August 28, 2024
By Donald Gilpin
Princeton High School (PHS) is preparing to welcome about 1,550 students next Tuesday for the start of the 2024-25 school year, and, along with a large contingent of new students, there will be new staff members, a new cafeteria, a new food service provider, a new roof, new security vestibules, new classroom doors, and more.
“It’s been a phenomenally busy summer, primarily because of the construction that’s been going on,” said PHS Principal Cecilia Birge. “We’ve never had so much construction. I’ve been in this building for more than 10 years, but this is the first time I’ve seen that all of the projects are coming to fruition at the same time. We’re 99 percent there.”
She pointed out that significant parts of the building had been brightened up and modernized. “The feel of the building has been changed,” she said. “What impresses me this time around is the focus on delivering a physical space to our students and staff so that our educators can really imagine the different possibilities for teaching.” more
By Anne Levin
At its meeting Monday night, Princeton Council passed a resolution in support of a bill authorizing the use of ranked choice voting in municipal and school board elections. Sponsored in the state legislature by Sen. Andrew Zwicker, the bill would allow individual towns to adopt the approach through referendums.
Council President Mia Sacks read a statement from Zwicker that said, “When it comes to our elections, we know there are existing reforms that can help make them more fair and open, and make political campaigns more friendly. Everywhere in our country that ranked choice voting has been implemented, voter turnout increases, negativity in campaigns decreases, and public discourse is strengthened.” more
By Anne Levin
Bernard “Bernie” Miller, who died Saturday, August 24 at the age of 95, served as mayor of Princeton Township and later on the consolidated Princeton Council. Those who worked alongside him in municipal government remember him as a dedicated public servant and mentor.
Mayor Mark Freda began Monday night’s Council meeting with a moment of silence in Miller’s honor. “He served this community in so many different aspects so well, for so many years,” Freda said before calling for the tribute. On Tuesday morning, he added in an email, “I admired Bernie and truly enjoyed working and talking with him. He did a lot for our community.” more
TURNING THE TIDE: Artillery reenactors participate in a reenactment of the January 1777 Battle of Princeton. Princeton Battlefield State Park recently received $1.3 million in funding from the State of New Jersey, which it is using to preserve and revitalize the park in preparation for an anticipated influx of visitors celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Photo by Andrew Walker)
By Donald Gilpin
The American Battlefield Trust (ABT) has recently received $1.3 million in funding from the State of New Jersey, and, along with the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) and other local partners, has extensive plans for revitalization, transformation, and preservation of the Princeton Battlefield in preparing for the 2026 celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Site of the Battle of Princeton, where George Washington’s Continental Army defeated British forces in 1777, the Princeton Battlefield is a state park and National Historic Landmark. The funding was secured in the state’s FY 2025 budget by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, along with Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis and Assemblyman Roy Freiman, and will be disbursed through the American Battlefield Trust (ABT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving America’s battlegrounds and providing history education. more
AFFORDABLE HOMES: Committee members for Princeton Community Housing’s upcoming “Community Roots, Opportunity Blossoms” event are planning a benefit on Friday, September 27 at Morven Museum & Garden to support projects for PCH’s 1,100 residents. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Community Housing)
By Donald Gilpin
Inviting supporters to “sow the seeds of success,” Princeton Community Housing (PCH) will host “Community Roots, Opportunity Blossoms” on Friday, September 27 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Morven Museum & Garden. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, a silent auction, and a seated dinner under the tent catered by Occasions by Cintron.
Presented by Penn Medicine Princeton Health, the fundraising celebration will benefit the work and mission of PCH, with this year’s theme highlighting the importance of having “a place to call home — whether a house or a community — to grow and thrive,” according to Event Committee Chair and PCH Trustee Caroline Travers. more
TALLY HO: This antique button is representative of those that will be on display at the September 14 gathering of the New Jersey State Button Society in Titusville.
By Anne Levin
To the more than 2,300 members of the National Button Society, buttons are tiny treasures that tell a story. At its gathering on September 14 at the Union Fire Company in Titusville, the 83-year-old New Jersey State Button Society will hear stories inspired by a collection of hunt club buttons — used to fasten those scarlet jackets worn during fox hunts.
