October 16, 2024

BOE Candidate Mara Franceschi will Always Put Schools and Children First

To the Editor:

We are writing to enthusiastically endorse Mara Franceschi’s reelection to the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education. Having known Mara for years and worked closely with her on the PTO Council (PTOC), we can attest that Mara cares passionately about our schools, is extremely thoughtful, and advocates for what is best for all of our children.

Serving as a School Board member is often a thankless job and we are grateful that there are courageous individuals, like Mara, dedicated to doing this work without expecting anything in return. It is extremely important that we choose the right people for the job. In our opinion, the following qualities are essential: a passion for education; deep knowledge of the Princeton community and its needs and the needs of its students; valuable experience to contribute to the business of the Board; and the ability to prioritize the various issues facing the district. more

Santarpio and Snyder are Strong Advocates for Fostering Development of Skills for the Future

To the Editor:

As a community, we want to prepare our kids for the future by helping them develop the most critical and valuable 21st century skills. Therefore, when we vote for BOE candidates, we want to vote for candidates who have in mind this best interest of our kids.

BOE candidates Santarpio and Snyder are both strong advocates for fostering the development of skills for the future, skills such as critical thinking, communication, and intercultural competency. These skills will help our kids become creative problem solvers, effective communicators, and empathetic learners. These skills will help our kids navigate an ever-changing world with confidence and integrity. More importantly, Santarpio, an entrepreneur, and Snyder, a leader in education, both have a tremendous amount of knowledge, skills, and experiences, assets that they can bring to the BOE for advancing this strategic vision for our entire school district. more

Franceschi and Meisel Possess Skills, Energy, Temperament to Guide Schools in Next Phase

To the Editor:

I am a parent of three PPS children (one each at Littlebrook, PMS, and PHS), and I’m writing to support the candidacies of Mara Franceschi and Ari Meisel for the Board of Education.

I got to know Mara during her highly effective first term on the Board. As co-chair of the Board’s Personnel Committee, Mara mastered the details of public education employment law and worked hard to enable PPS to retain and attract excellent teachers in a tight job market, all while keeping a careful eye on budget realities. Under Mara’s leadership, the district’s investments in its extraordinary staff have paid off for PPS students: 2024 test scores reveal that the district’s post-COVID academic performance is at or exceeds where we were in 2018. Through her work on the Operations and Long-Term Planning committees, Mara learned how to meet the needs of a complex, high-performing school district with a $100 million+ budget while adhering to the statutory 2 percent year-to-year cap in an inflationary environment. And as a recent addition to the Negotiations Committee, Mara helps to strike contract deals with PPS teachers and administrators that are both fair and fiscally responsible.  more

Obituaries 10/16/2024

Wayne Richard Carlson

Wayne Richard Carlson, 66, of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away on October 8, 2024, after fighting the good fight.

As the middle child to Phyllis and Wayne Carlson, Wayne grew up in Schenectady, New York, playing football for Linton High School as a lineman, before being recruited to play for Rochester University. After graduating in 1985 with a Degree in Far East Asia History/International Relations, Wayne explored the world for a couple of years as a ship’s purser for Dolphin Cruise Lines, satisfying some of his God-given wanderlust.

Wayne eventually made port in Washington, DC, where he earned his MBA in Marketing at American University. Shortly thereafter, he made his way to Bristol Myers Squibb, where he began his career in global issues management once again scratching his itch to see the world. During his time with BMS he met his future wife of 29 years, Ellen Hoenig-Carlson (surviving), who gave him a chance at a first date on his fifth annual ask. They saw Pulp Fiction in the theater and the rest was history. In 1997, the duo started their family when their first son, Ethan Carlson, was born — quickly followed by the births of Asher and Zane Carlson.

A diligent lifelong student of world history, politics, and stoic philosophy, Wayne had a brilliant understanding of the world and loved to share his wisdom in the form of thoughtfully-crafted advice and opinions, with all those whose lives he touched. Wayne also had an eye for design and was an avid collector and restorer of historical cars, houses, and watches. He lived in a house that he himself designed, drove in a car he rebuilt, and was an avid proponent of love, charity, and the American Dream. A man of resolute character and unquestionable strength, Wayne constantly strove throughout his life to make the world a better place than when he found it — a rare endeavor which he believed to ultimately be the reason we were put on this Earth.

