September 5, 2018

“Inspired by Love” at Blawenberg Cafe Gallery

“HARRY”: Artist Alan Taback’s dog Harry was the inspiration for many of his paintings. Taback’s recent works will be on exhibit in “Inspired by Love,” at the Blawenberg Café Gallery from September 16 to November 12. An opening reception is Sunday, September 16 from 2-4 p.m.

Blawenburg artist Alan Taback will be showing his paintings from this past spring and summer at the Blawenburg Café Gallery. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Sunday, September 16 from 2-4 p.m. The Café is located at 391 Route 518 in Blawenburg.

 more

Walter Chandoha Photo Exhibit at HAM

TWIN GRINS: “Walter Chandoha: A Lifetime of Photography,” opens September 23 at the Hunterdon Art Museum. The exhibit showcases the animal photography of freelance photographer Walter Chandoha, along with still lifes of vegetables and fruits and vintage images of New York City. An opening reception is September 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Hunterdon Art Museum focuses on the freelance photography of Walter Chandoha in a solo exhibition opening this fall. The exhibition, “Walter Chandoha: A Lifetime of Photography,” showcases his cat photography, taken long before the days of Instagram; his vibrant still lifes of vegetables and fruits, and his New York City candid images of the late 1940s and early 1950s.

A reception celebrating the show’s opening will be held September 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. The museum will host a gallery talk with Chandoha on Sunday, October 7 at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome at both events.

In a storied career spanning seven decades, Chandoha is best known for capturing the personalities of thousands of cats and dogs, and he became the go-to person whenever a Madison Avenue advertising director needed the perfect eyecatching pet photo.

Chandoha’s photos have appeared in newspapers, magazines, and trade journals around the world. He has authored numerous books, and at one time you could walk down the pet food aisle of any grocery store and more than half of the cat and dog photos on the packaging were taken by Chandoha.

The exhibition runs until January 6, 2019. HAM is giving a free signed poster of Chandoha’s famous photo of five kittens to the first 40 new or renewed museum members during the run of this exhibition.

The Hunterdon Museum is at 7 Lower Center Street in Clinton. For more information, call (908) 735-8415 or visit www.hunterdonartmuseum.org.

“Lazin’ At Neshaminy Creek On An Early Summer Day”

This photo by Paul Michael Bergeron is the winner of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) Summer 2018 Photo Contest. It was chosen by a judging panel of DRBC staff members and will be featured on the commission’s website, social media sites, and annual report.

Disgraced Navy Captain Seeks Redemption in Horror Film

SWIM FOR YOUR LIVES: The huge prehistoric shark called a megalodon, or Meg for short, is threatening the lives of people who are vacationing at a popular beach where people were enjoying themselves in the water.

By Kam Williams

Five years ago, Captain Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) managed to save half his crew when his research submarine was crippled by a massive 75-foot-long shark (a megalodon) that was thought to be extinct. Because the Navy brass were skeptical about the existence of a megalodon, Taylor was dishonorably discharged and lost his career, and his wife, because he wasn’t able to save more members of his crew.

Ever since, he disappeared from public view, and was rumored to be drinking heavily in Thailand. That’s where former colleague, Dr. Minway Zhang (Winston Chao), found him after the prehistoric creature attacked again, and left another submersible sitting on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

 more

Featuring Key Veterans, Promising Newcomers, Hun Girls’ Soccer Focused on Getting in Sync

ON THE BALL: Hun School girls’ soccer goalie Leah Sutphen gathers in a ball in 2017 action. Senior star and co-captain Sutphen will be counted on to keep Hun in games this fall with her propensity for making clutch saves. The Raiders kick off their 2018 campaign when they play at Ewing on September 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While Joanna Hallac is excited to add a big freshman group to the Hun School girls’ soccer program this fall, she knows it is going to take time for the squad to mesh.

