By Justin Feil
Phoenix Roth is in her first year running cross country for the Princeton High girls’ squad.
It’s the fulfillment of a promise the Tiger sophomore made to her older sister, Robin, last spring during track season.
“I told her that if I qualify for nationals, I would do cross country,” said Roth. “It was like a joke because I didn’t think it was going to happen. And then it did.” more
By Bill Alden
Hosting rival Lawrenceville last Friday afternoon, the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team got off to a solid start.
Buoyed by a throng on hand at Baker Field for the school’s Fall Tailgate, PDS had the better of play against the Big Red in the early stages of the contest, gaining plenty of possession and generating chances. more
By Bill Alden
Ella McLaren moved to center back from midfield last fall for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team and formed a partnership with Tochi Owunna.
With the pair anchoring the PDS back line to stifle foes, the Panthers caught fire down the stretch, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A state title, blanking Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the final. more
By Bill Alden
Emily Harlan is following in the footsteps of her older sister Lily in her senior season for the Stuart County Day School field hockey, having developed into an inspiring performer for the Tartans.
“I think part of it is being Lily’s sister, she has always been my leader,” said senior goalie Harlan of her older sibling who starred at forward for Stuart and is now playing at Boston University. “She influenced me to get into the game at a young age. She was here when I was here. When I saw her as a leader and then she left, I thought I am going to be like my sister. I am going to step it up.” more
By Donald Gilpin
Sustainable Princeton, working with municipal officials to meet the demands of Princeton’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), delivered a progress report at the September 23 Princeton Council meeting, zeroing in on two specific actions: evaluating, and implementing a plan for, waste streams; and reducing emissions in the built environment.
CAP, adopted five years ago, includes five different categories, 13 objectives, and more than 80 actions to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve environmental quality, and enhance public health and safety.
The Sustainable Princeton presenters, Executive Director Christine Symington and Program Managers Jenny Ludmer and Alex Dill, pointed out significant progress achieved in working towards the CAP goals. more
By Anne Levin
When it comes to breast cancer, the statistics tell the story. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed in her lifetime. In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
But there is hope. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99 percent. Thanks to better screening, increased awareness, and improving treatment options, breast cancer rates have slowly gone down since 1989 — an overall decrease of 43 percent through 2020.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Local efforts to combat the disease include Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer on October 14 from 4-6 p.m. at the Witherspoon Hall parking lot, sponsored by the Princeton Health Department, Princeton Human Services, and Move Over Breast Cancer; and the 7th Annual Beyond Pink Art Show fundraiser on October 24 at MarketFair, sponsored by the YWCA Princeton’s Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). Artworks from that event remain on view through October 27. more
By Donald Gilpin
National Hispanic Heritage Month extends from September 15 to October 15, a time to “celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of those living in America whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America,” as stated in a September 9 Princeton Council proclamation. Princeton and the surrounding area offer many opportunities to join the celebrations.
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), the Princeton Public Library (PPL), McCarter Theatre, Princeton University, and local schools, as well as the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) in Trenton, are presenting a variety of entertaining and edifying activities to engage the community and respond to Princeton Mayor Mark Freda’s “call upon the people of Princeton to join in this special observance by seeking out celebrations, educational programs, and community activities to learn more about the role Hispanic and Latino Americans have played in our nation’s history.” more
By Anne Levin
For the past eight years, the basement of a four-bedroom Cape Cod house at 26 Washington Street in Rocky Hill has been the headquarters of a sprawling model railroad system. This 5,000-square-foot miniature world boasts trains, buildings, bridges, mountains, rivers, and even a circus train. A dispatcher, a trainmaster, three tower operators, and 15 engineers operate the system on a rotating basis.
The railroad is run by the Pacific Southern Railway (PSRY) club, which holds meetings for members and visitors on Wednesday evenings. On October 19 and 20, the club will hold its annual family-friendly train show at the house. The popular event will include hourly demonstrations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. As has been the case for several years, all of the $10 donations support the Rocky Hill Rescue Squad and Volunteer Fire Company. more
By Donald Gilpin
Dave Mackey (Photo courtesy of Hopewell Museum)
The 101: Fund, which for more than 50 years has been providing need-based college scholarships to Princeton High School (PHS) graduates, recently received a bequest of $110,000 from the estate of Princeton Public Schools (PPS) art teacher Dave Mackey, who died at age 89 in May 2023.
