October 2, 2024

Hispanic Heritage Month in Princeton Offers Cultural and Educational Events

HISPANIC HERITAGE: Princeton Middle School (PMS) students Camila and Nathalia Araizaga have created two bulletin boards honoring their Hispanic heritage. They stand in front of their display at PMS honoring the Hispanic athletes who participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

By Donald Gilpin

National Hispanic Heritage Month extends from September 15 to October 15, a time to “celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of those living in America whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America,” as stated in a September 9 Princeton Council proclamation. Princeton and the surrounding area offer many opportunities to join the celebrations.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), the Princeton Public Library (PPL), McCarter Theatre, Princeton University, and local schools, as well as the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) in Trenton, are presenting a variety of entertaining and edifying activities to engage the community and respond to Princeton Mayor Mark Freda’s “call upon the people of Princeton to join in this special observance by seeking out celebrations, educational programs, and community activities to learn more about the role Hispanic and Latino Americans have played in our nation’s history.” more

Survival of Railway Club in Rocky Hill Depends on Sale of Washington Street Home

DANGER OF DISMANTLING: The future of the Pacific Southern Railway club’s extensive system of miniature trains and more could be in jeopardy if the club cannot find a buyer for the house in which it is located who is willing to keep it in operation.

By Anne Levin

For the past eight years, the basement of a four-bedroom Cape Cod house at 26 Washington Street in Rocky Hill has been the headquarters of a sprawling model railroad system. This 5,000-square-foot miniature world boasts trains, buildings, bridges, mountains, rivers, and even a circus train. A dispatcher, a trainmaster, three tower operators, and 15 engineers operate the system on a rotating basis.

The railroad is run by the Pacific Southern Railway (PSRY) club, which holds meetings for members and visitors on Wednesday evenings. On October 19 and 20, the club will hold its annual family-friendly train show at the house. The popular event will include hourly demonstrations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. As has been the case for several years, all of the $10 donations support the Rocky Hill Rescue Squad and Volunteer Fire Company. more

PHS Scholarship Fund Receives $110K from Estate of Art Teacher Dave Mackey

By Donald Gilpin

Dave Mackey (Photo courtesy of Hopewell Museum)

The 101: Fund, which for more than 50 years has been providing need-based college scholarships to Princeton High School (PHS) graduates, recently received a bequest of $110,000 from the estate of Princeton Public Schools (PPS) art teacher Dave Mackey, who died at age 89 in May 2023.

Mackey and his wife Becky, a PHS physical education teacher and coach who died in 2000, are well remembered by many PHS graduates and repeatedly described as two of PHS’s most beloved teachers.

“The 101: Fund is incredibly honored and thankful to receive this generous gift from and in memory of Dave and Becky Mackey,” said 101 President Anthony Klockenbrink. “Becky was a previous board member of 101. The gift will enable the 101 to support more PHS students and to support more meaningful scholarships going forward. It is also our hope to establish a named scholarship in their memory.” more

Documentary About Brian Eno is One-Time Event at Garden Theatre

By Anne Levin

The career of innovative musician and producer Brian Eno is the subject of a documentary to be screened on Tuesday, October 8 at the Princeton Garden Theatre. What makes this one-night-only event unique is its use of the latest AI technology, which means it will never be seen the same way twice.

Eno premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival. Landing the screening, which is underwritten by the Princeton Record Exchange, is a coup for the Garden. Kyle Stenger, the theater’s outreach director, thinks it is the only movie house in New Jersey to have the honor.

“It’s a brand-new concept called ‘generative documentary.’ The director, Gary Hustwit, developed this AI software specifically for this movie, and it is re-edited for every showing so it’s different every single time,” said Stenger. “You’re never going to get a version of it that has Eno’s whole life in it. You might get his time with David Bowie in Berlin, or with David Byrne in Talking Heads. That’s what makes it so exciting. It’s a radical concept that is also meant to reflect the experimental process of Eno himself.” more

On Wallace Stevens’s Birthday: Blackbirds, Mountains, Cities, and Cathedrals

By Stuart Mitchner

I’ve just read Wallace Stevens’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,” today being his 145th birthday. Why that particular poem now? Probably because it’s an infectious idea that inspires impersonation. And why 13? Why not 9 or 7? Or 10 to match the number of his birthday month?

