January 17, 2018

The Post: Hanks and Streep Co-Star in Freedom of the Press Thriller

By Kam Williams

The Post is a movie that should be compared to two classic newsroom thrillers: All the President’s Men (1976) and Spotlight (2015). Like the former, it’s set in Washington, D.C. in the 70s and is about an attempt by the Nixon administration to prevent the publication of incriminating information leaked to the Washington Post by a whistleblower. And it’s eerily similar to the Best Picture Oscar-winner Spotlight in that they’re both dramas about an idealistic newspaper’s legal battle in defense of freedom of the press.

Hollywood has a predictable habit of parroting success, which means it’s just a matter of time before a knockoff of a big hit arrives in theaters. In this case, Spotlight’s Academy Award-winning scriptwriter, Josh Singer, was tapped to tweak first timer Liz Hannah’s original screenplay about the Pentagon Papers. more

With Point Guard Littlefield Making a Difference, Princeton Women’s Hoops Sitting Atop Ivy League

FIELD GENERAL: Princeton University women’s basketball player Carlie Littlefield heads upcourt in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman point guard Littlefield contributed eight points and four assists as Princeton pulled away to a 75-54 win over Cornell. The Tigers, now 13-3 overall and 3-0 Ivy League, are currently on exam break and return to action when they play at Yale on February 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Carlie Littlefield had a quiet first half for the Princeton University women’s basketball team as it hosted Cornell last Saturday.

Princeton freshman point guard Littlefield was held scoreless and had just one assist in nine minutes of action as Princeton clung to a 36-34 lead at halftime.

“We were kind of probing on the first half so that is what I was doing too,” said Littlefield, a 5’ 9 native of Waukee, Iowa. more

Sparked by Jones’ Production, Maturity, Hun Girls’ Hoops Aiming to Put it Together

SHOOTING STAR: Hun School girls’ basketball player Jada Jones puts up a shot in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard and team captain Jones scored 20 points to help Hun defeat Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) 66-40. The Raiders, who improved to 4-6 with the win, play Immaculate Conception High at Felician University on January 18, host Sinai Christian Academy on January 20, and then play at Nottingham High on January 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jada Jones was looking to fit in with the Hun School girls’ basketball team last winter as she joined the program after transferring from Randolph High.

The sharp-shooting guard emerged as a go-to scorer, bonding quickly with her new teammates.

This season, junior Jones has moved up the pecking order, serving as the team’s sole captain. “Last year I was getting used to the team,” said Jones. “This year, it is me really trying to evolve as a player and learn my playing type.” more

Led by Barberis’ Prowess in Sprinting Events, PHS Boys’ Swimming Primed for Postseason

SPEED RACER: Princeton High boys’ swimming star Daniel Barberis displays his freestyle form earlier ths season. Last Saturday, senior star and co-captain Barberis won both the 50 and 100 freestyle races to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 102-68. The Little Tigers, who improved to 7-3 with the victory, were slated to face WW/P-South on January 16 in their final regular season meet before taking part in the Mercer County Championships from January 25-27 at WW/P-North. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Daniel Barberis doesn’t like to linger in the water, but that hasn’t kept him from emerging as a star for the Princeton High boys’ swimming team.

Getting into the sport as a grade-schooler in Laramie, Wyoming, Barberis gravitated to the the shorter events.

“I was a sprinter right from the start, I tried long distance before but I just don’t have the build to stay swimming for a long time,” said Barberis, who joined the PHS swim team as a freshman after his family moved to the area. “I do more of the blasts out rather than spend a lot of time in the water.” more

Coit Takes Leading Role for PDS Boys’ Hoops, Bringing Aggressive Mindset on a Daily Basis

FLYING HIGH: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player David “Diggy” Coit flies in for a lay-up in a game this season. Last Saturday, junior star and captain Coit tallied 27 points to help PDS defeat Doane Academy 74-71 in overtime. The Panthers, who improved to 5-7 with the win, host the Solebury School (Pa.) on January 18 and Allentown on January 20 before playing at Hamilton West on January 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the graduation of senior stars and 1,000-point scorers Chase Lewis and John McArthur last June, David “Diggy” Coit was primed to be the man this winter for the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team.

“This is what I wanted,” said Coit. “I wanted to be the leader, I wanted all eyes to be on me, so it is just about adjusting and making it happen.” more

January 10, 2018

A Kind Of Hush

With students still on winter recess, all was quiet on the Princeton University campus after last Thursday’s snowstorm. People discuss how the town handled snow removal in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Erica M. Cardenas)

Griggs Farm Fire Survivors Still Need Housing

By Anne Levin

Since the December 27 fire at the Griggs Farm complex that took one life and displaced 35 residents, the local community has rallied to donate funds, food, clothing, and household items. An anonymous couple offered to make a matching gift of $36,000.