Wayne is preceded by Wayne Curtis Carlson and Phyllis Russell Carlson, and leaves behind his wife, Ellen Hoenig-Carlson; his three sons, Ethan, Asher (Ryan), and Zane (Kylee); his sister, Susan (Joe);, his brother, Richard (Jennifer); and nieces and nephews.

Services were held at Trinity Church, in Princeton, NJ, on Saturday, October 12, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wayne’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Tunnel to Towers, two organizations Wayne strongly believed in.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Joseph James Needham

Joseph James Needham, 91, of Princeton, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 8, 2024, surrounded by his family. Born in Philadelphia, PA, to Joseph and Teresa Needham, Joe had been a resident of the Princeton area for the past 64 years.

Joe was a true gentleman, a selfless person who always thought of others before himself. He had an abundance of wit and quiet charm. Though he will be sorely missed, his love and sense of decency will never be forgotten. He was known for his generous and loving spirit, always willing to help others. He was determined and accomplished in everything he set his mind to, whether building a business, racing cars, or skiing.

After attending Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Joe joined the U.S. Army as a cryptographer stationed in Austria. In 1971, he started Princeton Air, where he created a lasting legacy. As a visionary executive, he built his company based on high standards and excellent relationships with his employees, clients, and partners.

Joe became an accomplished Porsche racer, competing as a member of the Schattenbaum Racing Club at tracks like Lime Rock, Bridgehampton, Watkins Glen, and Road Atlanta. He was an avid skier, enjoying the sport until the age of 84. Both he and his wife Joan were also longtime members of the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association.

He is predeceased by his wife, Joan Needham, his sister, Nancy, and his grandson, Ian. He is survived by his children: Linda, Scott, Leslie, Dian, Lisa, and Christine; his siblings: Robert, Teresa, Lillian, Donald, and Jack; his eight grandchildren and his four great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey, 08542. Interment followed in the Princeton Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

———

Margaret Brooks McCloskey

Margaret Brooks McCloskey, 102, passed away into eternity on October 8, 2024, at her home. She was born in Plainsboro, N.J. on July 8, 1922, in a small home on Edgemere Avenue. Her father, David Brooks, and her mother, Mary, worked at Walker Gordon Laboratories The family eventually moved to another Walker-Gordon property on Plainsboro Road, which they purchased in 1936. She married Leo J. McCloskey in 1949 (died 1969) and, except for a few years at several Princeton addresses, lived in Plainsboro the rest of her life.

Margaret was very intelligent, skipped two elementary grades, and graduated from Princeton High School at the age of 16. She was employed at several Princeton locations, including The Institute for Advanced Study, Weller Insurance, Howe Travel Agency, Helen Van Cleve Real Estate, and K.M. Light Propertie. She retired in her late 70’s and was active in local social groups and Plainsboro community activities through her late ’90s. Margaret was a member of Plainsboro Presbyterian Church. She was an avid reader until age 100, when advanced macular degeneration detracted from her enjoyment. Margaret remained fiercely independent and unassuming her entire life. She enjoyed travel, visits with her family and playing Rummikub with her friends and neighbors.

Margaret is survived by her son Dennis and daughter-in-law Diane McCloskey; three grandchildren, Shannon (Lee) Grajzar, Heather (Hal) Pruitt, and Matthew (Ashley) McCloskey, as well as great grandchildren, Lily, Cohen, Trevor, Maddox, Maisie, and Matilly, all of Georgia. She is also survived by nieces Karen (Bill) Thomas of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Gail (Doug) Bowers of Palm Desert, California; Peggy (Flavio) Fener of Princeton; and Maureen (Ken) Bruvik of Skillman, as well as many other nieces, nephews and family throughout the U.S.

Special thanks to all the supportive personnel from Penn Hospice at Home for their loving care during her last weeks, and to Stella, her special home helper for the preceding four years.

There will be no formal funeral or memorial services following cremation, per her wishes.

In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Plainsboro Fire Company or Plainsboro First Aid Squad are suggested.

———

Iris (Rosenthal) Goldin

Iris (Rosenthal) Goldin, of Princeton Junction, NJ, died peacefully at home at age 88 on October 12, 2024.