When I began writing a few days ago, I was thinking about ways of looking at Italy. What set me off was the Milan cathedral, which rises magnificently from the center of Luchino Visconti’s epic Rocco and His Brothers (1960), a film so “fearsome” (Martin Scorsese’s word) that people screamed “No!” “Stop it!” and “Basta!” when its prolonged explosions of murderous violence were first shown at the Venice Film Festival.

What happened to me? Suddenly, breathtakingly, after one of the movie’s most brutal, harrowing, hard-to-watch scenes, I found myself at the top of the cathedral surrounded by spires and pinnacles, with dizzy-making views of the city and country on all sides while straight scarily down below were tiny streetcars, busses, and human beings. I’m up there with Alain Delon’s Rocco and Annie Girardot’s Nadia, who was beaten and raped in front of Rocco by his brother Simone, mad with jealousy because Rocco and Nadia, a free-spirited prostitute, have fallen, truly, in love. more

“Duel Reality” Inspired by “Romeo and Juliet”

CIRCUS-THEATRE: The 7 Fingers, from Montreal, brings an eclectic take on “Romeo and Juliet” to McCarter Theatre.

McCarter Theatre Center presents Duel Reality, from Montreal-based circus troupe The 7 Fingers, October 9-13. Known for their blend of circus, theatre, illusion, music, and dance, this latest creation is an acrobatic tour-de-force inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Audiences are invited to imagine a world where star-crossed lovers are circus stars, their love story unfolding through acrobatics. This cirque-infused performance portrays the feuding families engaging in increasingly daring battles of skill — while the lovers struggle to escape the escalating conflict. The performance distills the classic love story to its core conflict and transforms the stage into a sporting arena, with the audience/spectators taking sides and cheering on their team.  more

Actor Cary Elwes Talks About “The Princess Bride”

State Theatre New Jersey presents “The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes” on Saturday, October 19 at 8 p.m.

After a screening of the movie The Princess Bride, actor Elwes (Westly) will engage in a moderated discussion for a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film, revealing never-before-shared stories. The moderator is journalist and musician Alex Biese.

A limited number of VIP packages are available and include the best seats in the house, a Meet and Greet with Elwes, and a signed copy of his book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.  more

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Performs at Richardson Auditorium

THREE SOLOISTS: In performances of Beethoven’s “Triple Concerto” at Richardson Auditorium by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, the soloists are, from left, Steven Beck, pianist; Basia Danilow, violin; and Alistair MacRae, cellist.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) concertmaster Basia Danilow and principal cellist Alistair MacRae team up with pianist Steven Beck October 19-20 for performances of Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op. 56, “Triple Concerto.” Conducted by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the concerts at Richardson Auditorium also include Michael Abels’ More Seasons and Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, “Classical.”

The entire program provides variations on traditional musical forms, and even the usual order of orchestral concert programming. “Rather than designing the program in the customary way — overture, concerto, symphony —I have decided to move the programming blocks a bit to allow the audience to experience first the more modern works by Prokofiev and Ables before hearing the Beethoven’s original masterpiece —’Triple Concerto’ — in the second half of the concert,” said Milanov. more

Westminster Community Orchestra to Present Two Concerts

ON THE WESTMINSTER CAMPUS: Ruth Ochs conducts the Westminster Community Orchestra in the Marion Buckelew Cullen Center on Walnut Lane in upcoming performances November 3 and December 11.

The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO) and conductor Ruth Ochs will perform two programs in November and December in Hillman Performance Hall, housed in the Marion Buckelew Cullen Center, 101 Walnut Lane.

The orchestra will present its first performance, Celebrate America!, on Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m., featuring works by George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, George Whitefield Chadwick, Florence Price, Aaron Copland, and Richard Rodgers. The program will also include Georg Philipp Telemann’s Recorder Concerto in C, with Westminster Conservatory student Tegan Costello as soloist. The concert highlights a variety of musical themes that are distinctly American. There are no tickets required; a suggested admission of $10/person will be collected at the door. more

Hopewell Valley Arts Council Hosts Amazing Pumpkin Carve

“TOTAL FREAK OUT”: This pumpkin was carved by Matt Derby for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council’s Ninth Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve. This year’s event runs October 9 through 13 at Woolsey Park in Hopewell Township.