Now, the call is out for housing options. more

LALDEF Calls for Clean DREAM Act, As Time Is Running Out for DACA

By Donald Gilpin

The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) continues to call for a clean DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) from Congress, a bill that is not attached to increased funding for border security and expanded detention facilities, as President Donald Trump and other Republican lawmakers continue to argue for a border wall and more money for immigration enforcement. more

Princeton Schools Look To October Referendum; Info Sessions This Week

By Donald Gilpin

As Princeton Public Schools prepare building plans to submit to the State Department of Education (DOE) in April, leading up to an October 2 facilities referendum vote, Superintendent Steve Cochrane is urging families, staff, and community members to attend one of two information sessions to be held at John Witherspoon Middle School (JWMS) Wednesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m.  more

PU Graduate Students Set Forth On Teaching Experience at MCCC

“I LOVED TEACHING”: Princeton University PhD candidate Merle Eisenberg (right) put teaching theories into practice in his interactive history class on Western civilization at Mercer County Community College this past fall. The PU-MCCC partnership will continue this spring and next fall, with five more PU doctoral students teaching at MCCC.

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University (PU) and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) have launched a collaborative program for PU graduate students to gain teaching experience in the community college classroom, and the reviews are positive on both sides. more

Lisa Jones Shop Is Latest to Announce It Is Leaving Town

By Anne Levin

After 13 years on Witherspoon Street, the Lisa Jones shop is closing. The clothing and home store will shut its doors in mid-February, it was revealed Monday, making it the latest in a line of small businesses to recently announce their departure from Princeton.

Lisa Jones follows Hulit’s Shoes and Savory Spice Shop in its exit from the downtown. The Peacock Inn on Bayard Lane closed its restaurant January 1, but remains a hotel. CoolVines, a neighbor of Savory Spice Shop on Spring Street, has announced it will close early this year, but is opening new stores in Jersey City and Newark. CoolVines already has one store in Jersey City. more

New Council Members Sworn In At Annual Reorganization Meeting

By Anne Levin

Princeton Council welcomed new members Leticia Fraga and David Cohen at its annual reorganization meeting on January 2. Outgoing members Bernie Miller and Jo Butler had a chance to address the public and their colleagues one last time before stepping down from the dais. Mayor Liz Lempert also delivered remarks. more

Chardcore

John Witherspoon Middle School principal Jason Burr recently thanked Princeton School Gardens Cooperative for funding of the part-time edible gardens educator position for the school year 2017-18. Provided by a partnership between the bent spoon and Whole Earth Center, it makes possible the seed-to-table efforts of master gardener Priscilla Hayes, underway in the school’s Food Science course and also in the 501c3’s JW Cooks+Gardens program under the culinary direction of Chef Michelle Fuerst.

YWCA and Corner House Continue Racism Discussions

YWCA Princeton has partnered with Corner House to host monthly inter-generational discussions leading up to April’s Stand Against Racism. The series was started in order to increase awareness of the YWCA mission, the Stand Against Racism campaign, and the impact of racism in our community. The location is Bramwell House Living Room, 77 Bayard Lane.

The next event will take place on Tuesday January 16, 7-9 p.m. David Campt, consultant on racial equity and civic engagement and author of Read the Room for Real: How A Simple Technology Creates Better Meetings, will speak. Campt is a Princeton University graduate with a career in strategic planning, conflict resolution, and cultural competence.  more

Musings on Muldoon the Chameleon Poet, “The Crown,” and Sir Ringo

What shocks the virtuous Philosopher delights the chameleon poet. — John Keats

By Stuart Mitchner

Richard Starkey and Paul Muldoon have a rendezvous with the Queen. Some time in the new year, the Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr will be knighted by Elizabeth II and the Princeton professor will receive the Queen’s Gold Medal for poetry.

Perhaps it’s too much to expect Her Majesty to dub the Beatle “Sir Ringo,” a pairing of extremes that would surely delight the chameleon poet being honored for his “restless, playful brilliance.”  more

Two New Exhibits at Arts Council of Princeton

“IT’S A DOG’S LIFE”: This painting by Charles David Viera is part of his “Narrative Paintings” exhibition, on view in the Arts Council of Princeton’s Lower Level Gallery through February 3. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, January 13 from 3-5 p.m.

The Arts Council of Princeton presents two new exhibitions, “Heroes of Comic Art” and “Narrative Paintings.” Both will have opening receptions on Saturday, January 13 from 3-5 p.m.

“Heroes of Comic Art” features original published artworks by Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Joe Kubert, Curt Swan, John Buscema, Jack Davis, Steve Ditko, and other artists that created many of the comic heroes in today’s books and films. It will be on view in the Arts Council’s Taplin Gallery through March 10. The works are from the collection of Charles David Viera. more

“A Passion for Beads” Exhibit at HAM

TANJUNG DATU: The beaded art of Wendy Ellsworth is featured in “A Passion for Beads,” running January 14 through April 22 at the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, January 14 at 2 p.m.

Wendy Ellsworth creates art bead by tiny bead, and with a seemingly endless variety of colors, shapes, and textures at her fingertips, her palette appears unlimited.