“We have about 13 freshmen, it is giving us numbers that we haven’t had in a while,” said Hallac, who guided the Raiders to a 10-7 record last fall as the win the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title and made it to the state Prep A final.

 more

After Getting Edged 1-0 by No. 2 UNC in Opener, No. 10 PU Field Hockey Routs Wake Forest 4-0

OFF AND RUNNING: Princeton University field hockey player Sophia Tornetta heads upfield in a 2017 game. Last Sunday, senior star striker Tornetta scored a goal as 10th-ranked Princeton defeated Wake Forest 4-0 in its opening weekend of action. The Tigers, who lost 1-0 to No. 2 North Carolina on Friday to start the season, were slated to play at No. 6 Penn State (2-0) on September 4 before hosting No. 3 Duke (3-1) on September 7 and playing at Rutgers (3-0) on September 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It took the Princeton University field hockey team nearly 10 minutes to get its first shot as it faced North Carolina last Friday in its season opener.

Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente acknowledged that her 10th-ranked Tigers struggled at the outset against the second-ranked Tar Heels.

 more

Led by Trio of Battle-Tested Senior Stars, PDS Field Hockey Aiming for Title Run

MIDDLE MANAGER: Princeton Day School field hockey player Val Radvany, left, goes after the ball in a game last season. Senior star midfielder Radvany, along with classmates Gwen Allen and Sasha Sindhwani, will be leading the way for the Panthers this fall. PDS opens its season by hosting Hopewell Valley on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Since arriving as freshmen in 2015, the trio of Gwen Allen, Val Radvany, and Sasha Sindhwani has played a key role in transforming the Princeton Day School field hockey team into a powerhouse.

In their sophomore year, they starred as PDS won the state Prep B title and advanced to the final of the Mercer County Tournament. Last fall, they helped the Panthers make it to a second straight Prep B championship game where they fell in overtime.

 more

Already Displaying a Good Team Chemistry, Hun Boys’ Soccer Primed for 2018 Campaign

HEADING DOWNFIELD: Hun School boys’ soccer player James Muldowney boots the ball in a game last season. Senior defender Muldowney has emerged as a two-way star for Hun, leading the team in assists in 2017 while providing solid play on the back line. The Raiders get regular season action underway when they play at the Academy of New Church (Pa.) on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The Hun School boys’ soccer team doesn’t boast any big stars, but Pat Quirk believes that is a good thing.

“The mood right now is very excited with a really good team chemistry,” said Hun head coach Quirk, whose squad posted a 3-13 record last fall.

 more

Featuring Talented Players All Over the Field, PHS Field Hockey Aiming to Become a Unit

CLEAR VISION: Princeton High field hockey player Lila Doran clears the ball in a game last fall. Junior star defender Doran figures to be the leader of the PHS back line this fall. The Little Tigers open their 2018 campaign when they host Robbinsville on September 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Overcoming a sluggish 0-3-1 start last fall, the Princeton High field hockey team caught fire down the stretch, producing a spirited run to the Mercer County Tournament championship game.

As her squad has gone through its preseason training for the upcoming season, PHS head coach Heather Serverson senses the potential for more playoff heroics on the horizon.

 more

PDS Girls’ Soccer Facing Major Challenges But Has Energy, Skill to Maintain Winning Ways

HIGH SCORER: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Kelly Beal controls the ball in 2017 action. Sophomore forward Beal, the leading scorer for PDS last fall as it won a fifth straight state Prep B title, will look to build on the success she experienced in her debut campaign. The Panthers kick off regular season play by hosting George School (Pa.) on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team heads into the 2018 season, it faces some big challenges.

First, the squad suffered a major loss with the graduation of senior star defenders and team leaders Madi Coyne and Rebecca Kuzmicz.

“We are still trying to figure out how we are going to fill that void,” said PDS head coach Pat Trombetta, who led the Panthers to a 12-6-1 record in 2017 and its fifth straight state Prep B title. “We might have some new faces in the back that have not been tested.”

 more

Bolstered by Influx of Talented Freshmen, Stuart Field Hockey Looking Formidable

VIVA LA FRANCOIS: Stuart Country Day School field hockey player Priscilla Francois runs upfield in 2017 action. Senior star Francois will be anchoring the back line this fall for Stuart. The Tartans get their season underway when they host Burlington City High on September 6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Youth will be served this fall for the Stuart Country Day field hockey team.

