June 12, 2024

Visual Artist Renata Pugh Speaks at Princeton Makes

ART TALK: Artist Renata Pugh, whose work is shown here, is the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artist’s Studio” series on Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.

On Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m., artist Renata Pugh will be the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artist’s Studio” series at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.  Pugh, a Princeton Makes artist cooperative member, is a multi-disciplinary artist originally from South Brunswick.

Pugh, who earned her BFA at the School of Visual Arts, has worked as a storyboard artist, muralist, and illustrator, but mainly as an art restorer in sculpture restoration. Presently, she is focused on creating stained glass objects with a unique modern design approach utilizing solder as an additional sculptural element.   more

“Metamorphosis”

Works by Marlon “7oveChild” Davila are featured in “Phases of the Heart,” on view through June 29 in Solley Lobby Gallery on the second floor at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Juried Fiber Exhibition Coming to New Hope Arts

FIBER ART: Works by Katie Truk will be featured in “Structures and Constructions in Fiber,” on view June 29 through August 18 at New Hope Arts in New Hope, Pa. An opening night celebration is on Saturday, June 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.

New Hope Arts in New Hope, Pa., will host a juried art exhibition, “Structures and Constructions in Fiber,” June 29 through August 18.

Curated by Rita Romanova Gekht, the exhibit will feature the work of over 32 international and regional artists who have come together to present over 80 original works involving fiber. Artists include Marilyn Cowhill, Rita Romanova Gekht, Bojana Leznicki, Nelly Kouzmina, Susan Martin-Maffei, Michael Ross, Mary-Ann Sievert, and Katie Truk. For the complete list of participating artists, visit newhopearts.org. more

PU Track Athletes Gained Valuable Experience, Taking on the Best at NCAA Championship Meet

ACTION JACKSON: Princeton University men’s track star Jackson Shorten competes in the steeplechase last week at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Sophomore Shorten placed fifth in his preliminary heat on Wednesday to qualify for the final. Two days later, he took 10th in the final, earning second-team All-American honors. Seven other Tiger athletics competed in the NCAA meet including Casey Helm in the men’s discus, Nicholas Bendtsen in the men’s 5,000 meters, Siniru Iheoma the women’s discus, Shea Greene in the women’s javelin, Alexandra Kelly in the women’s long jump, Georgina Scoot in the women’s triple jump, and Tessa Mudd in the women’s pole vault. (Photo provided by Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

As the crème de la crème of the college track world converged last week at the mecca of the sport in the U.S., Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships, the Princeton University squad had eight athletes make the stellar field.

For sophomore star steeplechaser Jackson Shorter, earning a trip to Hayward was the culmination of a superb spring.

“As I look forward to the coming week, I feel an immense sense of gratitude,” said Shorten as quoted on the Princeton sports website. “I am so thankful for the way that I have continued to progress this season, my coach, and my incredible teammates. I would not be where I am today without such an incredible support system. Ahead is an incredible opportunity and I want to make the most of it.” more

Coming Through with Personal Best on Final Throw, PHS Junior Star Wilton Wins Group 4 Shot Put Title

HOT SHOT: Princeton High throwing star Sean Wilton, center, enjoys the moment last Saturday with assistant coaches Brandon Willams, left, and Fred Samara after he placed first in the shot put at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state track and field championship meet. Junior Wilton produced a best throw and personal best of 57’5.25 to win the title. Wilton will next be in action when he competes in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on June 12 at Pennsauken High.

By Justin Feil

Sean Wilton was not satisfied as he stepped into the circle to make his final throw at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state track and field championship meet last Saturday at Franklin High.