“Tally Ho! The Hunt is On!” is the presentation that avid collector Johnson Frazier will deliver during the show. A New Jersey native who now lives in Florida, Frazier returns as often as he can for the bi-annual New Jersey show. He plans to bring eight trays of buttons for display, along with a large sample book from the late 19th century.
By Stuart Mitchner
Midway through the last week of August, in the aftermath of a Democratic National Convention about saving America, baseball fans are looking ahead to the do-or-die last month of the regular season, while the jazz world celebrates Lester Young, born August 27, 1909, and Charlie Parker, born August 29, 1920.
August 28
My father had just turned 40 when he took me to see Stan Musial’s St. Louis Cardinals play Jackie Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1950. This was a big deal since we lived 250 miles east of St. Louis. I took it for granted that my English professor father, who had absolutely no interest in baseball, would write to the Cardinals front office for good seats near the St. Louis dugout; reserve a hotel room; and make the drive at a time when interstate highways were not even a gleam in Eisenhower’s eye. No wonder, since this was the summer of 1950, two years before Ike scored the Republican nomination. more
MUSIC AND PROJECTION: The first event in the annual Princeton University Concerts series will feature Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, performing against a background by visual artist Kevork Mourad, in “Home Within,” focusing in Syria’s history. (Photo by Piotr Poloczanski)
The Princeton University Concerts (PUC) 2024-25 Season will open on Thursday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium with the first event of the “Healing with Music” series. Making their PUC debuts, Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and visual artist Kevork Mourad will present Home Within, their production featuring original music by the clarinetist and live projected illustration depicting specific moments in Syria’s recent history.
They will also be joined by moderator Deborah Amos, international correspondent for National Public Radio and a Princeton University professor in Journalism, to discuss their work and war’s impact on our sense of “home.” Created in 2012 with the intention of raising awareness for Syrian refugees, Home Within has been performed across the world for over a decade as the conflict persists. Tickets are $25 general/$10 student. more
ONE NIGHT ONLY: “The Life and Music of George Michael” comes to State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on September 22.
State Theatre New Jersey presents The Life and Music of George Michael on Sunday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29-$89.
The new concert-style show chronicles the journey George Michael had with music and his fans while capturing the performance and sound of the musical sensation with concert style staging and lighting.
“Get ready to relive the magic of George Michael’s music in a way you’ve never experienced before,” said producer Ralph Schmidtke. “The Life and Music of George Michael will take fans on a captivating ride through the incredible legacy of this musical icon while listening to all the songs they have come to love over the years.” more
BACK AT RICHARDSON: Violinist Aubree Oliverson is the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on the inaugural weekend of its 2024-25 season at Richardson Auditorium. Rossen Milanov conducts. (Photo by Nick Bayless)
On September 14-15, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) opens its 2024-25 season celebrating Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov’s 60th birthday. Violinist Aubree Oliverson makes her debut with the PSO as soloist in performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35. Also on the program are Gemma Peacocke’s Manta, performed with members of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98.
Milanov conducts the concerts on Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 15 at 4 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. He also hosts a 3 p.m. pre-concert talk, free to ticket holders, before the Sunday performance. more
EN FRANCAIS: Nasi Voutsas, left, and Bertrand Lesca in “L’Addition” by Tim Etchells, part of the “Seuls en Scene” French Theater Festival at Princeton University September 12 to 22. (Photo by Christophe Raynaud de Lage)
Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, Department of French and Italian, and L’Avant-Scène will present the 13th edition of Seuls en Scène French Theater Festival from September 12 to 22 at venues across the University’s campus. Most performances and talks will be in French, some with English supertitles. All events are free and open to the public, however tickets are required for performances.
Seuls en Scène ushers in the 24th season of L’Avant-Scène, a French theater troupe of Princeton students. It also celebrates professional theatrical achievements from the past year: many of the invited artists to Seuls en Scène are prominent contributors to contemporary theater in France. The festival is organized by Florent Masse, professor of the practice in the Department of French and Italian and artistic director of L’Avant-Scène, and presented in collaboration with the 53rd Edition of Festival d’Automne in Paris and new partner Festival d’Avignon. more
“ANGEL OF THE GRASSLAND”: This photograph by Rebecca DePorte of Princeton was named Best in Show, non-professional, in the 2024 Mercer County Senior Art Show, on view through September 9 at The Conference Center at Mercer on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus.