“We have 10 freshmen out coupled with eight sophomores,” said Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik, who guided the Tartans to a 9-10-1 record last fall and the state Prep B semifinals.

 more

Sparked by Junior Kennedy’s Breakthrough Tally, TPU Women’s Soccer Tops St. Joe’s in Home Opener

KENNEDY CENTER: Princeton University women’s soccer player Tomi Kennedy, center, celebrates after scoring the first goal in Princeton’s 3-0 win over St. Joseph’s in its home opener last Friday evening. The 20th-ranked Tigers, who dropped to 3-1 on the season with a 3-1 loss to No. 13 N.C. State on Sunday, will look to get back in the winning track as they play at Rider on September 6 before hosting Hofstra on September 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tomi Kennedy felt snakebitten last fall in her sophomore season with the Princeton University women’s soccer team.

While the forward/midfielder tallied four assists in helping Princeton win the Ivy League title and reach the NCAA quarterfinals, she never found the back of the net in the 2017 campaign.

 more

August 29, 2018

Use of Franklin Lot Debated at Meeting Of Princeton Council

By Anne Levin

The temporary future of the open lot on Franklin Avenue was the focus of Princeton Council’s continuing discussion of parking at the Council’s meeting on Monday, August 27. The town’s parking system is being studied and improved, and the governing body has been receiving updates as details are worked out by consultants and staff.

The future of the Franklin lot across from the Avalon Princeton complex is temporary, because the lot has been designated as a future site for affordable housing. Until that time, which could be between one and two years, the spacious lot could be the site of regulated parking, or something else. The property was formerly owned by Princeton University, which donated it to the municipality in 2014 as part of a seven-year agreement on voluntary contributions. more

Jackson, Sherman Highlight Coalition for Peace Fall Conference

By Donald Gilpin

The Rev. Jesse Jackson will be the keynote speaker at the Princeton University Chapel on November 11, preaching at the 39th Annual Multifaith Service sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA).

For the CFPA’s Conference for Peace that afternoon at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, the renowned civil rights, religious, and political figure will be joined by Wendy Sherman, lead U.S. negotiator for the Iran nuclear agreement; Ray Acheson, steering group member for the International Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons and part of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning effort last summer to pass the nuclear weapons prohibition treaty at the U.N.; and Bill Hartung, internationally-recognized expert on the issues of Pentagon spending and the global arms race. more

Searching for Mushrooms Is Fun But When in Doubt, Throw It Out

MUSHROOM MADNESS: Searching the woods for mushrooms is a popular pastime, especially during hot, wet, humid summers like the one that is winding to a close. While varieties like these chanterelles are prized, officials caution that cooking and eating mushrooms without knowing what they are can be toxic. (Cantharellus cibarius. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

By Anne Levin

Growing up in upstate New York, Steve Omiecinski learned from his father how to hunt for mushrooms in the woods. “My dad used to go out with his grandpa, so he knew what to look for,” said Omiecinski, a Princeton resident who has continued the tradition in local areas he will not disclose.

“It’s like a beauty secret, or a good fishing hole,” he said. “No one is going to share where they go looking.” more

Saying “I Do” in Princeton Now Comes With a Cost

By Anne Levin

Princeton Council approved an ordinance at its Monday, August 27 meeting to charge a fee for marriages and civil union ceremonies performed by Mayor Liz Lempert and Council President Jenny Crumiller. The measure was introduced at the August 13 meeting of the governing body.

It will cost $50 for Princeton residents and $200 for non-resident couples to have the ceremony performed by municipal officials. The money will go into an emergency fund that is part of Princeton’s Human Services Department, specifically to be used to fund temporary housing for residents who have been displaced during an emergency. more

“Sourcing Health Locally” Is Topic of Conference

A conference on the connections between what we eat and how we feel is scheduled for September 16 from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Suzanne Patterson Center, Stockton Street. Admission is $48.

The event is a collaboration of The Suppers Programs and NOFA-NJ. It brings together doctors, farmers, and consumers to explore the issue. The catastrophic rise in potentially avoidable illness — from autism to Alzheimer’s, diabetes to heart disease, depression to mental illness — relates to changes in our environment and what and how we eat. more

Tickets Are on Sale for Epicurean Palette Benefit

The Epicurean Palette, a benefit for Grounds For Sculpture, is set for Sunday, September 23 from 1-4 p.m. The annual event celebrates fine food and wine, to help support exhibitions and educational initiatives at the sculpture park.