The Princeton High junior stood in second place in the boys shot put behind South Brunswick’s Braden Paulmenn, just how he had finished at the sectional meet the week before – second behind Paulmenn. Wilton had thrown a personal-best 56’1 on his second throw of the group meet, but Paulmenn took the lead minutes later when he threw six inches further. Wilton fouled each of his next three throws to set up his last chance to pull ahead. more

With Young Squad Displaying Growth this Spring, Stuart Lax Ended 2024 Campaign on a High Note

SISTER ACT: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Lauren Lee defends a foe in a game this spring. Freshman midfielder Lee combined with her older sister, junior attacker Allison Lee, to trigger the Tartan offense. The younger Lee tallied 21 goals and 10 assists while her sister led the way for Stuart with 88 goals and 10 assists. The Tartans posted a final record of 6-12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Enduring some ups and downs this spring as it incorporated a number of young players into its lineup, Stuart Country Day School displayed its growth by ending the season on a high note.

Stuart defeated the Solebury School (Pa.) 16-1 and then topped Gill St. Bernards 14-7 in its season finale on May 20 as the Tartans posted a final record of 6-12.

Stuart first-year head coach Paige Meszaros saw the pair of wins as a culmination of the effort her players put in this spring. more

Producing a 4-Game Winning Streak Down the Stretch, PDS Baseball Made Big Strides, Excited for the Future

FULL EFFORT: Princeton Day School baseball player Keegan Fullman fires a pitch in action this spring. Freshman Fullman starred with his arm and bat in his debut campaign, helping PDS go on a late run that saw it win four of its last five games, including a victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B tournament. The Panthers ended 2024 with a 6-17 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton Day School baseball team lost 2-1 to Trenton High in mid-May to suffer its seventh defeat in its last eight games and drop to 2-16, it appeared that the Panthers were heading to a rough homestretch.

But PDS head coach Eric Schnepf saw the loss to the Tornadoes as a step forward.

“That was a really close game,” said Schnepf. “That got us going, we started to play better.” more

As Princeton Summer Men’s Hoops Tips Off 35th Year, Princeton Supply Looks Primed to Defend League Title

SUPPLY CHAIN: Troy Jones puts up a shot for Princeton Supply last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Star guard Jones helped Princeton Supply win the league’s best-of-three championship series in 2023 as the squad broke through for its first crown. Princeton Supply is back to defend its title as the league tips off its 35th year with a doubleheader on June 12 at the Community Park courts. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, its slogan of “#Still Here” is ringing true in a big way this week as the league is tipping off its 2024 campaign with nine squads ready to hit the Community Park courts.

With the venerable hoops circuit entering its 35th year, Rec Department executive director and league commissioner Evan Moorhead is proud of its staying power.

“It is a lot of the same faces from last year, there are a lot of returners which is good,” said Moorhead, reflecting on the 2024 campaign with which will start with a doubleheader on June 12 at Community Park. “There is good loyalty to the league, guys come back, year in, year out. We know them, they know us. It is always a big one when you are on the 5s or the 0s. It is another nice milestone to reach considering where we started in the summer of 1989 and here we are in 2024. We are still going strong, it is still a popular league and still drawing fans. It is one of the top leagues, if not the top outdoor league, in the area. A lot of leagues have moved inside.” more

June 5, 2024

Kicking Off Pride Month

School of Rock Princeton was among the musical performers at the fourth annual Princeton Community Pride Picnic on Friday evening at Hinds Plaza. Attendees share what brought them to the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Bike-Friendly Princeton Welcomes All Cyclists

By Donald Gilpin

May was Bike Month, with National Ride a Bike Day, Bike to School Day, and Bike to Work Day and Week; Monday, June 3 was World Bicycle Day; and Princeton continues to celebrating all forms of biking, with many different organizations and individuals working to make cycling increasingly accessible and safe in the town.

“Biking is a great way to get around,” notes Sustainable Princeton on its website. “It’s lower impact than running, faster than walking, and more exciting (and climate-friendly) than sitting in a car. More and more people are catching onto this, using bikes to commute to work, run errands, and exercise.”