Born and raised in Highland Park, NJ, Iris was a proud graduate of Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia and taught second grade at Memorial School in East Brunswick. Iris was a classic “homemaker” of the ’60s and ’70s, serving as a President of the PTA and many other community organizations in North Brunswick, where she raised her family. She later became a full-time substitute teacher at North Brunswick High School, followed by a successful career as a realtor with Coldwell Banker. After moving to West Windsor in 2000, she served as Chairman of the Village Grande Social and Trip Committees.

Friends and family uniformly remember her big smile and sunny disposition She was one of those people that made others feel better for having spent time with her. She loved spending summers down the shore in Beach Haven with her family.

She considered herself wonderfully fortunate for having married a fellow from “the wrong side of the tracks” who “made good” and gave her a wonderful life. Asked years later why she dated a fellow who was “trouble” she replied, “I guess I was looking for trouble!”

She was predeceased by her parents Michael and Dorothy (Zagoren) Rosenthal and her husband of 43 years, The Hon. Martin S. Goldin. She is survived by her daughter, Tamara Eisenberger of Somerset, NJ; her son Steven and his partner Cynthia Bratman of Princeton Junction, NJ; her former daughter-in-law Evelyn Goldin of Ewing, NJ; her grandson Michael and his wife Jo-Ann, grandchildren Will, Beau, Devon.

A Memorial Service was held at Star of David Memorial Chapel, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542 on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 11 a.m. Burial was at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin.

———

Clara Banta Kennedy

Clara Banta Kennedy, a beloved matriarch and dedicated community member, passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 101. Born on March 10, 1923, in Buffalo, New York, she was the daughter of Charles Woodbury Banta and Clara Urban Banta. Clara spent her childhood on a farm on Pine Ridge Road in Cheektowaga, which belonged to her grandfather, George Urban, Jr., a prominent Buffalo businessman.

Clara attended the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and graduated in the accelerated wartime program from Smith College in August 1944. Shortly after, she worked for the U.S. Naval Intelligence in the New York City office before marrying Kevin Kennedy, also from Buffalo, in March 1945. During Kevin’s service as a naval officer in the Pacific, Clara worked as a social worker at the American Red Cross in Buffalo.

In the fall of 1946, the couple moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where they lived on a farm and raised their four sons: Kevin, Charles, Alexander, and Shaun. Clara’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished when she started an antique business with a friend, eventually becoming a partner in several stores near Princeton and two on Martha’s Vineyard.

In 1969, Clara and Kevin built their home on Husselton Head in Vineyard Haven, where they joyfully hosted family and friends until Kevin’s passing in 1992. After his death, Clara remained an active and cherished member of the community, engaging with the West Chop Club, Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club, and the Want to Know Club of Vineyard Haven. She was an avid reader throughout her life and maintained a keen interest in local, U.S., and world affairs.

Clara’s life was marked by a deep commitment to education and service. She worked with children through summer Bible camps, served as a teacher’s aide in Trenton, NJ, and taught English as a second language. Her 23 years of volunteering at the Island Food Pantry exemplified her compassion and dedication to helping others. She always championed the underdog and will be remembered for her warmth, wisdom, spirited personality, and deep love of her family and friends.

Clara is survived by her four sons and their wives, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, four nephews, and one niece. A memorial service will be held in June 2025 in Vineyard Haven, where family and friends will gather to celebrate Clara’s remarkable life.

———

Charles Lutz Taggart
1927 – 2024

Charles L. Taggart, age 97, passed away on August 15, 2024 in Princeton, NJ. He was born on May 2, 1927 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the son of Adelaide Lutz and Carl Stolz Taggart. He leaves behind a legacy of being known as someone who always wanted to make the communities he lived a better place.

Charlie graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1947 after serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After studying Architecture at Princeton University, he graduated in 1951, and worked as a draftsman for Embury and Lucas, Architects in New York until 1953 when he returned to Oklahoma City to join his brother J. Thomas Taggart at the family real estate investment and management firm.

He married Sydney Shaffer in 1955, and moved back to Princeton, NJ, in 1959 where he worked for Princeton University for 25 years, serving as Director of the Alumni Council, Assistant Dean of the Graduate College, and then Director of Development. In Princeton, and later in life, he was an active volunteer, serving on the Board of Trustees of Princeton Day School, and the Community Fund Board. He also served his Princeton Class of 1951 in various roles, including as Treasurer, Vice President and President, as well as Reunion Chair and Annual Giving.

