July 3, 2018

Summer Chamber Concerts Kicks Off Season With Baroque Chamber Music

By Nancy Plum

’Tis the week for 18th-century music in the Princeton area. Princeton Festival has been showcasing its Baroque Festival Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble, and for the first time in its 51-year history, Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts has presented a Baroque instrumental ensemble. Last Tuesday night’s concert at Richardson Auditorium featured the chamber ensemble REBEL, named after the early French composer Jean-Féry Rebel. REBEL has been performing worldwide for more than 25 years, winning numerous awards while compiling an impressive roster of instrumentalists. Tuesday night’s concert brought two violinists, one violoncello, and a harpsichord to Princeton, performing a potpourri of 17th and 18th-century pieces. It was a unique program of music for three strings, but no viola, and the collection of multi-movement works presented on period instruments showed solid partnership among violinists Jôrg-Michael Schwarz and Karen Marie Marmer, cellist John Moran, and harpsichordist Dongsok Shin. more

2018 Princeton Student Film Festival Receives Record Number of Submissions

By Taylor Smith 

This year’s Princeton Student Film Festival will take place July 17-19 at 7 p.m. The showings on July 17 will be held at Princeton Garden Theatre, while the showings on July 18 and 19, will be hosted by the Princeton Public Library.

Created and presented by the Princeton Public Library, the Festival features original short films created by student filmmakers ages 14-25. The films were chosen from local, national, and international entries. Some of the films represent college student thesis projects, while others are from novice high school filmmakers who possess a passion for filmmaking and a desire to see their vision portrayed on the big screen.  more

Carnegie Hall Youth Program Accepts Eight Area Students

This year, eight Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) students have been selected to participate in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), and two students have been selected to participate in its sister ensemble for younger students: NYO2. The PYO students who have been chosen from Pa. are: Akili Farrow, violin, of Southwest Philadelphia; Johnny May, violin, of Penn Valley; Noah Stein, trombone, of Yardley; Sabine Jung (NYO2), cello, of West Chester; and Gregory Padilla (NYO2), bass, of Northeast Philadelphia. The students from N.J. are: Clara Bouch, viola, of Cherry Hill; Robin Park, cello, of Princeton Junction; and David Stein, tuba, of Morristown.  more

After Brilliant Debut Season for PU Women’s Track, Amaechi Competing in Discus at World U20 Meet

WORLD CLASS: Obiageri Amaechi competes in the discus this spring for the Princeton University women’s track team during her freshman season. After a superb debut campaign which saw her break the school record several times and finish seventh at the NCAA Championships to earn first-team All-American honors, Amaechi placed first at the USA Track & Field Junior Championships with a personal best and Ivy League record heave of 186’11. Amaechi will now compete in the IAAF World U20 Championship in Tampere, Finland from July 10-15. (Photo by Beverly Schaefer, Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Obiageri Amaechi focused on sprinting and jumping events when she started her high school track career as a freshman in 2013.

While Amaechi mainly did the 100, 200, 4×100 relay, long jump, and high jump competing for Abraham Lincoln High in San Francisco, she did start dabbling in the discus and shot put. more

Hun Alum Fake’s Emergence as Top Defender Helped Spark Yale Men’s Lax to NCAA Crown

TOP DOG: Chris Fake carries the ball up the field for the Yale University men’s lacrosse team as it battled Duke in the NCAA championship game. Former Hun School star Fake helped the Bulldogs top Duke 13-11 in the title game to earn the program’s first national title. Fake emerged as a defensive star this spring, getting named as the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, making 1st-team All-Ivy and second team All-America. (Photo Courtesy of Yale Sports Publicity)

By Bill Alden

For Chris Fake, a daily ritual this spring with the Yale University men’s lacrosse team helped mold him into one of the top defenders in the nation.

