February 28, 2018

Celebrating Black History Month With George Saunders and Colson Whitehead

By Stuart Mitchner

George Saunders’s Lincoln in the Bardo (Random House $17) and Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad (Anchor $16.95), both available now in paperback, appeared on either side of the “matterlightblooming phenomenon” that took place on November 8, 2016.

Instead of using “catastrophe” or “debacle” for the election, I’m borrowing Saunders’ term for the lightning-flash-and-crack explosion that catapults souls not-yet-dead from the Buddhist limbo of the bardo to their fate in the afterlife.  more

Westminster Choir College Presents The Best of Conservatory Performance

By Nancy Plum

The Westminster Conservatory “Showcase” at Richardson Auditorium demonstrated that Westminster Choir College has a “town and gown” impact at all ages and in all genres, with performances of the Westminster Community Orchestra, Children’s Choir, Choir College Opera Workshop, and several winners of the Choir College’s Concerto Competition. Sunday’s concert showed the range of Choir College vocal students, a sampling of the next generation of performers, and community residents who just love to make music. more

Keeping Things Simple in Do-or-Die Situations, PHS Boys’ Hockey Advances to Public B Semis

COLM AND COLLECTED: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Colm Trainor controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, freshman forward Trainor scored two goals, including the game winner, as 11th-seeded PHS upset third-seeded Ridge 4-3 in overtime in the state Public B quarterfinals. The Little Tigers, who improved to 18-8-2 with victory, will now face second-seeded Northern Highlands in the Public B semis at the Mennen Sports Arena on February 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Coming off the ice after falling to Hun in the Mercer County Tournament boys’ hockey final, the players on the Princeton High squad slammed their sticks in their locker room and screamed in frustration.

Fueled by that disappointment, PHS bought a sense of urgency as they faced Middletown North in the Round of 16 in the state Public B tournament last week. more

PDS Boys’ Hockey Keeps Battling to Final Buzzer, But Edged by Wyoming Seminary in MAHL Final

ALMOST THERE: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Ryan Lisk reaches for the puck last Wednesday as PDS hosted Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) in the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL) championship game. Despite outshooting the Blue Knights 29-12, PDS ended up falling 1-0. The defeat left the Panthers with a final record of 17-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team had already defeated Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) twice this season, Scott Bertoli knew that his squad faced a challenge as the rivals met in the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL) championship game last Wednesday.

“They have adjusted and adapted a new style of play,” said PDS head coach Bertoli, whose team had topped Wyoming 4-3 on December 10 and 3-0 on January 3. more

February 22, 2018

Rider Names Buyer of Westminster

By Anne Levin

Rider University’s Board of Trustees has revealed the identity of the company with which they have been negotiating to buy Westminster Choir College, Westminster Conservatory of Music, and Westminster Continuing Education, for $40 million.

The board has signed a non-binding term sheet with Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese firm that owns the Kaiwen Academies, two K-12 international schools in Beijing, for the transfer of ownership of the three entities. “This major step forward will ensure that the choir college and its entities remain open in Princeton, NJ,” reads a press release from Rider president Gregory Dell’Omo. more

February 21, 2018

Fun and Learning at Princeton Public Library

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”18″ gal_title=”Library Kids Renovation”]

Last Thursday, Youth Services reopened on the third floor of Princeton Public Library after a six-week renovation. Serving the needs of the community’s children, teens, and families, the floor now features distinct spaces based on age and activity. Young children and families came to enjoy the Lego table in the Early Literacy Space. There is also an Independent Reader Area, a Collab Space, STEAM Studio, and Living Room.