“The biking community is growing, and I think it will continue to grow, and that’s a good thing,” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington, who does not have a car and gets around by bike. more

CFPA Will Feature Nation Magazine’s Katrina vanden Heuvel

By Donald Gilpin

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher, editorial director, and former editor of The Nation magazine, will be the keynote speaker this Sunday, June 9, at the Coalition for Peace Action’s (CFPA) annual membership gathering at the Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, adjacent to Princeton High School.

A sponsor reception with vanden Heuvel will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., with the program, which will also honor three individuals for their work for peace, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

CFPA Executive Director the Rev. Robert Moore, in a June 3 phone interview, emphasized the significance of this event and the urgency of working for peace during this troubled moment in history. “It’s important to have these kinds of events where we gather and feel better informed, but also strengthened in our determination to continue with our movement and hopefully grow it,” he said. more

Liz Lempert Lauded For Contributions to Consolidated Municipality of Princeton

HONORING HER DEDICATION: Former Mayor Liz Lempert, in pink dress, was celebrated May 22 by members of Princeton Council, Mayor Mark Freda, and members of the municipal staff with a commemorative tree planting and plaque outside Witherspoon Hall.

By  Anne Levin

Among the most significant events in Princeton’s recent history was the 2013 consolidation of the former Township and Borough into a single entity. Serving as mayor when measure went into effect, and for the ensuing eight years, was Liz Lempert, who was recognized by the town on May 22 with a tree planting and plaque in her honor.

The tree is outside Witherspoon Hall, where Lempert was in office for two terms ending in 2020. On hand were Mayor Mark Freda, Princeton Council President Mia Sacks, and Councilmembers Eve Niedergang, David Cohen, Leighton Newlin, and Michelle Pirone Lambros, along with members of the municipal staff. more

Two Athletic Competitions This Summer Honor Memory of Isabella de la Houssaye

A LIFE WELL LIVED: The late Isabella de la Houssaye, left, continues to inspire friends like her Princeton University classmate Sara Singer, right, who will take part in a bike ride in August to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. De la Houssaye is also being honored by Team Bella, a group of her family members and friends, who will participate in The Watershed Institute’s 2024 Solstice Trail Run on June 20.

By Anne Levin

Isabella de la Houssaye never smoked. The Lawrenceville resident and 1986 graduate of Princeton University was fitter than just about anyone her age or younger.

That made her diagnosis of stage four lung cancer in 2018 especially shocking.

But rather than give in to the rigors of chemotherapy, de la Houssaye — a mother of five, corporate lawyer, business owner, and dedicated endurance athlete — immersed herself, during punishing treatments, in running marathons, climbing mountains, and competing in triathlons. She was determined to make a difference and live her life to the fullest, which she did before passing away last December. more

Guided Tour of Princeton Cemetery Marks Completion of Preservation Project

By Anne Levin

When Nassau Presbyterian Church launched an effort to preserve and digitize the records of Princeton Cemetery, which is owned by the church, those involved never imagined it would take a full 10 years to complete.

But a decade has passed, and the mapping, photographing, and creation of an interactive, web-based record is now complete. To mark this milestone, the church is hosting a guided tour of the historic graveyard on Witherspoon Street on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m.

“The cemetery is the final resting place of most of the presidents of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, scholars and theologians, veterans beginning with the Revolutionary War, novelists, philanthropists, a Nobel Laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize-winner, as well as many others who have called the Princeton area home,” reads a release from the church. more

MCCC Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Looking to Enhance Opportunities, Programs

By Donald Gilpin

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), which provides the college with many new opportunities to apply for grants and tap into resources to enhance academic programs, facilities, and services that expand opportunities for Hispanic Americans.

“This federal designation is a significant milestone toward reducing barriers to higher education and creating an inclusive environment with equitable outcomes for all students,” said MCCC President Deborah Preston in a press release. “It will allow us to continue providing the tools needed to empower our Hispanic and Latino students, and ultimately the broader community.”