As the former Hun School standout looked to get up to speed in his freshman campaign for the Bulldogs, he drilled with with Yale senior attacker Ben Reeves everyday after practice. more

PHS Lineman McBride Ends on a High Note As West Squad Wins Sunshine Football Game

MAC ATTACK: Marqui McBride helps lead the offensive charge for the West all-star squad in the 22nd Annual Sunshine Football Classic last Friday at The College of New Jersey. Recently graduated Princeton High star lineman McBride enjoyed a big game as the West prevailed 28-20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Marqui McBride wasn’t surprised when the West all-star squad started the 22nd Annual Sunshine Football Classic last Friday by grinding out a 14-play, 74-yard scoring march to jump ahead 7-0 over the East team.

“We established that lineman connection on the first day of practice,” said recently graduated Princeton High star offensive lineman McBride. “Everyone coming up with calls for ourselves and all that stuff.” more

PHS Runner Hare, PHS Girls’ Lax Star Lopez-Ona Get the Nods as Town Topics’ Top Spring Performers

FINISHING KICK: Princeton High running star Will Hare heads to the finish line in a cross country race last fall. Senior Hare ended his PHS career on a high note this spring, placing first in the 3,200 run at the Mercer County Championships, the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional and the state Group 4 meet, helping the Little Tigers to the team title in each of the meets. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Will Hare headed into this spring for his final season with the Princeton High boys’ track team, he was paying attention to detail.

“It was really a lot about taking care of the little things in the spring,” said Hare. “I wanted to set myself up as best as I could to be running well in late May and early June. Those are really the meets that define the season and, in my case, my career.” more

Starting 2-0 in Section 3 Intermediate Tourney, Princeton Advances to Championship Round

TITLE RACE: Princeton Little League (PLL) star A.J. Surace takes a cut in Intermediate 50/70 playoff action. Last Friday, Surace contributed two hits to help Princeton rally to a 12-9 win over host Middletown in the opener of the Section 3 tournament. PLL topped Beachwood 11-9 a day later to advance to the championship round of the double-elimination competition. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After rolling to the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 title, outscoring Millstone-Roosevelt 26-6 in the two-team tournament, the Princeton Little League (PLL) squad showed a flair for drama as it competed at the Section 3 tourney last weekend in Middletown.

In its opening game at the double-elimination tourney last Friday, Princeton fell behind early to host Middletown, trailing 5-2 going into the sixth inning before exploding for nine runs in the sixth inning on the way to a 12-9 victory. more

Bringing It On

Members of the Princeton Little League 11-year-old all-star team celebrate after winning the 11-U title at the recently-held USABL (United States Amateur Baseball League) “Bring the Heat” Tourney. Princeton rallied from 5-0 deficit against Monroe in the championship game to prevail 16-11. The team beat Lincroft 6-4 and Gallagher/Sportika 13-10 on the way to final at the tourney, which was held in Toms River and Howell. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Ben Walden, Colton Simonds, Anders Hedin, Travis Petrone, and Mike Prete. In the back row, from left, are Brady Collier, Basil Reiger, Alex Winters, Ed Kuczynski, Luke Haan, and Carter Hillsdon. Not pictured is Sam Lee.

June 27, 2018

JaZams Summer Block Party

Children had fun playing with colorful Plus-Plus construction toys at the annual event Friday evening on Palmer Square West in Princeton. The party also featured lots of crafts, activities, food, and live music. Participants name their favorite toys in this week’s Town Talk on page 6, and more photos can be found on page 24. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Westminster Sale Is Far From Complete, Opponents Say

By Anne Levin

Last week, Rider University announced it had signed a “Purchase and Sale Agreement” for the transfer of Westminster Choir College to the Chinese company Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology Corporation. But the agreement is hardly a done deal, say opponents of the sale.