“I consider myself a color artist, with beads representing tiny photons of colored light which can be woven together to form infinite patterns of beauty and delight,” Ellsworth said.  more

Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” At Westminster Choir College

Alumni of the Westminster Choir College CoOPERAtive Program will perform Mozart’s fairy tale opera Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) Thursday, January 18 through Saturday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 21 at 2 p.m. in the Robert L. Annis Playhouse on the Westminster campus in Princeton. The staged production will be performed with piano accompaniment and sung in German with English dialogue. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. more

Oldman Channels Churchill in Compelling Documentary Drama

By Kam Williams

Darkest Hour and Dunkirk cover the same period of time, which was Winston Churchill’s (Gary Oldman) first month as prime minister of Great Britain. When he was sworn in on May 10, 1940, the country was at war with Germany which had already conquered most of Europe and was just starting to invade Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

Churchill’s predecessor, Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) had unsuccessfully tried a diplomatic policy of appeasement which had only emboldened Hitler. As a result, soon after entering office, Winston found himself facing a daunting task after the Nazis’ blitzkrieg had broken through the Maginot Line.  more

With Freshman Frankel Coming Up Big, PU Women’s Hockey Getting on Right Track

FRANK EXCHANGE: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sharon Frankel, right, fights for the puck in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman forward Frankel scored a goal in a losing cause as Princeton fell 3-2 to No. 4 Colgate. The Tigers, now 6-10-4 overall and 5-8-1 ECAC Hockey, host Brown on January 12 and Yale on January 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sharon Frankel stands only 5’1 but she is making a big impact in her freshman season with the Princeton University women’s hockey team.

After tallying a goal and an assist in her first 15 games for the Tigers, she has chipped in two goals and an assist over her last five appearances. more

PU Men’s Hoops Ivy Winning Streak Snapped As Late Rally Falls Short in Defeat at Penn

SNAP DECISION: Princeton University men’s basketball player Jerome Desrosiers dribbles the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, freshman Desrosiers made his Ivy League debut, contributing eight points and five rebounds in a losing cause as Princeton fell 76-70 at Penn in the Ivy opener for both teams. The defeat snapped the Tigers’ 18-game winning streak in Ivy League regular season and tournament play. Princeton, now 7-8 overall and 0-1 Ivy, hosts Columbia on January 12 and Cornell on January 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mitch Henderson believed that his Princeton University men’s basketball team was in a good place as it faced Penn last Saturday in the Ivy League opener.

Heading into the clash with the Quakers, Princeton was coming off a superb western swing which saw it go 4-1, posting wins at Cal Poly and Southern Cal and then topping Akron and host Hawaii after falling to Middle Tennessee State at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. more

After Guiding PU Water Polo for 20 Years, Nicolao Returning Home to Naval Academy

ANCHOR AWAY: Princeton University water polo head coach Luis Nicolao makes a point to his women players. Nicolao announced last week that he will be stepping down from his post to be the head coach of the water polo program at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy. Nicolao spent 20 years at Princeton as the head coach of both the men’s and women’s programs. During that time, Nicolao posted a combined 844-312 (.730) record, going 402-163 (.712) with the men and 442-149 (.748) with the women. He took the Princeton men’s and women’s water polo teams to the NCAA tournament a combined seven times. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Luis Nicolao, the hard lessons he learned as a student-athlete at the U.S. Naval Academy have served him well. more

January 3, 2018

Paul Muldoon Awarded Queen’s Gold Medal

POETRY AND POLITICS: Paul Muldoon, Princeton University professor of creative writing in the Lewis Center for the Arts and director of the Princeton Atelier, has been approved by Queen Elizabeth II for the award of Her Majesty’s Gold Medal for Poetry for 2017. Muldoon said his award was an acknowledgment of both “the impact of a few of my poems” and of the current positive relations between Ireland and England. (Photo by Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite 2017)

By Donald Gilpin

Paul Muldoon, Princeton University creative writing professor in the Lewis Center for the Arts and director of the Princeton Atelier, will be awarded Her Majesty’s Gold Medal for Poetry for 2017 by Queen Elizabeth II in an upcoming ceremony.  more

Griggs Farm Fire Kills One Woman, Displaces 35 Residents of Complex

By Anne Levin

A two-alarm fire that started Wednesday night, December 27, on the top floor of a three-story apartment building at the Griggs Farm complex on Billie Ellis Lane, took the life of a 73-year-old woman and displaced 35 residents. Larisa Bartone, who lived at 21 Billie Ellis Lane, died in the fire. An investigation into the cause of the blaze was ongoing at press time last Friday.

The Princeton Police Department, Princeton Fire Department, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, and multiple fire departments from the area responded to the scene. It was brought under control in about 45 minutes, said Robert Gregory, director of Princeton’s Office of Emergency Management. more

D&R Greenway Land Deal Preserves Historic Farmland In Sourlands Region

By Anne Levin

A 116-acre property in Hopewell Township dating back more than two centuries has been preserved, linking three counties and boosting the total acreage that D&R Greenway Land Trust has preserved since 1989 to 20,000 acres.

The historic Schwinn farm on Hopewell-Amwell Road is near the historic Lindbergh estate and the 700-acre Sourlands Ecosystem Preserve. The expanse includes about 20 acres open to the public, and its trails will connect to a large network of neighboring protected lands. more