The Hopewell Valley Arts Council is celebrating a decade of community tradition with its 10th Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve at Woolsey Park in Hopewell Township from October 9 through 13. Bringing together families, art lovers, and fall enthusiasts, this event features 30 massive pumpkins carved into creative masterpieces under a big top tent.

Since its inception, the Amazing Pumpkin Carve has grown into one of Hopewell Valley’s favorite fall events, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The pumpkins, carved by local artists, range from whimsical to spooky, showcasing the talent and creativity within the community. Rain or shine, attendees can enjoy the pumpkin displays inside the tent. more

Golu Installation Coming to West Windsor Arts 

GOLU EXTRAVAGANZA: West Windsor Arts brings the Southern Indian tradition of Navrati Golu to its gallery space with “From Ethereal to Real: A Navratri Golu,” an installation of intricately arranged, handcrafted dolls and heirlooms in settings that explore global warming through allegory, metaphor, and mythology. A related event is on Saturday, October 5, from 4 to 9 p.m.

Since expanding its programming to include more one-of-a-kind, community-building events — built by community members — West Windsor Arts has hosted dancing in the dark parties, game nights, holi celebrations, immersive classical musical performances, and more.

On Saturday, October 5, from 4 to 9 p.m., the arts center will bring the Southern Indian tradition of Navrati Golu to its gallery space. “From Ethereal to Real: A Navratri Golu” will feature an installation of intricately arranged, handcrafted dolls and heirlooms in settings that explore global warming through allegory, metaphor, and mythology. The evening will also include impromptu, live Indian classical music, a presentation on the significance of the golu, and fun art activities for children. more

Princeton Makes Presents Art in the Courtyard Oct. 6

“LOTUS FIELD, FALL”: Leni Paquet-Morante, whose work is shown here, is among the artists of Princeton Makes, which will host its second annual Art in the Courtyard — Fall Festival on Sunday, October 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard.

Princeton Makes will host its second annual Art in the Courtyard — Fall Festival on Sunday, October 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard. The festival is a celebration of creativity and community and will showcase the local artistic talent of Princeton and neighboring areas.

Art in the Courtyard is designed to give local artists and artisans the opportunity to spotlight their work. But the festival goes beyond artistic displays; it is a celebration of the entire Princeton and neighboring areas. Princeton Makes is focused on community building and welcomes everyone to contribute to a community art project to be made during the event. more

“Monsters & Machines” Exhibit in PU Library’s Milberg Gallery

Princeton University Library presents “Monsters & Machines: Caricature, Visual Satire, and the Twentieth-Century Bestiary” in the Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, on view through December 8.

The exhibition examines the global use of bestiary in visual satire during the period from the beginning of World War I through the end of the Cold War. It is curated by a team of PUL librarians: Thomas Keenan, Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies librarian; Lidia Santarelli, librarian for History, New York University; Deborah Schlein, Near Eastern Studies librarian; and Alain St. Pierre, librarian for History, History of Science, and African Studies. more

Full Scale Hair, Skin, and Nail Care Services Are Offered at Luxury Enmoda Salon & Spa

WINNING TEAM: “I very much enjoy helping our clients to look their best, and I enjoy helping the staff to accomplish their goals and reach their potential.” Master stylist and salon director at Enmoda Salon & Spa, Zachary Mosco, second from left back row, is very proud of his team of stylists, estheticians, and nail technicians shown here.

By Jean Stratton

You will definitely be “in style” at Enmoda Salon & Spa at 163 Bayard Lane.

The Spanish term “enmoda” can mean in style, and Princeton’s Enmoda lives up to its name. The master stylists, estheticians, nail technicians, and makeup specialists are all ready to help each client look their best.