MCCC has become eligible for this designation with a growing enrollment of full-time students who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. From 2019 to the fall of 2023, MCCC’s Hispanic and Latino student population increased from 24 percent to 30 percent, well above the 25 percent minimum required to receive the DOE designation as an HSI. MCCC has also met criteria pertaining to the enrollment of low-income students and the cost per student.  more

Reading “The Trial” 100 Years After Kafka’s Death

By Stuart Mitchner

Franz Kafka died on June 3, 1924, a month short of his 40th birthday. The word “Kafkaesque” reportedly entered the English language in the 1940s, the earliest usage being from 1947 in the New Yorker.

The first time I actually thought “This is like Kafka” was on a cold rainy night in October 1965 when I was dropped off in Zagreb by an Iranian who was not driving so much as being driven by a brand-new VW Beetle. After registering at a tourist office where they treated bearded hitchikers like vermin, I was given an address that people on the rain-swept street said didn’t exist, which nevertheless took me to an empty bed in a large, high-ceiled room that I shared with a number of displaced-looking old men who seemed to know me. more

Literary Editor Makes a Discovery about a Painful Memory in “Bright Star”; Kelsey Theatre Presents an Uplifting Musical by Steve Martin, Edie Brickell

“BRIGHT STAR”: Performances are underway for “Bright Star.” Presented by Kelsey Theatre and Maurer Productions OnStage, and directed by Judi Parrish, the musical runs through June 9 at Kelsey Theatre. Above: Alice Murphy (Lauren Pelaia, standing in front of members of the ensemble) makes a hopeful discovery that a heartbreaking incident from her past may have ended differently than she has been led to believe. (Photo by John M. Maurer)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

There is a striking duality in Bright Star, a musical that is being given an exuberant, heartfelt production at Kelsey Theatre. A story that has a devastating incident at its center is juxtaposed against a rousing, mostly jovial score infused with country and bluegrass songs.

The show’s often humorous but sensitive book is by comedian, actor, and musician Steve Martin. The lyrics are by singer-songwriter Edie Brickell (of Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, and The Gaddabouts). Brickell and Martin share credit for the story and music. more

La Fiocco Closes Season with Program of Early Baroque Music

By Nancy Plum

Performing 17th- and 18th-century music from a 21st-century perspective is always a challenge. Instruments have evolved over the past centuries, as have acoustical tuning and performance techniques. While orchestras and choruses are often looking for the next new thing, there are ensembles dedicated to preserving performance practice the way Baroque composers intended. One such ensemble is La Fiocco, which presented a season-ending concert this past Saturday at Christ Congregation Princeton.

Specializing in music of the late Renaissance, Baroque and early Classical eras on period instruments, La Fiocco featured three singers and eight instrumentalists in a program devoted to the music from “Henry Purcell’s London.” Like Mozart, Purcell lived hard and died young as a composer, producing an expansive repertory of music in his 36-year life. He composed under the patronage of England’s last two Stuart kings and musically ushered in the age of William and Mary. For this performance, La Fiocco brought together three experienced and accomplished singers in soprano Laura Heimes, tenor Stephen Ng, and baritone Brian Ming Chu to perform songs and ayres of the esteemed late 17th-century composer, as well as works of Purcell’s contemporaries. Throughout the evening, the three soloists showed themselves to be animated and theatrical, adapting their voices well to the very acoustically-live space of the church.  more

Martin and Brickell Musical Comes to Kelsey Theatre

SOUTHERN STORY: Pat Rounds as Daryl Ames and Jenna ‘Jay’ Moschella as Lucy Grant in the musical “Bright Star,” on stage through June 9 at the Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Communty College in West Windsor.

Maurer Productions OnStage presents the Steve Martin and Edie Brickell musical Bright Star through June 9 at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) West Windsor Campus.

