December 13, 2017
By Donald Gilpin
Three different speakers at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University last week warned of the precarious state of our democracy.
On Monday, Charlie Sykes, MSNBC contributor, former host of WNYC’s Indivisible and author of 2017 How the Right Lost Its Mind, described how he “was excommunicated from conservative circles for not supporting Donald Trump.” He also claimed that “the damage to the culture is going to be long-lasting,” and called for “a coalition of the decent from both parties” to come together in opposition to the current status quo in Washington. more
By Anne Levin
A lot has changed since Princeton Council adopted the Sustainable Princeton Community Plan in 2009.
The former Borough and Township have consolidated. Sustainable Princeton has become an independent nonprofit organization. But the plan’s aim of addressing the town’s environmental impact, and developing a long-term strategy toward achieving a truly sustainable community, have remained the same. more
By Anne Levin
At its meeting Monday evening, December 11, members of Princeton Council had a chance to question Princeton University administrators about the school’s plans for expansion over the next 10 years. Originally announced last April, an updated version of the proposal, with some new details, was released last week.
While generally enthusiastic about the ambitious framework for several development projects that will accommodate a larger undergraduate student body and reach beyond the current campus to University-owned property south of Lake Carnegie, the governing body posed questions about the project’s size, scope, and relationship to the town. more
CHANGING HUNGER: John Witherspoon Middle School students visited the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Ewing the day before Thanksgiving as part of the school’s Students Change Hunger food drive that collected 11,464 pounds of food. (Photo Courtesy of John Witherspoon Middle School)
By Donald Gilpin
John Witherspoon Middle School (JWMS) students, their families, teachers, and staff have come together with community partners to collect almost 12,000 pounds of food for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.
Kelly Riely, faculty advisor to the Do Something Club, which organized the drive, expressed her appreciation “for the awesome outpouring of food and money donations,” pushing JWMS to easily surpass its original goal of 10,000 pounds. more
Tumbles of Princeton is the newest learning center in the area. The gym specifically geared to children held a grand opening celebration on Saturday, December 9, at their new location in the Princeton North Shopping Center. Tumbles caters to ages four months to 12 years with structured classes, birthday parties, and a children’s gym.
Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road will hold seasonal events at the farm in January. “Read and Explore: Gingerbread Man” is Tuesday, January 16 at 10 a.m. and Saturday, January 20 at 10 a.m. “Wassailing the Apple Trees” is Sunday, January 28, 1-4 p.m.
The Gingerbread Man event is part of Terhune’s winter education series, following the Read and Pick Program. At the first program, participants will read The Gingerbread Man and then each child will decorate a big gingerbread man cookie to take home. Registration is requested. The fee is $7 per child. more
By Anne Levin
Last Saturday’s snowstorm turned Princeton into a picture-perfect winter scene. But it was no gift to area retailers. The expected holiday shopping crowds were scared away by the weather, which turned out to be less of a threat than anticipated.
Despite the slowdown, shopkeepers are hoping to recoup in the two weekends left before December 25. “The snow was beautiful, but it actually kept people away,” said Rob Menapace, owner of Homestead Princeton on Palmer Square’s Hulfish Street. “Year after year, Princeton is ranked as one of the top 10 Christmas towns in the state. It’s a magical kind of place. So it was strange. But there were five weekends this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so perhaps people just have more time. I think we’ll see a rush in the coming weeks. I hope so.” more
By Donald Gilpin
Trixie Sabundayo, English teacher, department chair, and a senior administrator at Marin Academy (MA) in San Rafael, Calif., for the past 13 years, will be taking charge as upper school head at Princeton Day School (PDS), effective July 1.
“I believe that good leadership is about building trusting partnerships and being a clear, transparent communicator,” she said. “Both of these have been the backbone of my philosophy as an educator, and have served me well as a teacher and leader.” more
Eric Swartzentruber, a Princeton native who recently moved back to the area after nine years as director of admissions at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Massachusetts, will be joining the Princeton Montessori School (PMS) leadership team as director of enrollment. In addition to directing enrollment and admissions operations at PMS, he will act as liaison with the greater Princeton community. more
By Stuart Mitchner
In the unlikely event that the New York Times Book Review or anyone else ever asks me what books are on my night stand, the tome that’s been there for years waiting for me to write about it is Carl Van Vechten’s The Tiger in the House: A Cultural History of the Cat (Knopf 1920), which has been called “the best single treatise on the cat” and “a treasure house of literary gossip.” Like so many of my books, this one, the 1936 edition, has passed through the secondhand bookstores of Manhattan and therefore embodies three of my favorite things — cats, used bookstores, and New York City. more
Library Live at Labyrinth will present Paul Halpern discussing his book The Quantum Labyrinth: How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality at Labyrinth Books on Thursday, December 14 at 6 p.m.