Opened two years ago, the establishment has a clientele of men, women, and children, from 9 years old to 80-plus, all who are regular clients, reports salon director and master stylist Zachary Mosco. more

Making the Most Out of 1st Career Start for PU Football, Senior QB McAllister Helps Tigers Defeat Howard 30-13

BLAINE GAME: Princeton University quarterback Blaine McAllister fires a pass last Saturday against Howard. Making his first career start, McAllister passed for one touchdown and ran for another as Princeton topped the Bison 30-13. The Tigers, now 1-1, start their Ivy League campaign by playing at Columbia (1-1) on October 5. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

For Blaine McAllister, being patient over the last four seasons was rewarded last Saturday as he made his first start at quarterback for the Princeton University football team.

Toiling on the Princeton junior varsity team in 2021 and 2022 and making one varsity appearance last fall, senior McAllister got the starting nod against visiting Howard with opening day starter Blaine Hipa sidelined by injury. more

After Earning 1st Victory as a Varsity 15s Program, Gritty PU Women’s Rugby Pushing for More Success

MO BETTER: Princeton University women’s rugby player Malinka Kwemo (carrying ball) wards off a tackler in a game earlier this season. On September 21, sophomore back Kwemo went 7 for 9 on conversion attempts as Princeton defeated Bowdoin 59-0 to post its first-ever victory in varsity 15s competition after losing 15 straight since 2022 when the program moved up to the varsity level. The Tigers, who fell 46-5 to Brown last Saturday to drop to 1-3, play at Quinnipiac on October 5. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Over its first two seasons as a varsity 15s program, the Princeton University women’s rugby team went winless, dropping all 13 games it played in 2022-23.

But heading into this fall, Princeton was confident that it was on the verge of a breakthrough win. more

Sparked by Scoring Surge From Senior Star Breitman, PHS Boys’ Soccer Catching Fire, Improving to 6-1-2

BRIGHT STAR: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Azariah Breitman, right, chases after the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior forward and co-captain Breitman tallied two goals and an assist to help PHS defeat WW/P-North 7-1. The Tigers, who tied Westfield 2-2 last Saturday to move to 6-1-2, host Gill St. Bernard’s on October 5 and Steinert on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Azariah Breitman scored just one goal in the first five games this fall for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team.

In game six, though, senior forward and co-captain Breitman exploded for three goals in a 4-1 win over Hopewell Valley and that opened the floodgates for him. more

With Junior Star Woods Excelling on Front Row, 12-0 PHS Girls’ Volleyball Looking Dominant

OUT OF THE WOODS: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Charlotte Woods sets a ball in a game last fall. Last Wednesday, junior star Woods contributed seven kills and eight digs as PHS defeated Woodbridge 2-0 (25-15, 25-21). The Tigers, who improved to 12-0 with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-8) win over Princeton Day School last Monday, play at Immaculate Heart on October 5 and at Notre Dame on October 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team hosted Woodbridge last Wednesday, Charlotte Woods didn’t take long to get into the flow.

“I feel like I was able to warm up and open up and take some really harder hits,” said junior outside hitter Woods. “The sets by Lois [Matsukawa] were awesome, — that made those big hits possible.” more

Looking Formidable with a Veteran-Laden Squad, PHS Girls’ Tennis Wins State Opener, Moves to 5-1

DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton High girls’ tennis first doubles player Maya-Alexandra Todorov, left, hits a backhand in action last fall as partner Ashna Bushan covers the net. Last Monday, the pair of Todorov and Bushan posted a 6-0, 6-1 win to help fourth-seeded PHS defeat 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional. The Tigers, who improved to 5-1, will play at Lawrence High on October 7 in a regular season match before hosting fifth-seeded Summit in the sectional quarterfinals on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Boasting a battle-tested core of veteran performers, the Princeton High girls’ tennis team has picked up where it left off last year.

After winning eight of its last nine matches in 2023, advancing the Central Jersey Group 3 final in the process, the Tigers have started 5-1 this fall with their latest victory coming last Monday when the fourth-seeded Tigers defeated 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional on October 8. more

Featuring Scoring Balance, Stingy Defense, Hun Boys’ Soccer Produces Stellar 5-1-2 Start

PUSHING FORWARD: Hun School boys’ soccer player Luke Donahue, right, battles for the ball in a game earlier this season. Senior forward Donahue has tallied a goal and an assist so far this fall to help Hun get off to a 5-1-2 start. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at the Blair Academy on October 5 and at the Peddie School on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It is the only loss for the Hun School boys’ soccer team so far this fall, but it proved to be a sign of the squad’s quality.