Mackey and his wife Becky, a PHS physical education teacher and coach who died in 2000, are well remembered by many PHS graduates and repeatedly described as two of PHS’s most beloved teachers.
“The 101: Fund is incredibly honored and thankful to receive this generous gift from and in memory of Dave and Becky Mackey,” said 101 President Anthony Klockenbrink. “Becky was a previous board member of 101. The gift will enable the 101 to support more PHS students and to support more meaningful scholarships going forward. It is also our hope to establish a named scholarship in their memory.” more
By Anne Levin
The career of innovative musician and producer Brian Eno is the subject of a documentary to be screened on Tuesday, October 8 at the Princeton Garden Theatre. What makes this one-night-only event unique is its use of the latest AI technology, which means it will never be seen the same way twice.
Eno premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival. Landing the screening, which is underwritten by the Princeton Record Exchange, is a coup for the Garden. Kyle Stenger, the theater’s outreach director, thinks it is the only movie house in New Jersey to have the honor.
“It’s a brand-new concept called ‘generative documentary.’ The director, Gary Hustwit, developed this AI software specifically for this movie, and it is re-edited for every showing so it’s different every single time,” said Stenger. “You’re never going to get a version of it that has Eno’s whole life in it. You might get his time with David Bowie in Berlin, or with David Byrne in Talking Heads. That’s what makes it so exciting. It’s a radical concept that is also meant to reflect the experimental process of Eno himself.” more
By Stuart Mitchner
I’ve just read Wallace Stevens’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,” today being his 145th birthday. Why that particular poem now? Probably because it’s an infectious idea that inspires impersonation. And why 13? Why not 9 or 7? Or 10 to match the number of his birthday month?
When I began writing a few days ago, I was thinking about ways of looking at Italy. What set me off was the Milan cathedral, which rises magnificently from the center of Luchino Visconti’s epic Rocco and His Brothers (1960), a film so “fearsome” (Martin Scorsese’s word) that people screamed “No!” “Stop it!” and “Basta!” when its prolonged explosions of murderous violence were first shown at the Venice Film Festival.
What happened to me? Suddenly, breathtakingly, after one of the movie’s most brutal, harrowing, hard-to-watch scenes, I found myself at the top of the cathedral surrounded by spires and pinnacles, with dizzy-making views of the city and country on all sides while straight scarily down below were tiny streetcars, busses, and human beings. I’m up there with Alain Delon’s Rocco and Annie Girardot’s Nadia, who was beaten and raped in front of Rocco by his brother Simone, mad with jealousy because Rocco and Nadia, a free-spirited prostitute, have fallen, truly, in love. more
McCarter Theatre Center presents Duel Reality, from Montreal-based circus troupe The 7 Fingers, October 9-13. Known for their blend of circus, theatre, illusion, music, and dance, this latest creation is an acrobatic tour-de-force inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Audiences are invited to imagine a world where star-crossed lovers are circus stars, their love story unfolding through acrobatics. This cirque-infused performance portrays the feuding families engaging in increasingly daring battles of skill — while the lovers struggle to escape the escalating conflict. The performance distills the classic love story to its core conflict and transforms the stage into a sporting arena, with the audience/spectators taking sides and cheering on their team. more
State Theatre New Jersey presents “The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes” on Saturday, October 19 at 8 p.m.
After a screening of the movie The Princess Bride, actor Elwes (Westly) will engage in a moderated discussion for a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film, revealing never-before-shared stories. The moderator is journalist and musician Alex Biese.
A limited number of VIP packages are available and include the best seats in the house, a Meet and Greet with Elwes, and a signed copy of his book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. more
Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) concertmaster Basia Danilow and principal cellist Alistair MacRae team up with pianist Steven Beck October 19-20 for performances of Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op. 56, “Triple Concerto.” Conducted by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the concerts at Richardson Auditorium also include Michael Abels’ More Seasons and Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, “Classical.”
The entire program provides variations on traditional musical forms, and even the usual order of orchestral concert programming. “Rather than designing the program in the customary way — overture, concerto, symphony —I have decided to move the programming blocks a bit to allow the audience to experience first the more modern works by Prokofiev and Ables before hearing the Beethoven’s original masterpiece —’Triple Concerto’ — in the second half of the concert,” said Milanov. more
The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO) and conductor Ruth Ochs will perform two programs in November and December in Hillman Performance Hall, housed in the Marion Buckelew Cullen Center, 101 Walnut Lane.