Schools Step Up Security After Parkland Shootings

By Anne Levin

Since the tragic murder of 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week, area public and private schools have had to reconsider how to best provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Based on security audits last month, several changes had already been put in place throughout the Princeton Public Schools (PPS). But the Parkland shootings, and a recent incident in which a former student entered and later left the Princeton High School building, prompted more changes be made.  more

Immigration Experts Speak on Local Policy, Community Initiatives

JOURNEY OF HOPE: Thirty individuals, including 11 undocumented youth and allies, demanding a clean DREAM Act and the right to stay home, stopped in Princeton on Saturday on their 15-day walk from New York to Washington, D.C. and enjoyed the hospitality of volunteers and the Princeton Nassau Presbyterian Church for dinner and shelter. (Photo by Veronica Olivares-Weber and Shelby Guzman)

By Donald Gilpin

With immigration proposals failing in Congress last week and two separate federal courts having blocked President Trump from ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), federal efforts to resolve immigration issues may remain bogged down, but local organizations and individuals are taking action. more

New University Installation Will Grapple With Mixed Legacy of Woodrow Wilson

By Donald Gilpin

A new installation by Walter Hood has been commissioned by Princeton University to be placed on the plaza beside the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (WWS) С a step forward in the University’s ongoing struggles with the tarnished legacy of Woodrow Wilson.

The work will be one of the results of the recommendations of a Princeton University trustee committee that proposed a permanent marker at WWS “to educate the campus community and others about the positive and negative dimensions of Wilson’s legacy.” more

Princeton Friends School Festivities Celebrate Chinese Culture, New Year

LION DANCE: Princeton Friends School students celebrated Chinese New Year with an array of entertainments and cultural presentations by PFS students and visiting artists and organizations. The Chinese language program at PFS has thrived over the past 20 years. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton Friends School)

By Donald Gilpin

Skits and other presentations by students in pre-K through eighth grade, traditional music performed by the school’s string ensemble, a master craftsman demonstrating the traditional art of Chinese paper cutting, a Kung Fu martial artist, and representatives from Peace Ever International TV, affiliated with the United Nations community, were all part of Princeton Friends School’s (PFS) annual Chinese New Year celebrations, held Tuesday, the fifth day of the 16 days of traditional New Year festivities. more

Princeton Theological Seminary Sues Rider In Attempt to Stop Westminster Sale

By Anne Levin

Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court against Rider University, regarding Rider’s ongoing attempt to sell Westminster Choir College. The suit says that Rider “appears to have disregarded its obligations to the Seminary and the conditions set by the original donor of the land.”

That donor was Sophia Strong Taylor, who in the 1930s donated property in Princeton to Westminster Choir College. She named PTS as a steward of the gift, stipulating that the ownership of the land would shift to the Seminary “if Westminster ever ceased to operate as a choir college,” according to a press release from PTS. more

Local Eateries Participate In Annual March for Meals

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County is participating in the 16th annual March for Meals, a month-long celebration of Meals on Wheels and those who rely on the program in order to remain independent at home.

By dining at local restaurants including Eno Terra, Two Sevens, Chambers Walk, Teresa Caffe, Mediterra, the Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Trenton Social, and Amalfi’s, among others, patrons can help support the program since 10 percent of bills or more are donated to Meals on Wheels. The schedule runs March 4-31, with different restaurants participating in different weeks. more

Panel Discusses War’s Impact on Education

Three members of the Princeton community will gather for a panel discussion on February 28, 1 p.m., at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, 65 Olden Street, Princeton University. The panelists include Dr. Robert Rivers ’53, the first African American member elected to Princeton University’s Board of Trustees; Robert Durkee ’69, Princeton University vice president; and Lieutenant Colonel Kevin McKiernan, Princeton University director of the Army Officer Education Program.

Moderated by Sara Logue, assistant University archivist for public services, the panelists will offer first-hand insight into the impact of war on education and college campuses, specifically Princeton University. The event is free and open to the public.  more

Mercer Master Gardeners Present Lecture on Water

D&R Greenway Land Trust, in partnership with Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County, presents a lecture, “Water, Water Everywhere and not a Drop to Waste: Water Features in the Home Landscape,” on Thursday, February 22, 7 p.m. at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton. The guest speaker will be John Black, president of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey.