According to a starred review in Booklist, “Readers soon see that Feynman achieved his breakthroughs in physics by collaborating with his mentor, John Wheeler …. With the same clarity that has attracted readers to Einstein’s Dice and Schrödinger’s Cat and his other books of popular science, Halpern retraces the way this unlikely pair smashed traditional understandings of time …. A compelling reminder that even the most triumphant science comes from vulnerable humans.” more
QUALITY CARE: “I have a broad area of practice. I do it all, and I love the diversity. With dermatology, we do a lot of procedures in the office. I can see the problem and then treat it properly. We see all kinds of patients — all ages, men, women, children, even babies.” David Nieves, MD, makes sure that all his patients receive quality care and attention.
By Jean Stratton
Too much sun is definitely not your friend, says dermatologist Dr. David Nieves.
“I want people to know there is no such thing as a healthy tan. It damages the skin. The best skin maintenance is to stay out of the sun. If not, take protective measures: wear sunscreen — at least 30 SPF or greater. Wear a hat, sit under an umbrella. Avoid unnecessary exposure.” more
“FEATHER & FLIGHT”: This photograph of a great horned owl mother and baby by Wayne
Domkowski is part of the “Feather & Flight: Juried Exhibit” at the D&R Greenway Land Trust Johnson Education Center in Princeton. The exhibit, which features more than 80 works of art celebrating birds, runs through February 9.
D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Johnson Education Center galleries take flight with more than 80 works of art in “Feather & Flight: Juried Exhibit,” on view through February 9.
“Birds are more than beautiful; they are bellwethers of environmental health,” says Curator Diana Moore. “This exhibit celebrates birds, and also highlights conservation’s significant role in supporting crucial travel patterns for the 4,000 species that migrate. Because of New Jersey’s location along the Atlantic flyway, our natural resources are critical to avian survival.” more
The Arts Council of Princeton and McCarter Theatre Center have announced “Cows in Our Town,” a new community-wide public art project created to promote awareness of local artists and McCarter’s upcoming production of Marie Jones’ Stones in His Pockets. Through a series of art installations placed in local businesses “Cows in Our Town” will run December 20 — February 11 and aims to enhance the around-town experience for visitors and Princeton residents alike through the holiday season and into the new year. more
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: Performances are underway for “A Christmas Carol.” Directed by Adam Immerwahr, the play runs through December 31 at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. Scrooge (Greg Wood, center) joins the company in a celebratory dance. The cast combines professional actors with members of a community ensemble and young ensemble. (Photo by T. Charles Erickson)
By Donald H. Sanborn III
McCarter’s annual production of A Christmas Carol is playing at the Matthews Theatre. Adapted by David Thompson and directed by Adam Immerwahr, the show is a warm celebration, both of Christmas and theater. The uniformly talented cast combines professional actors, who are members of Actors’ Equity Association, with nonprofessional performers who comprise a community ensemble (for ages 14 and older) and a young ensemble. more
“KARAMA HAS NO WALLS”: One of the two films screened in Wolfensohn Hall on the Institute for Advanced Study campus, “Karama Has No Walls” is set amidst Yemen’s 2011 uprising. The film illustrates the nature of the Yemeni revolution in stark contrast to the violations of human rights that took place on Friday, March 18, 2011. Juma’at El-Karama (Friday of Dignity) marks a turning point in the Yemeni revolution as the killing of 53 protestors shook the nation and propelled hundreds of thousands more to flock to the square in solidarity with their fellow citizens.
The Institute for Advanced Study continues its film series, “From the Banned Countries: a Film Series” curated by the School of Social Science and the School of Historical Studies with the screening of two Yemeni films from award winning Canadian/Yemeni filmmaker Sara Ishaq. The screenings will take place on Wednesday, December 13, starting at 4 p.m. in Wolfensohn Hall on the Institute for Advanced Study campus. more
By Kam Williams
It is August 12, 1945. Japan is reeling and on the verge of surrendering in the wake of atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With Germany having surrendered to the Allies back in the spring, Europe is already in postwar mode, though not exactly at peace, as we are about to learn.