After Princeton, Charlie went on to lead Development at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. Upon his retirement, the Taggarts moved to Wakefield, RI, where he joined the Board at Willow Dell Beach Club and the Courthouse Center for the Arts before returning to Princeton in 2009.

Charlie and Sydney spent the last 15 years as active residents of Stonebridge at Montgomery, in Rocky Hill, NJ. It became their home, and Charlie became active in many aspects of the community, serving as Chair of the Residents Council, the Facilities committee, and he spent many hours in the woodshop. An avid tinkerer and handy man, improving the various homes in which his family lived, room by room, gave him great enjoyment. In his own wood shop and then at Stonebridge, he would joyfully repair and craft custom furniture, skills he learned while he was a Board Member at the Worcester Center for Crafts. While at Stonebridge, he was frequently asked to repair a chair or table or refinish a treasured antique that had seen better days.

He and Sydney were also keen travelers, visiting many countries together in his retirement, as well as numerous trips throughout the US southwest. One of his favorite places was France, where he traveled to spend time with his brother and wife, Tom and Norma Taggart.

Charlie’s quick wit, focus, and curiosity made him a thoughtful and loving husband, father, grandfather, colleague, and communicator, and he was lovingly embraced by his friends for his trustworthiness and sense of humor. Throughout his life he was known for “challenging the status quo” and his life’s work of fundraising and hard work has left the world a far better place.

Charlie is predeceased by his parents and his brother Tom. He is survived by his wife Sydney of nearly 69 years, and three sons Peter (Judy), Denver, CO, Ward (Rebecca), Las Vegas, NV, and Carl (Kim), Wayne, PA, and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Stonebridge at Montgomery on October 26 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Stonebridge Employee Appreciation Fund by contacting Keith Ikola at kikola@springpointsl.org or (609) 759-3614.

October 9, 2024

Firehouse Fun

The annual Princeton Fire Department Open House on Sunday afternoon featured demonstrations, fire truck tours, tips about fire safety, a bounce house, snacks, and more. Attendees share what they liked best about the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

PU’s John Hopfield Wins Nobel in Physics

By Donald Gilpin

John Hopfield
(Princeton University; Office of Communications; Denise Applewhite,1999)

John Hopfield, a Princeton University professor emeritus in the life sciences and molecular biology with associated faculty status in physics and neuroscience, has won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which announced the award on Tuesday, October 8.

Hopfield, 91, who shares the award with Geoffrey E. Hinton of the University of Toronto, has made contributions that “have fundamentally changed the world,” said Princeton University Molecular Biology Department Chair Bonnie Bassler, as quoted in a Princeton University Office of Communications press release. Their discoveries in machine learning paved the way for current rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.

The prize amount is 11 million Swedish kroner, about $1 million, which the two prize winners share.

“John Hopfield’s brilliant scientific career has transcended ordinary disciplinary boundaries, enabling him to make lasting contributions to physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and molecular biology,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “His pathbreaking research on neural networks, for which he is honored today, exemplifies beautifully the power of curiosity-driven research to advance the frontiers of knowledge and create new tools for addressing some of the world’s most profound challenges.” more

Ruha Benjamin Wins  “Genius” Award Amidst Gaza War Controversy

By Donald Gilpin

Ruha Benjamin
(John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

Princeton University Professor Ruha Benjamin has been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, widely referred to as the “genius” grant, worth $800,000, and she emphasizes the need to see this honor in the context of her support for the pro-Palestinian University students “who are calling for the University to divest from organizations supporting Israeli state violence against Palestinians.”

Benjamin, the University’s Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies, who describes herself as a transdisciplinary scholar and writer focusing on the relationship between innovation and inequity, was cited by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for “illuminating how technology reflects and reproduces social inequality and championing the role of imagination in social transformation.”

The Foundation’s announcement of the Fellowships went on, “By integrating critical analysis of innovation with attentiveness to the potential for positive change, Benjamin demonstrates the importance of imagination and grassroots activism in shaping social policies and cultural practices.”

In a post to the social media platform X on October 1, the day of the MacArthur announcement, Benjamin described how her phone call from the MacArthur Foundation telling her she’d won the award came on the morning after “a tense call with Princeton University officials investigating my support of students protesting the genocide in Gaza.” Benjamin was a faculty observer for the 13 University students who were arrested during a pro-Palestinian sit-in at Clio Hall on April 29 and are currently preparing to face trial in Princeton Municipal Court. more

Supreme Court Ethics Reform Rally Will Urge Attendees to Take Action

By Anne Levin

Speakers at the “Supreme Injustice” rally set for Sunday, October 20 on Hinds Plaza plan to encourage those in attendance to actively oppose recent decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the areas of health care, environmental protections, and gun safety laws.