Admission is free, but pre-registration is urged. RSVP at (609) 924-4646 or rsvp@drgreenway.org. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

“There is nothing more calming and soothing than the sound of running water,” says John Black, president of the New Jersey Native Plant Society and Master Naturalist, as well as a Certified Interpretive Guide. “Whether from babbling brook or gentle waterfall, our brains are hardwired to be drawn to the sound. From birdbaths to focal point of your yard, a water feature can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. In my presentation, I will go through the different types of ponds/water features and why you should consider installing one in your garden/yard.” more

Dress for Success New Jersey Receives Foundation Grant

Dress for Success Central New Jersey (DFSCNJ) has received a $44,409 Community Impact Grant from Princeton Area Community Foundation to fund its Customer Service Excellence, Designing Your Future and Youth Empowerment Programs.

“This grant means the world to us,” says Melissa Tenzer, executive director, DFSCNJ. “The Community Foundation’s generous support will allow us to provide critical education and development programs to hundreds of disadvantaged women and girls in Central New Jersey.” more

Changes in Municipal Staff From Different Departments

By Anne Levin

At the most recent meeting of Princeton Council on February 12, the town’s new animal control officer was introduced. James Ferry, who started the job early this month, is just one of the people newly hired to join the municipal staff in recent months.

Change is also afoot in the town’s offices of engineering, planning, and public works. Longtime Planning Director Lee Solow announced early this month that he will retire in April. Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton has a new assistant. And the town’s arborist Lorraine Konopka has left her post. A replacement is scheduled to be announced this week. more

CSA Sign Up Day Promoted By Agriculture Secretary

New Jersey State Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher will announce that now is a good time to sign up for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) on National CSA Sign Up Day with a visit to Appelget Farm in West Windsor on Friday, February 23.

A CSA allows for customers to pay for a season’s worth of produce, meat, eggs, or other specialty products in advance. That provides farmers with working capital so they can to prepare for the growing season and the CSA member receives locally produced goods throughout the harvest season. more

“To See Takes Time” — Valentine’s Day Encounters With Cézanne, O’Keeffe, and the Director of “Nobody Lives Forever”

PATTERN OF LEAVES: This 1923 oil on canvas by Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986), from The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, was acquired in 1926. © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

About suffering they were never wrong, The old Masters …. –W.H. Auden (1907-1973)

There are four artist’s statements writ large on the walls of the Princeton University Art Museum’s exhibit “The Artist Sees Differently: Modern Still Lifes from The Phillips Collection.” The first and catchiest is Cézanne’s “The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.” The most technical is Braque’s “The goal is not to be concerned with the reconstruction of an anecdotal fact, but with the constitution of a pictorial fact.” More generally philosophical is Giorgio Morandi’s “To achieve understanding, it is necessary not to see many things, but to look hard at what you do see.” more

Two Women Fall in Love, Face Intolerance in “Stop Kiss”; Theatre Intime Presents Diana Son’s Bittersweet Drama

“STOP KISS”: Performances are underway for “Stop Kiss.” Presented by Theatre Intime and directed by Princeton University senior Regina Zeng, the play runs through February 24 at the Hamilton Murray Theater. Sara (Rebecca Senatore, left) and Callie (Jessica Li) begin a friendship that develops into a relationship. (Photo by Erica Dugué)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

Theatre Intime, whose talented cast and production team consist entirely of Princeton University students, is presenting Stop Kiss. In this drama by Korean-American playwright and screenwriter Diana Son, whose credits include episodes of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, two 20-something women in 1990s New York gradually allow their platonic friendship to become a romantic relationship. more

Singer, Fiddler, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon. Photo by Denis Applewhite.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon will present a reading from his recent poetry collections joined by acclaimed singer Iarla Ó Lionáird and composer Dan Trueman, in celebration of Muldoon’s latest volume Lamenations and the three artists’ collaboration with Eighth Blackbird, Olagón: A Cantata in Doublespeak. The reading, presented by Princeton University’s Fund for Irish Studies, will take on place on Friday, February 23 at 4:30 p.m. in the Wallace Theater located at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus. This event is free and open to the public. Performances of Olagón are being presented on February 22 through 24. more