Participants can stroll the 42-acre site while sampling culinary creations from area chefs, and a variety of wine, beer, and spirits from local purveyors. There will be live performances, a silent auction, and artist demonstrations. more

Rescue Squad Remembers Michael Kenwood’s Heroism

REMEMBERING MICHAEL KENWOOD: “Those of us who had the privilege of working with Michael at PFARS recall August 28 as the saddest day in our history,” said PFARS President Mark Freda. “We also remember a man of great love, generosity, and courage who continues to inspire us every day.”

Seven years ago on August 28, the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad (PFARS) lost Michael Kenwood, “one of our own,” during a swift-water rescue attempt. According to PFARS President Mark Freda, “at 4:38 a.m. at the height of Hurricane Irene, the Squad was dispatched to Rosedale Road in the area of the Stony Brook for a water rescue. Although he was not scheduled to be on duty, Michael knew that as a swift-water rescue technician, he had the skills necessary to help. more

Emergency Resources Diverted Due to “Swatting” Attempts

Mercer County Central Communications, the agency that dispatches 911 emergency calls to local jurisdictions, reported to the Office of the County Prosecutor that it has recently received a spate of false calls.

Referred to as “swatting” and derived from the law enforcement unit SWAT (special weapons and tactics), this type of hoax triggers the dispatch of emergency response service teams to another person’s address under the false pretense of a serious emergency. more

Summer in Dohm Alley

A once-empty space near the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon streets, Dohm Alley is now home to curated multi-media art installations and seasonal exhibits. (Photo by Erica M. Cardenas)

Outside Looking In With Mary Shelley and the Parkers, Dorothy and Charlie

There’s too much in my head for this horn. — Charlie Parker (1920-1955)

By Stuart Mitchner

And there’s too much in my head for this column.

One of the pleasures of writing a piece every week is being able to put fresh-in-the-moment impressions in play even if they don’t always mesh with the subject. Like when the pennant race is heating up and the St. Louis Cardinals suddenly come back from the dead with a new manager, an injection of young talent, and the magical properties of their hottest hitter’s homemade salsa. Being attached to a team is like being lashed to a runaway train; full speed ahead one day, off the rails the next. I was so blitzed by the too-muchness of last week’s after-midnight sweep of the Dodgers in L.A. that I almost forgot we were coming out on Charlie Parker’s birthday. more

Hasty Acres Riding Club in Kingston Has Long History of Riding Instruction

HORSE HAVEN: “I learned to ride at Hasty Acres when I was a girl, and I rode Corky,” says Natalie Pontillo (right) owner of Hasty Acres Riding Club. “Corky, a chestnut quarter horse, is now 42 years old and retired. The kids can still groom him, however, and he will always have a home here.” Georgia Elek, Hasty Acres assistant manager, is also shown with Corky.

By Jean Stratton

Hasty Acres has been a special place for horseback riders of all levels for more than 50 years. Located at 121 Laurel Avenue in Kingston, it offers English-style riding instruction as well as the opportunity to learn about equine care.

Longtime rider and award-winning expert horsewoman Natalie Pontillo purchased Hasty Acres three years ago.

“I like being outside and active, and these horses are important to me,” she explains. “I not only learned to ride at Hasty Acres, but I also worked here. I love working with the kids and seeing them develop. It is so beneficial to them. They learn to ride and also to care for the horses, brushing and currying them.” more

Weddings: Week of 8-29-18

Pierre Louis Bernard Marx and Chloé Marie Devlaminck

Chloé Marie Devlaminck and Pierre Louis Bernard Marx were married on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Saint Martin Roman Catholic Church in Béville-le-Comte, France. A 2007 graduate of Princeton High School, Chloé, 29, earned a degree in marketing from HEC Montréal, Canada. She is currently working as a Regional Sales Manager for Living Proof Inc.

Pierre, 29, is a 2007 graduate of the French International School of Dublin, Ireland. He graduated from HEC Montréal with a degree in finance and he earned an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona, Spain. Pierre is self-employed and works in new technologies. more

NJ Conference for Women Announces Two Speakers

The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Alliance (WIBA) will present the sixth annual NJ Conference for Women with a speakers including artist Candy Chang and Lisa Tanzer, president of Life is Good. The event is October 26, at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village.

Chang is an artist, urban designer, and founder of the “Before I Die” project, which began when she stenciled the words “Before I die I want to _______” on a chalkboard wall on an abandoned house in New Orleans, after losing someone she loved. The project has turned into an international art movement. more