The orchestra will present its first performance, Celebrate America!, on Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m., featuring works by George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, George Whitefield Chadwick, Florence Price, Aaron Copland, and Richard Rodgers. The program will also include Georg Philipp Telemann’s Recorder Concerto in C, with Westminster Conservatory student Tegan Costello as soloist. The concert highlights a variety of musical themes that are distinctly American. There are no tickets required; a suggested admission of $10/person will be collected at the door. more
The Hopewell Valley Arts Council is celebrating a decade of community tradition with its 10th Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve at Woolsey Park in Hopewell Township from October 9 through 13. Bringing together families, art lovers, and fall enthusiasts, this event features 30 massive pumpkins carved into creative masterpieces under a big top tent.
Since its inception, the Amazing Pumpkin Carve has grown into one of Hopewell Valley’s favorite fall events, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The pumpkins, carved by local artists, range from whimsical to spooky, showcasing the talent and creativity within the community. Rain or shine, attendees can enjoy the pumpkin displays inside the tent. more
Since expanding its programming to include more one-of-a-kind, community-building events — built by community members — West Windsor Arts has hosted dancing in the dark parties, game nights, holi celebrations, immersive classical musical performances, and more.
On Saturday, October 5, from 4 to 9 p.m., the arts center will bring the Southern Indian tradition of Navrati Golu to its gallery space. “From Ethereal to Real: A Navratri Golu” will feature an installation of intricately arranged, handcrafted dolls and heirlooms in settings that explore global warming through allegory, metaphor, and mythology. The evening will also include impromptu, live Indian classical music, a presentation on the significance of the golu, and fun art activities for children. more
Princeton Makes will host its second annual Art in the Courtyard — Fall Festival on Sunday, October 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard. The festival is a celebration of creativity and community and will showcase the local artistic talent of Princeton and neighboring areas.
Art in the Courtyard is designed to give local artists and artisans the opportunity to spotlight their work. But the festival goes beyond artistic displays; it is a celebration of the entire Princeton and neighboring areas. Princeton Makes is focused on community building and welcomes everyone to contribute to a community art project to be made during the event. more
Princeton University Library presents “Monsters & Machines: Caricature, Visual Satire, and the Twentieth-Century Bestiary” in the Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, on view through December 8.
The exhibition examines the global use of bestiary in visual satire during the period from the beginning of World War I through the end of the Cold War. It is curated by a team of PUL librarians: Thomas Keenan, Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies librarian; Lidia Santarelli, librarian for History, New York University; Deborah Schlein, Near Eastern Studies librarian; and Alain St. Pierre, librarian for History, History of Science, and African Studies. more
By Jean Stratton
You will definitely be “in style” at Enmoda Salon & Spa at 163 Bayard Lane.
The Spanish term “enmoda” can mean in style, and Princeton’s Enmoda lives up to its name. The master stylists, estheticians, nail technicians, and makeup specialists are all ready to help each client look their best.
Opened two years ago, the establishment has a clientele of men, women, and children, from 9 years old to 80-plus, all who are regular clients, reports salon director and master stylist Zachary Mosco. more
By Bill Alden
For Blaine McAllister, being patient over the last four seasons was rewarded last Saturday as he made his first start at quarterback for the Princeton University football team.
Toiling on the Princeton junior varsity team in 2021 and 2022 and making one varsity appearance last fall, senior McAllister got the starting nod against visiting Howard with opening day starter Blaine Hipa sidelined by injury. more
By Bill Alden
Over its first two seasons as a varsity 15s program, the Princeton University women’s rugby team went winless, dropping all 13 games it played in 2022-23.
But heading into this fall, Princeton was confident that it was on the verge of a breakthrough win. more
By Bill Alden
Azariah Breitman scored just one goal in the first five games this fall for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team.
In game six, though, senior forward and co-captain Breitman exploded for three goals in a 4-1 win over Hopewell Valley and that opened the floodgates for him. more
By Bill Alden
As the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team hosted Woodbridge last Wednesday, Charlotte Woods didn’t take long to get into the flow.
“I feel like I was able to warm up and open up and take some really harder hits,” said junior outside hitter Woods. “The sets by Lois [Matsukawa] were awesome, — that made those big hits possible.” more