Bright Star takes place in the post-World War II South. Against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the paths of a young soldier returning home and a spirited magazine editor intersect, weaving a tale of fate, forgiveness, and hope. Inspired by a true story, the show was nominated for Grammy and Tony awards. more

Playwright Joins Faculty of Lewis Center for the Arts

Lloyd Suh
(Photo by Karin Shook)

Award-winning playwright Lloyd Suh will join the Lewis Center for the Arts’ faculty at Princeton University in July. Suh, appointed as a professor of the practice, will teach introductory and advanced playwriting courses in a joint appointment in the Program in Theater and Music Theater and the Program in Creative Writing.

Suh is the author of The Heart Sellers, recently produced at Huntington Theatre and Milwaukee Rep, with upcoming productions at the Guthrie Theater, Aurora Theatre, Capital Stage, Theatreworks Palo Alto, Northlight Theater, and North Coast Repertory. His other plays include The Far Country, a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Drama; The Chinese Lady; Bina’s Six Apples; Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery; American Hwangap; and Jesus in India, among others.  more

Genre-Benders

Empire Wild is among the chamber music groups appearing at the Princeton Festival this month. The Juilliard-trained trio is in the performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden on June 21 at 7 p.m.; the Abeo Quartet is at Trinity Church on June 13, and The Sebastians perform at the church on June 20. Visit princetonsymphony.org/festival or call (609) 497-0020 for tickets. (Photo by Titilayo Ayangade)

Young Composers Project Presents Annual Concert

ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY: Ken Guilmartin led a group of budding musicians at a recent Young Composers Project workshop held at Music Together in Hopewell. (Photo by Carole Moore)

Voices Chorale NJ’s (VCNJ) Young Composers Project held its annual concert last week at Music Together in Hopewell. Twelve budding composers, aged 6 to 11, premiered their original pieces.

This program reflects VCNJ’s core mission of providing music education and community engagement, offering an opportunity for children in grades K-7 to create compositions, develop them in workshops, and receive mentoring from local composers.  more

Arts Council Hosts Parking Lot Pop-Ups

PARKING LOT POP-UPS: The lot at the Arts Council of Princeton will be the site of several arts gatherings and activities throughout the summer.

Starting June 13 from 7-10 p.m., the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host several Parking Lot Pop-Ups in their mural-adorned parking lot at 102 Witherspoon Street. Admission for these summertime events ranges from free to $15, benefiting local musicians and ACP community programming.

The series kicks off with Blush Boy, a group blending pop, rock, and indie sensibilities. Opening acts include Late Knights, compositions by pianist Ethan Blaser, and Groove Goose, young musicians from Princeton High School’s Studio Band. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $5, online or at the door. All proceeds go directly to the performers. more

Trenton Circus Squad Presents “Leaps & Bounds”

UNDER THE BIG TOP: Members of Trenton Circus Squad will display their talents at an event at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart on Saturday, June 22.

Trenton Circus Squad unveils its big top tent for the first time in Mercer County at “Step Right Up: Leaps & Bounds,” an evening of circus artistry and community celebration taking place at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart on Saturday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

“Leaps & Bounds” embodies the spirit of Trenton Circus Squad — empowering youth through circus arts and nurturing a community where everyone belongs. Participants will demonstrate their transformative journeys from eager learners to skilled performers, defying gravity and expectations. more

“Trenton Makes” Exhibition at Old Barracks in Trenton

“ARTS AT THE OLD BARRACKS”: The Old Barracks Museum in Trenton will host “Arts at the Old Barracks Gallery Show: Trenton Makes” June 7 through July 6. An opening reception is on Friday, June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Old Barracks Museum is celebrating Trenton area artists and Trenton art in a month-long gallery show hosted in its historic 18th-century building. The “Arts at the Old Barracks Gallery Show: Trenton Makes” will showcase artworks that best exemplify Trenton art and artists. The opening reception will take place on Friday, June 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. for the public and artists. This event is free to attend.

At the reception, attendees with have the opportunity to meet the artists themselves and discuss their works while enjoying light refreshments and soaking in a sampling of the city’s creativity and inspiration. Works will be available for sale through the museum store.  more