Representatives of Rider and Westminster’s faculty, Westminster’s alumni, and members of Rider’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) joined attorney Bruce Afran Monday at a press conference denouncing the University’s June 21 announcement. more

Council Votes Unanimously On First Step of Plan For Seminary Improvements

By Anne Levin

In the first step of a process that would enable Princeton Theological Seminary to add more housing to its Tennent campus, Princeton Council voted unanimously Monday night to direct the town’s Planning Board to study whether the campus should be designated as an area in need of redevelopment.

This tool would allow the town to be more proactive in planning, in turn giving the public a greater ability to provide input and be more involved in the process. The seminary could also contribute financially to affordable housing, not necessarily on the site but in areas across town. Mayor Liz Lempert recused herself from the discussion because her husband is a professor at Princeton University, which has connections to the affordable housing issue. more

Floyd Remembered For Activism at Memorial Service

By Anne Levin

The Princeton community turned out in force last Saturday at Nassau Presbyterian Church for the memorial service of longtime civil servant James Arthur Floyd Sr. Floyd, who was Princeton’s first African American mayor, died May 14 at the age of 96.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, local historian Shirley Satterfield, Princeton Community Housing director Edward Truscelli, Robert E. Humes of the Mercer County Community College Foundation, and a representative from Floyd’s beloved Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity praised him for his commitment to equality, community, voting rights, freedom for those unfairly incarcerated, and fair housing. Many references were made — in good humor — to Floyd’s forceful personality. more

Nassau Hall Roof Replacement, Cupola Repair Are Center of Nine-Month Restoration Project

REPAIR AND RESTORATION: Princeton University’s historic Nassau Hall will undergo work to replace its existing slate roof and restore and repaint the cupola. The project is expected to be completed next March.

By Jean Stratton

Nassau Hall, Princeton University’s iconic building, is in the midst of a reconstruction project: specifically to replace the existing roof and to repair and repaint the cupola.

Work began on June 18 and is expected to be completed in March 2019. Scaffolding and fencing will surround the entire building to support the craftspeople and materials needed for the project. Building entrances will remain open, however, and staff may continue to work inside. more

Japanese Beetles Return, Threatening Local Plants

THE BEETLES ARE BACK: Leaf skeletonization is the telltale sign of Japanese beetles. Over-the-counter anti-grub pesticides can be an effective way to prevent the invasive species from laying eggs, but by the time they reach adulthood, the best and most effective form of protection is removing them by hand. (Photo by Lamba)

By William Uhl

As the summer weather heats up, Japanese beetles have been emerging across trees and gardens around Princeton. First spotted in 1916 at a New Jersey nursery, the bronze-bodied beetles have become a major problem for East Coast plant life.  more

Learning About Sustainability

Sustainable Princeton was a sponsor of the Community Loteria Event held at Community Park on Saturday, June 16. Children and adults played the organization’s recycling dart game, testing their knowledge on proper recycling sorting, to win LED lightbulbs and reusable water bottles. The team at Sustainable Princeton diverted five pounds of recycling and 12 pounds of compost, and not a single plastic water bottle was used at the event. Pictured, from left, are Yamile Slebi, Sustainable Princeton trustee; Jenny Ludmer, outreach manager; and Christine Symington, program director. (Photo by Veronica Olivares-Torres)

Positive Mental Health Is Theme of Festival

As part of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July, Millhill Child and Family Development’s Next Generation Community Leaders (NGCL), will host a community wellness festival on Saturday, July 21 at MLK Elementary School, 401 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton.

The festival is the year–long outcome of the NGCL youth-led civic engagement project and is designed to raise awareness, educate the community about mental wellness strategies, and empower attendees to “Embrace You!” more

School Matters: Week of June 27, 2018

GoFundMe Campaign To Help Save Bog Turtles

Riverside Elementary School science teacher Mark Eastburn and his students have started a GoFundMe campaign to help save bog turtles, which were recently named New Jersey’s official state reptile. With less than 6,000 left in the world, bog turtles are critically endangered in New Jersey, and threatened across their range. All proceeds from the fundraiser will support long-term conservation projects to protect bog turtles in essential habitats. For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/help-save-bog-turtles.