On this bright summer day Samuel Hermann (Ivan Angelus) and his son (Marcell Nagy) disembark from a train that has just arrived in their rural Hungarian hometown. Oddly, their presence doesn’t inspire the locals to celebrate the fact that two of their Jewish neighbors, who were taken away by the Nazis, had miraculously survived the Holocaust and have now returned home.
Instead, the Orthodox Jewish pair are greeted with suspicion, because their property had long since been appropriated by residents in the small town. So, as Samuel and his son load their luggage onto a horse-drawn-carriage, the village notary (Peter Rudolf) directs the driver (Miklos B. Szekely) to go very slowly. more
COACHING ICON: Princeton University men’s track head coach Fred Samara, left, instructs one of his athletes on the finer points of pole vaulting. This week, Samara, a former Olympic decathlete, will be one of six coaches inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame in Phoenix, Ariz. During Samara’s tenure as the head coach at Princeton since 1979, the Tigers have won 41 Ivy League Heptagonal titles, including 20 indoor crowns, 17 outdoor crowns and four in cross country, as he served as cross country coach from 1992-98 and again from 2004-07. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)
By Bill Alden
A year after ending a brilliant track career that culminated by competing in the decathlon for the U.S. team at the 1976 Summer Olympics, Fred Samara ran into a crossroads.
In deciding what to do with the rest of his life, Samara had the choice of taking a marketing job for a running magazine or becoming an assistant men’s track coach at Princeton University. more
HOT HAND: Princeton University women’s hockey player Keiko DeClerck controls the puck in a game last season. Last Friday, junior forward DeClerck scored a goal to help Princeton defeat Quinnipiac 3-0. It marked the fourth straight game in which DeClerck scored a goal. Her scoring streak was snapped a day later when the Tigers fell 3-1 at Quinnipiac to drop to 4-9-3 overall and 4-7-1 in ECAC Hockey play. Princeton resumes action when it hosts Boston University for a two-game set on December 30 and 31. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
In her first 73 games with the Princeton University women’s hockey team, Keiko DeClerck scored seven goals.
But with Princeton short on numbers this year, junior forward DeClerck realized that she needed to be more productive at the offensive end. more
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey Coby Auslander races up the ice in a game last year. Last Wednesday, junior forward and co-captain Auslander enjoyed a career game, tallying five goals and three assists to help PDS defeat the Portledge School (Pa.) 9-5. Over the weekend, the Panthers went 2-1 at the Albany Academy (N.Y. ) Rider Cup tournament as they moved to 4-3 on the season. In upcoming action, PDS hosts the Delbarton School on December 13 before playing at Rye Country Day (N.Y.) on December 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Coming off a frustrating 1-0 loss to North Yarmouth Academy (Me.), Coby Auslander and his teammates on the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team were looking to break the ice early as they hosted Portledge School (N.Y.) last Wednesday.
“We always look to get that first goal,” said junior forward and team co-captain Auslander. “It is important to score that first one and get the boys going.” more
December 6, 2017
The Garden Çlub of Stony Brook decorated the dining room in the official governor’s mansion as part of the New Jersey Garden Clubs’ annual “Holidays at Drumthwacket” open house. Clubs from across the state have bedecked nine locations around the house with festive holiday decor. Visitors can take self-guided tours on December 6, 10, 13, and 20, between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are necessary. The house, at 354 Stockton Street, is wheelchair accessible. Reserve at drumthwacket.org/visit/.
By Donald Gilpin
Princeton University yesterday announced plans С or at least “a planning framework” С for several anticipated campus development projects in the coming years, including a new residential college or colleges to permit the University to expand its undergraduate student body by 10 percent, new and improved facilities for engineering and environmental studies, and a new Lake Campus on lands south of Lake Carnegie. more
By Anne Levin
Rider University president Gregory Dell’Omo sent a letter this week to faculty, staff, and students of Westminster Choir College updating them on the state of the school’s proposed transition to its new, as-yet-unnamed operator. There wasn’t much to report.
“In response to questions, we said at the time that we felt it was important for a number of reasons to have a term sheet in place with the partner before introducing them to our community, and we hoped to have that term sheet in place in approximately 30 days from that time,” reads the letter, referring to meetings that were held a month ago with the college community. “While we are making good progress, we do not yet have agreement on a term sheet. Consequently, we are not yet in a position to introduce the partner to you.” more
By Anne Levin
Concerns about the continuing problem of parking in Princeton brought residents to a forum held by Princeton Future last Saturday, at Princeton Public Library. The gathering was the latest in a series of discussions on the issue, specifically related to a municipal parking study Princeton Council will consider adopting at a coming meeting. more