New Jersey State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, the Rev. Robert Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action and Ceasefire New Jersey, and representatives of Empower NJ, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, and the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice are among those who will speak at the 2 p.m. gathering “to oppose far right extremist and corrupt decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court,” reads a release about the event. more

Nassau Inn One of More Than 300 Hotels Inducted Into Historic Hotels of America

WHO KNEW?: A pool behind the Nassau Inn? This photo, which provides proof, is part of the hotel’s collection of memorabilia that helped qualify it as a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America program.

By Anne Levin

The Nassau Inn has become part of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that recognizes hotels “that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance,” according to the National Trust.

With the designation, the Nassau Inn joins such establishments as the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan, the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, and the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Del. more

Grammy-Winning Conductor Returns to Lead Two Westminster Choirs

BACK AT WESTMINSTER: Choral conductor Donald Nally, who has a long history with Westminster Choir College, has been hired as a full-time visiting professor to lead the Westminster Choir and Westminster Symphonic Choir, based at Rider University.

By Anne Levin

When the Westminster Choir performs at Trinity Episcopal Church in Trenton this Saturday evening, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir appears with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey at the city’s War Memorial a week later, the two famed choral ensembles will have been prepared by a renowned conductor with close ties to their home base.

Donald Nally earned a Master of Music degree at Westminster Choir College in 1987 (before it became Westminster Choir College of Rider University), and served as an artist-in-residence there for the past two years. He has recently joined the faculty as a full-time visiting professor, working with the two choirs as well as students in the choral conducting program.

“Dr. Nally is one of the nation’s leaders in the field of conducting,” said Jason Vodicka, associate dean of Rider’s College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of music education at Westminster Choir College. “Having him here full time to lead our choirs and conducting program is a testament to his belief in the mission of Westminster Choir College. Our students are incredibly fortunate to learn from him.”

 more

Institute for Advanced Study Welcomes New Scholars and Initiatives for 2024-25

By Donald Gilpin

The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) combines a heavy dose of tradition with a continuing emphasis on innovation as it welcomes 267 visiting scholars from 35 nations and more than 130 institutions to work alongside its 26 permanent and 22 emeritus faculty in the 2024-25 academic year.

All of the scholars are based in one of the Institute’s four Schools — Historical Studies, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Science — but collaboration among disciplines is “a pillar of Institute scholarship,” an IAS press release states, and creative, unconventional, pioneering work is ubiquitous at IAS.

The IAS October 2 press release highlights, for example, four visiting scholars who “represent a unique cross section of this year’s class.”  more

Of Songs and Singers, Boxers and Debaters, On John Lennon’s Birthday

By Stuart Mitchner

Never lead against a hitter unless you can outhit him. Crowd a boxer, and take everything he has, to get inside. Duck a swing. Block a hook. And counter a jab with everything you own.

—Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

The winner got to wear a three-ply rope fashioned after the style of Hemingway…

—John Lennon (1940-1980)

John Lennon’s reference to Hemingway’s style is from his posthumous collection, Skywriting By Word of Mouth (1986). Today would have been his 84th birthday.

Ernest Hemingway’s tips on boxing come from a May 6, 1950 New Yorker profile by Lillian Ross (“How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen?”). Hemingway and his wife Mary had just checked into Manhattan’s Sherry-Netherland Hotel, where he was drinking champagne and playfully riffing about boxing and writing: “I started out very quiet and I beat Mr. Turgenev. Then I trained hard and I beat Mr. de Maupassant. I’ve fought two draws with Mr. Stendhal, and I think I had an edge in the last one. But nobody’s going to get me in any ring with Mr. Tolstoy unless I’m crazy or I keep getting better.” more

Princeton University Orchestra Opens New Season with Peter Westergaard Tribute Concerts

By Nancy Plum

The Princeton University Orchestra launched its 2024-25 season this past weekend with a unique combination of works from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, demonstrating that music knows no political boundaries. Led by conductor Michael Pratt, the more than 100-member Orchestra showed in the annual concerts honoring former faculty member Peter Westergaard what could be accomplished in the few short weeks since the University semester started.