Black Panther: Chadwick Boseman Portrays an African King Who Is a Superhero

By Kam Williams 

Chadwick Boseman has made a successful career by portraying a variety of prominent African Americans, such as football star Floyd Little (The Express), baseball great Jackie Robinson (42), Godfather of Soul James Brown (Get on Up), and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Marshall). The versatile actor’s efforts have been recognized by the NAACP, which has nominated him for five Image Awards.

Although Black Panther is a fictional character, the role is no less significant than the historical figures Chadwick has played in the past. That’s because black kids have rarely had a superhero that looks like them to root for, even in Africa, where the Lord of the Jungle, Tarzan, was white. more

With Freshman Meyers Getting Into a Groove, PU Women’s Hoops Moves Firmly Atop Ivies

ABBY ROAD: Princeton University women’s basketball player Abby Meyers heads to the hoop in recent action. Last week, freshman guard Meyers scored 17 points to help Princeton defeat Penn 60-40. Last Saturday, she chipped in 12 as the Tigers rolled to 74-46 win at Columbia. Princeton, now 19-4 overall and 9-1 Ivy League, plays at Dartmouth on February 23 and at Harvard on February 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Abby Meyers has experienced some growing pains this winter in her freshman season with the Princeton University women’s basketball team.

The highly touted Meyers, who scored more than 1,700 points for Walt Whitman High (Md.), went through some ups and downs over the first few months of her debut campaign, scoring 13 points against Davidson in her third game but then being held scoreless in wins over St. Joseph’s on December 20 and Penn on January 6. more

Jane Adriance Exhibit At Present Day Club

“FLUID MOVEMENT”: The artwork of Jane Adriance is featured in a solo exhibit running March 2 through April 26 at the Present Day Club in Princeton. An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The public is invited to a reception in celebration of the opening of a solo exhibit by Jane Adriance at the Present Day Club in Princeton on Friday, March 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit runs through April 26. more

Fueled by Brown’s Impressive Debut, PU Men’s Lax Edges Monmouth in 2 OT

MEMORABLE DEBUT: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Chris Brown heads upfield last Saturday as Princeton hosted Monmouth in the season opener. Freshman attackman Brown made a superb college debut, contributing two goals and three assists as Princeton pulled out a 9-8 win in double overtime. The 18th-ranked Tigers play at No. 6 Virginia (2-0) on February 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In the early stages of his debut for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team, Chris Brown struggled to get in a rhythm.

Freshman attackman Brown and and the Princeton offense couldn’t find the back of the net as the Tigers and visiting Monmouth were knotted in a scoreless stalemate late in the first quarter last Saturday in the season opener for both squads.

“We had our shots and the goalie, give him credit, made some great saves in the beginning,” said Brown. more

As PU’s 1998, 2008 ECACH Champs Honored, Tiger Men’s Hockey Girding for Playoff Push

BECK AND CALL: Princeton University men’s hockey player Max Becker heads up the ice in a game this season. Senior forward Becker and his classmates played their final regular season home games at Hobey Baker Rink last weekend, winning 7-2 against Rensselaer on Friday and then falling 4-1 to Union a night later. Princeton, now 12-12-3 overall and 9-10-1 ECAC Hockey, wraps up regular season action by playing at Clarkson on February 23 and at St. Lawrence on February 24. The Tigers are currently tied for seventh in the ECACH standings and in position to host a first round playoff series over the weekend of March 2-4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The 1998 and 2008 Princeton University men’s hockey ECAC Hockey championship squads were honored at Hobey Baker Rink last Saturday evening.

Players from the storied teams were introduced after the first and second periods as Princeton hosted Union in its regular season home finale, drawing large ovations from the crowd of 2,271 that braved a snowstorm to be on hand. more