A professional juror has selected the winners from 136 entries in this year’s Mercer County Senior Art Show, which is being held through September 9 at The Conference Center at Mercer on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus. The exhibition can also be viewed at mercercounty.org.
Each year, the Mercer County Office on Aging and the Division of Culture and Heritage partner to produce the Mercer County Senior Art Show. All first-place winners from the County show will advance to the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show, which will be held in October. more
“NOVEMBER LIGHT”: This oil painting by William Christine is part of “William Christine/YARD WORK,” on view September 5-29 at the John Schmidtberger SFA Gallery in Frenchtown. An opening reception is on September 7 from 5-8 p.m.
“William Christine/YARD WORK,” a solo exhibition featuring oil paintings and watercolors by Bethlehem, Pa.-based painter and teacher William Christine, will be on view September 5-29 at the John Schmidtberger SFA Gallery in Frenchtown. An opening reception is on Saturday, September 7 from 5-8 p.m.
Christine received his MFA degree from Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He has taught at Messiah College, De Sales University, and Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, and Parsons School of Design in New York. In 2003 he was honored with a solo exhibition of his Grand Canyon paintings at the Allentown Art Museum. This is his first exhibit at SFA Gallery.
SFA Gallery is located at 10 Bridge Street in Frenchtown. Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. and by appointment.
For more information, visit sfagallery.com or call (908) 268-1700.
“BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK”: This acrylic on canvas work by Linda Gilbert is featured in “Visions,” her solo exhibition on view September 6 through September 27 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury.
The Cranbury Arts Council will present the paintings of Linda Gilbert in “Visions” September 6 through September 27 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury.
Gilbert is the chairperson of the Gourgaud Gallery and has been a member of the Cranbury Arts Council since 2011. This is her fifth solo show, and the third solo show at the Gourgaud Gallery. more
“Pastel Perspectives: An Exploration of the Sourlands Mountain Region,” featuring paintings by Julia Doemland, will be on view at The Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street. An opening reception is on Friday, September 6 from 5-7 p.m., and after that the exhibition will be open to the public every Friday from 12-5 p.m. through October 4.
New Jersey Arts Incubator (NJAI), a new arts nonprofit, is hosting its premier fundraiser, “Celebrate to Elevate,” on October 5 at 862 Route 518 in Montgomery Township. While the focus of the fundraiser is introducing NJAI and its mission to support the arts in the community, the event will also feature several prominent local artists, and present the launch of NJAI’s inaugural public art project, “Barn Quilts of Central Jersey.”
NJAI has a dual mission. First, to elevate working artists through the “incubation” of artist brand identity, business development, strategic relationships, and strengthening avenues of revenue so that working artists can thrive and continue to be vibrant contributors to their communities. Secondarily, the NJAI is committed to more directly elevating the arts in the community by hosting hands-on arts classes for a range of populations, from youth to adult amateurs, from high school portfolio preparation to programs for seniors. more
NEW LOOK: A new roof provided a handsome new look to this house in Hamilton. Expert Chimney & Roofing is known for its expertise in chimney, roofing, and masonry work.
By Jean Stratton
A new chimney? A new roof? New front steps?
If any of these are on your list, Expert Chimney & Roofing is at your service.
Headquartered at 0-02 Fair Lawn Avenue in Fair Lawn, this family business was opened in 2000 by Myrtezan Iseberi. Today his two sons, Eric and Tony, are the owners, and along with their brothers, are continuing what their father began.
“This is a real family business,” they explain. “Our father entrusted it to us. There are four brothers and our nephews working together, and also on different crews depending on the job that day. We help people all over New Jersey with our quality service.” more
NEE-JERK REACTION: Princeton University men’s soccer player Nico Nee gets ready to boot the ball in a game last fall. Senior forward Nee, who tallied three goals and five assists last season to earn Second-Team All-Ivy League honors, will be looking to produce a big final campaign for the Tigers. Princeton opens its 2024 season by playing at Rutgers on August 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
As it went 1-4-2 in Ivy League play last fall, the Princeton University men’s soccer team yielded 3.25 goals a game in its league setbacks.
