merry Mischief,” at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Kirby Theatre, on the campus of Drew University in Madison. The seasonal “Classics for Kids” offering features actors from the company’s family of artists with scripts in hand, presenting selections from L. Frank Baum, Louisa May Alcott, Clement C. Moore, and others. Visit shakespearenj.org for tickets.

Capital Harmony Works Names Executive Director

Niki Spruill

Capital Harmony Works (CHW) has named Niki Spruill as its new executive director. Spruill has served for the past two years as CHW’s director of development, advancing corporate and community partnerships while also stewarding individual support for programs.

Spruill played a key role in planning and executing last spring’s successful “One Voice” gala, which raised significant funds for the organization.

“We are thrilled to have Niki step into the role of executive director,” said Genevieve Thayer, chair of the board of trustees. “Her deep understanding of the organization, her ability to foster community relationships, and her dedication to creative youth development make her the ideal leader to guide us into the future.” more

Capital Harmony Works Plans Winter Performances

Capital Harmony Works has announced holiday concerts taking place in Princeton and Trenton.

On Saturday, December 14 at 4 p.m., the nonprofit’s Trenton Children’s Chorus joins Voices Chorale NJ in “Sing Out, My Soul,” at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. The program features Vivaldi’s Gloria, performed with chamber orchestra, plus contemporary compositions and arrangements. Tickets can be obtained at VoicesChoraleNJ.org.

Next on Sunday, December 15 at 3 p.m., the Trenton Children’s Chorus joins Passage Theatre Company at Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton, for “Passage-Harmony Holiday,” including sing-alongs led by Music for the Very Young. Admission is free but donations are accepted. more

Holiday Events Planned By High School Musicians

Princeton High School’s music department is holding two special events during the holiday season. “Jammin’ With Santa” is Saturday, December 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. The 79th Annual Winter Concert is Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Princeton University Chapel. Both are free.

“Jammin With Santa” features the PHS Studio Band and PHS Jazz Ensemble, and is designed for all ages. In addition to music, there will be crafts, games, face painting, and food. Admission is free but contributions for the PHS Band Students’ Travel Fund will be accepted to benefit band students in financial need. Visit princetonjazz.org for more information.

The Winter Concert includes all orchestras and choirs from the school. Choir alumni will be invited to join the current choirs at the end of the concert, singing the traditional Bach and Handel selections.

Ellarslie Celebrates Final New Exhibitions of 2024

ART AT ELLARSLIE: This oil painting by John Gummere is featured in “Mother + Son Continued: Two Generations of Trenton Artists,” on view at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park through January 19. A reception is on Friday, December 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will host a reception to celebrate the art and artists of the museum’s final new exhibitions of 2024 on Friday, December 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. The two shows in separate galleries throughout the museum’s first floor are “Voices in Color” and “Mother + Son Continued.”

“Voices in Color” features works by artists of the Trenton Community A*Team (TCAT) and curated by Anthony Catanese. The exhibit celebrates the unique voices and styles of TCAT artists in a colorful display of artistry that showcases their talent and creativity. This special event is an opportunity to meet the artists, hear their stories, and honor 25 years of TCAT’s mission to amplify the voices of underrepresented creators in the community. more

Pop-Up Gallery Exhibit at MCCC

Trenton Music Experience (TME), a recently formed nonprofit whose goal is to celebrate the many significant music innovators and influencers who have graced New Jersey’s capital city over the decades, will host its first ever event in January featuring Sarah Dash, one of the city’s best known music influencers.

Dash, a singer with Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles, who also performed with the Rolling Stones and many other music greats, will be the focus of a three-day pop-up gallery exhibit at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) James Kerney Campus, 102 North Broad Street in downtown Trenton from Thursday January 9 to Saturday, January 11.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. Exhibit hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday. more

Princeton Makes to Present “Roots and Radiance” Exhibit

“SUNSET BIRD”: This work by Cathy Dailey is featured in “Roots and Radiance,” on view at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center December 16 through January 26. An opening reception is on December 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Princeton Makes, the artist cooperative located in the Princeton Shopping Center, has announced the opening of its upcoming basement exhibition, “Roots and Radiance.” This exhibit will run December 16 through January 26, celebrating themes of growth, grounding, and the energy of new beginnings.

An opening reception will be held on Monday, December 16 from 5 to 7 p.m., offering an opportunity for art enthusiasts and community members to meet the artists, explore their work, and engage in conversations about the inspirations behind the exhibit. Light refreshments will be provided. more

“When the Land Calls” Opening at D&R Greenway

“CIRCLE OF LIFE”: This work by Ellen Rebarber is part of “When the Land Calls,” on view at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Marie L. Matthews Gallery December 15 through February 28. An opening reception is on December 15 from 1 to 5 p.m.

D&R Greenway Land Trust’s new art exhibit, “When the Land Calls,” opens with a reception on December 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Marie L. Matthews Gallery at the Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place. Featured artists Ellen Rebarber and Mike Benevenia will speak at 2 p.m. about their unique sculptural works, fine art paper bowls, handcrafted jewelry, and bold paintings.

The festive holiday opening offers music and refreshments and includes a Legacy Estate Sale of colored glass, crystal, pottery, and landscape art of Lambertville artist Joseph Shannon. All art is for sale and comes with a gift tag to show that purchases support D&R Greenway’s mission to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic.  more

Long History of Musical Excellence is Hallmark of Princeton Pro Musica

TAKING A BOW: Princeton Pro Musica Artistic Director Ryan James Brandau acknowledges applause from the audience at last year’s December holiday concert, “A Feast of Carols,” at the Princeton University Chapel. “Our annual December ‘A Feast of Carols’ includes the Christmas music of Bach and Handel and a wide variety of carols from across the ages,” says Kenny Litvack, Princeton Pro Musica’s marketing manager. (Photo by Ron Wyatt).

By Jean Stratton

What is your pleasure? Opera, symphony, choral, Broadway musicals, rock, rap, pop, blues, folk, country?

What is wonderful about music is that it is a gift for all of us. We are fortunate in Princeton to have many opportunities to enjoy a wide selection of music in many styles and formats. more