Sunday afternoon’s performance in Richardson Auditorium (the concert was also presented Saturday night) began with the American premiere of a piece with a University connection. Princeton graduate Hobart Earle has achieved great success conducting Ukraine’s Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, leading the ensemble through the sounds of artillery in the background and against incredible odds. In 2023, Earle and the Philharmonic commissioned noted Ukrainian composer Evgeni Orkin, and the resulting Elegy in the Memory of the Victims in Odessa captures the horrors of war both in mournful darkness and hopeful light.  more

Celebrating a Residency

Members of the Thalea String Quartet, who are taking part in a three-day residency program at The Pennington School will perform a free concert on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. in the school’s Meckler Library. The school is at 112 West Delaware Avenue in Pennington. Visit pennington.org.

Small-Town Louisiana Is Setting for “Steel Magnolias”

SHAMPOO AND SASS: “Steel Magnolias” is on stage at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre through October 13.

The play Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. A production of the play is currently at Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College through October 13.

Truvy’s is where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done, including the town’s rich curmudgeon, an eccentric millionaire, and the local social leader. The play is filled with acerbic but humorous verbal collisions, exploring the unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love. more

ActorsNET Opens 28th Season With Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap”

ActorsNET kicks off its 28th season with a production of Ira Levin’s classic Broadway hit Deathtrap, running from October 11 through 27 at the Heritage Center Theatre, 635 North Delmorr Avenue in Morrisville, Pa.

One of the longest-running plays in Broadway history, Deathtrap follows a once-successful playwright now grappling with a creative dry spell. When a former student sends him a promising new script, the struggling writer hatches a plan to collaborate with the young playwright — or perhaps something more sinister? What unfolds is a suspenseful and comic exploration of ambition, greed, and deception.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a special Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. on October 19 in addition to the regularly scheduled evening performance. Visit actorsnetbucks.org for more information.

Classical Season Celebration At State Theatre New Jersey

Enriqueta Somarriba

State Theatre New Jersey (STNJ) celebrates the power of classical performance with the annual Classical Season Celebration on Thursday, October 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s event will take place in STNJ’s intimate Studio space and, as a first for State Theatre, will be a performance entirely by candlelight. Pianist Enriqueta Somarriba will perform a 45-minute program of classical favorites woven together with pieces by Spanish composers.

“We are very happy to present this important annual event in a new and exciting way this year,” said Sarah Chaplin, STNJ president and CEO. “This fundraiser is essential to us as a nonprofit presenting theater, as it helps us receive vital support from our community to sustain our classical performances and arts education initiatives throughout the year.”

The event opens with a cocktail reception. The fundraiser supports the continued success of the year-round classical and educational programming — including STNJ’s Symphony Scholars program with the New Brunswick Public School District, Edison High School, and SpeakMusic Conservatory. more

Arts Council Dance Party For Hispanic Heritage Month

JOIN THE PARTY: Más Flow, Princeton University’s Latin dance company, will be on hand for the Arts Council of Princeton’s (ACP) all-ages Dance Party, held outdoors in the ACP parking lot on Friday, October 11 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host an all-ages Outdoor Hispanic Heritage Month Dance Party on Friday, October 11 from 7-9 p.m. The ACP is at 102 Witherspoon Street.

Attendees are invited to show off their moves and learn a few new ones as volunteer dance instructors from Más Flow, Princeton University’s Latin dance company, lead tutorials in favorites like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and more.  more

Music for Oboe and Piano By Conservatory Faculty

On Thursday, October 17 at 12:15 p.m., the 23rd season of Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will continue with a recital of music for oboe and piano in Niles Chapel at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.

The performers, oboist Melissa Bohl and pianist Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, are members of the teaching faculty of Westminster Conservatory. The recital is open to the public free of charge.

The program will include Seven Bagatelles for Solo Oboe by Gordon Jacob, Fantasy in F minor, op. 49 by Frederic Chopin for solo piano, and the Sonatina for oboe and piano by Franz Reizenstein.
Bohl is the principal oboist of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, the Orchestra of St. Peter-by-the-Sea, the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra and the American Repertory Ballet Orchestra. She plays oboe and English horn with the Plainfield Symphony and performs regularly with many other area musical organizations, including the Garden State Symphonic Band and the Somerset Symphony Orchestra. At Westminster Conservatory, she teaches oboe and is head of the woodwind, brass, and percussion department.  more

Christopher Reeve Documentary Comes to Garden Theatre

The Princeton Garden Theatre will present the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story starting Friday, October 11. Tickets are now available for the run.