Looking ahead to the program’s 2024 campaign, which starts on August 30 when Princeton makes the short trip to Rutgers, Tiger head coach Jim Barlow’s top priority is getting sharper play on the back line. more
SPECIAL K: Princeton University women’s soccer player Kayla Wong, right, defends a foe in a game last fall. Last Saturday, sophomore midfielder Wong picked up an assist and helped key a strong defensive effort as Princeton defeated Miami 1-0 in its season opener. The Tigers will look to keep on the winning track when they host Seton Hall on August 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Justin Feil
If Saturday’s season opener is any indication, it could be a very good — albeit unpredictable — season for the Princeton University women’s soccer team.
The Tigers used players in different spots than they’d been accustomed to in the past, were missing two stars to begin with, got thinner with a key injury minutes into the game, didn’t possess the ball the way they would like to, and yet still posted a 1-0 win over a visiting Miami team that had two games under its belt and unveiled a new style that took Princeton by surprise. more
LOGAN’S RUN: Logan McCarroll gets ready to unload the ball in action last fall in his sophomore season for the Princeton University men’s water polo team. McCarroll scored 28 goals with seven assists in 2023 to help Princeton go 28-6 and make the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA semis since the tournament was expanded in 2015. McCarroll will look to be a greater offensive threat this season as the Tigers open their 2024 campaign by playing in the Navy Invitational from September 7-8 in Annapolis, Md. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
By Bill Alden
For Logan McCarroll, a skiing injury to his older brother led him to get into water polo as a 10-year-old.
“My family used to be a whole bunch of skiers, we had a house in Mammoth and we used to go up there every weekend to ski,” said McCarroll, a native of Laguna Beach, Calif.
“My sister (Lela), brother (Larsen), and I were all on the Mammoth ski team, we competed doing that every year. My older brother tore his ACL skiing and he got into water polo. I watched a few of his practices and that is how I ultimately started with water polo.” more
AIRING IT OUT: Princeton High football quarterback Travis Petrone fires a pass in a game last season. Senior star Petrone, who threw for 564 years and six touchdowns in 2023, is primed to trigger the Tiger offense this fall. PHS opens its 2024 campaign by playing at Lawrence High on August 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
With the Princeton High football team having gone 5-4 last year to post its first winning season since an 8-2 campaign in 2014, the bar has been set higher this year.
PHS will be facing much stiffer competition this fall as it will be resuming matchups against such local foes as Allentown, Trenton Central, Hamilton West, Ewing, Nottingham, and Robbinsville. more
GIFT OF GAB: Gabrielle Zammit makes a call from her coxswain spot as the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)/Mercer Junior Rowing men’s varsity eight competed at the Royal Henley Regatta in England earlier this summer. Recent Princeton High grad Zammit helped the Mercer boat advance to the quarterfinals of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley. Zammit will be continuing her crew career this fall as she joins the Stanford University men’s rowing program. (Photo provided by Gabrielle Zammit)
By Bill Alden
Heading into middle school, Gabrielle Zammit’s athletic focus centered on the ice rink.
“My whole family is like a huge ice hockey family,” said Zammit, whose older siblings Alexa and Victoria starred for the PHS girls’ hockey team while John was a mainstay for the Tiger boys’ program. “I started skating as soon around I could walk and then I played through middle school.” more
August 21, 2024
The new Graduate Princeton, which has its entrance on Chambers Street, has doubled the number of hotel rooms in town. (Photo by Andrew Frasz)
By Anne Levin
Michael Monarca
Michael Monarca worked in the hotel industry for nearly three decades before switching to real estate. Tired of commuting to hotels in New York and around the world from his home in Princeton, Monarca spent 10 years selling houses for Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty, near his home in town. From time to time, a colleague from his years at Manhattan’s Marriott Marquis would reach out to him about getting back into the hospitality business.
“I would tell him, jokingly, “Build a hotel in Princeton and then we’ll talk,’ ” said Monarca, who is the general manager of the new Graduate Princeton, which opened officially last week on the corner of Nassau and Chambers streets. “He’s now the president of Highgate Hotels, which manages this hotel. So here I am.”
To say the past few weeks have been a whirlwind for Monarca would be an understatement. Orchestrating the opening of the much-anticipated 180-room hotel — the first in Princeton since The Nassau Inn opened nearly 90 years ago — has been a round-the-clock endeavor. For the past month, Monarca has even spent nights in different rooms around the hotel. more