Sustainable Princeton Recognizes Elementary Schools

As the school year comes to an end, Sustainable Princeton has acknowledged the Princeton Public Elementary Schools’ efforts to reduce waste and promote environmental stewardship among their students. Sustainable Princeton recognizes that all schools are making great strides to become more sustainable. more

Ripe for the Picking

It’s blueberry season, and Terhune Orchards is holding its annual Blueberry Bash Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8. Pick your own berries, hear live music, see a puppet show, and sample food and wine. The farm is at 330 Cold Soil Road. Visit www.terhuneorchards.com for information.

Womanspace Seeks Volunteers To Help Victims of Violence

Womanspace, Inc., a nonprofit agency that provides services to people impacted by domestic and sexual violence, is currently accepting volunteer applications for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Response Teams. The fall training will be held in September. Applications will be accepted until August 1.

In making this announcement, Domestic Violence Victim Response Team Coordinator Heidi Mueller said, “We are very excited to be taking another volunteer class this fall. This program is truly amazing and extensive; not only do these volunteers go on to give crucial information, they also give emotional support to victims.” more

Princeton Climate Institute Gets $40 Million Grant

Researchers at Princeton University and NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) have been awarded up to $40 million over five years to fund a new cooperative institute that focuses on Earth system research. The goal of The Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System (CIMES) is to understand and predict the Earth’s climate system across time scales from days to decades, on local to global scales, and with particular focus on extreme weather and problems of relevance to society, including impacts on marine ecosystems, drought, and air quality. more

4th Annual Ralph Copleman Neighborhood Bike Ride

The annual bike ride to celebrate the life of Ralph Copleman, local environmental advocate and founder/executive director of Sustainable Lawrence, took place on June 9 from 10 a.m. – noon. The free, family-friendly, eight-mile bike ride looped through the parks, neighborhoods, and trails in south Lawrence. more

Farmers Market Reopens At Campus Town in Ewing

The 31 and Main Farmers Market next to the College of New Jersey on Route 31 in Ewing Township has opened for its third season. Fresh produce, artisan products, live entertainment, and the promotion of healthy living are the objectives of the market, which is open on Sundays from noon-6 p.m. July 22, August 19, September 23, and October 21. more

Soundings: Art, Music, and Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”

JONAH HISTORICALLY REGARDED (DOME): Frank Stella (1936 —), hand colored etching, aquatint, relief, engraving, screenprint and stencil on paper, 186.69 cm x 134.62 cm. Addison Gallery of American Art, Tyler Graphics Ltd. 1974-2001 Collection, given in honor of Frank Stella, 2003.44.300 /©2017 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NewYork.

On the hither side of Pittsfield sits Herman Melville, shaping out the gigantic conception of his white whale, while the gigantic shape of Greylock looms upon him from his study-window.

—Nathaniel Hawthorne, from The Wonder Book

By Stuart Mitchner

In a December 1850 letter to a friend penned while he was “shaping” the book that became Moby Dick, Melville writes, “I look out of my window in the morning when I rise as I would out of a port-hole of a ship in the Atlantic. My room seems a ship’s cabin; & at nights when I wake up & hear the wind shrieking, I almost fancy there is too much sail on the house, and I had better go on the roof and rig in the chimney.” more

“Airing Out the Attic” At Trenton City Museum

“PORTRAIT OF BEN WHITMIRE”: Elizabeth Ruggles’ painting is featured in “Airing Out the Attic,” an exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park. It runs July 11 through September 9, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 14 from 7 to 9 p.m.

When the Trenton City Museum opened its doors to the public in 1978, it had already acquired a small collection of decorative art and historical objects, and a few pieces of fine art. Over the last 40 years, the collection has grown to comprise nearly six thousand objects including more than 250 works of fine art, both donated and purchased. more