Reeve was a 1970 graduate of Princeton Day School (PDS). The film tells the story of his journey as a classically trained actor who, following a horseback riding accident, became a powerful advocate for disability rights. After becoming internationally recognizable, he felt more comfortable in his hometown.

“I can fool a lot of people,” he said when receiving a PDS Alumni Achievement Award in 1990, “but it’s so great to come back to a place and just be me again.”

The Princeton Garden Theatre is at 160 Nassau Street.

Mill Ballet School Honors Mark Roxey

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mill Ballet School in Lambertville honors the legacy of its founder, Mark Roxey, whose Latino heritage has shaped his artistry and passion for dance, fostering an inclusive environment for students and audiences alike.

Roxey began his formal training at The Joffrey Ballet in New York City and has performed and choreographed internationally. His creative vision has touched countless lives through Roxey Ballet and Mill Ballet School.

To celebrate Roxey’s contributions and Hispanic culture, Mill Ballet School has launched Latin Ballroom classes for students of all ages and experience levels.  more

“Available Light” Exhibition Now at David Scott Gallery

“GREEN FIRE ESCAPE”: This watercolor on paper work by Mark Oliver is featured in “Available Light,” on view at the David Scott Gallery in the offices of Berkshire Hathaway, 253 Nassau Street, through December 31. An artist reception is on Saturday, October 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.

David Scott Gallery, 253 Nassau Street, now presents its latest exhibition, “Available Light,” a collection of paintings by New York architect and artist Mark Oliver. Recently named one of the top 100 watercolor artists in the U.S., Oliver’s paintings have appeared in TV shows such as Billions, Ray Donovan, and Gossip Girls. The exhibition runs through the end of the year. An artist reception is on Saturday, October 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.

As a student of architecture at Westminster University, London, Oliver learned something that would become an integral part of his design aesthetic. “We were taught that natural light is the most important element of architecture,” he said. “We had to use it to shape and define, to blur and shade.”  more

“Art at Kings Oaks”

An artist-led group exhibition is at historic Kings Oaks farm, 756 Worthington Mill Road, Newtown, Pa., through October 20. The exhibition features work by 27 artists from across the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, Thailand, and Ukraine. Paintings, drawings, prints, collages, ceramics, sculptures, textiles, and installation art are on display in two historic farm buildings. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and by appointment. For more information, visit kingsoaksart.com or call (215) 603-6573.

“Robert Duran” Exhibition at New Jersey State Museum

“ROBERT DURAN”: A new exhibition on view October 19 through March 16 at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton offers visitors the opportunity to trace the arc of artist Robert Duran’s evolutions and experiments in painting, drawing, and watercolor from about 1967 to the late 1990s.

The New Jersey State Museum will present a new exhibition and accompanying publication featuring the work of an artist who spent the latter part of his life working in New Jersey. “Robert Duran,” opening October 19, offers visitors the opportunity to trace the arc of Duran’s evolutions and experiments in painting, drawing, and watercolor from roughly 1967 to the late 1990s. The exhibition will be on view in the first floor gallery through March 16, 2025. Major support for this exhibition and the accompanying publication has been provided by Karma Gallery. Additional support has been provided by the New Jersey State Museum Foundation through the Lucille M. Paris Fund and the Martha Vaughn Fund. more

“Not to Be Forgotten” Dual Exhibition at Artists’ Gallery

“DUSK”: This oil on canvas work by Alla Podolsky is part of “Not to Be Forgotten,” her joint exhibition with Laura Rutherford Renner, on view October 10 through November 3 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present “Not to Be Forgotten,” a new exhibit of paintings by Laura Rutherford Renner and Alla Podolsky, October 10 through November 3. An opening reception is on Sunday, October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Rutherford Renner, from Collingswood, enjoys painting figures engaged in the experience of their environments. She said, “Capturing contemporary life snapshots in two dimensions is an exercise in problem solving and creativity. I enjoy mixing pure colors, keeping my palette simple to create authentic observation. The quiet engagement of brush to palette and brush to board provides daily calm and purpose.” more