Facing perennial powerhouse Pennington on September 18, Hun battled the Red Hawks to a scoreless stalemate in the first half and the foes were locked in a 1-1 tie late in the second half before the Raiders yielded two late goals to fall 3-1. more

PDS Field Hockey Taking its Lumps in Early Going, But Young Squad Has Potential to Get on Winning Track

STEPPING UP: Princeton Day School field hockey player Sammy Dandy, right, goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Sophomore Dandy has scored one goal so far this season for PDS. The Panthers, who lost 7-0 to Notre Dame last Monday to move to 3-5, play at Allentown on October 2 and at WW/P-North on October 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Undeterred by a steady rain that fell as it played at Hopewell Valley High last Friday afternoon, the Princeton Day School field hockey team came out firing.

Cashing in on some deft passing, PDS jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 6:41 left in the first quarter as Reagan Falconi blasted the ball into the cage, converting an insert by Olivia Herscovici on a penalty corner. more

September 25, 2024

Master Carver

Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) fall Artist-in-Residence Nathan Jackson, right, a nationally renowned Alaskan Tlingit artist, works with his wife, Dorica, on the ACP’s new totem pole at a public carving demonstration on Friday. The project, “Monumental Sculptures: Understanding the Totem Poles of the Northwest Coast,” honors and celebrates the Tlingit peoples of that region. Made from western red cedar, the 8-foot-high work will permanently reside in the ACP front lobby when completed. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)

Council Passes Ordinance to Acquire Westminster Campus

By Anne Levin

An ordinance that could determine the future of the 23-acre property formerly occupied by Westminster Choir College was the subject of several comments during a public hearing at the meeting of Princeton Council on Monday evening, September 23. The ordinance, which was introduced on September 9, authorizes the acquisition of the site “by negotiation, purchase, condemnation, or eminent domain.”

At the close of the public hearing, Council voted unanimously in favor of the measure. Council President Mia Sacks, who led the meeting since Mayor Mark Freda is on vacation, called it “a historic evening for all of us.” To those who expressed concerns that the Westminster Conservatory of Music and the Westminster Community Orchestra would not be a part of the future plans for the site, Sacks said that the municipality is aware of their history and importance to the cultural life of the community.

The Conservatory and Orchestra are among the cultural organizations that operate on the Walnut Lane campus. Westminster Choir College was located there from 1935 until it was moved to the campus of Rider University in Lawrence Township in 2017 following Rider’s failed attempt to sell it to a Chinese company (Rider merged with the Choir College in 1991). more

PPS Welcomes New Food Service Supplier, Food Systems Coordinator

By Donald Gilpin

Shannon Barlow

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is starting the 2024-25 school year with a new food systems literacy coordinator, Shannon Barlow, and a new food service supplier, Pomptonian, that offers unlimited servings of fruits and vegetables to accompany each meal.

Those changes at PPS signal a whole new perspective on the significance of food, its role in school, and its role in the lives of the school community, according to PPS Science Supervisor Joy Barnes-Johnson.

“These paired developments will, over time, fundamentally change the way that all of us at the district — students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration — understand and use food for curriculum, health, wellness, community, and for the good of natural systems that are prerequisites to all life,” said Barnes-Johnson, as quoted in a press release from Princeton School Gardens Cooperative, Inc. (PSGC), which is collaborating with PPS to use campus resources to illustrate and amplify curriculum. more

Election Race Approaches Final Month; BOE Candidates Square Off October 1

By Donald Gilpin

With races for U.S. president and vice president, U.S. Senate, U.S House of Representatives, Board of Mercer County Commissioners, Princeton mayor and Council, and Princeton Board of Education (BOE) all on the line, the 2024 campaign season is approaching its final month. Vote-by-mail ballots are already available, early voting starts on October 26, and November 5 is Election Day.

On Tuesday, October 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the six Princeton BOE candidates will face each other in a Candidates’ Forum Webinar hosted by the Princeton Parent-Teacher Organization Council (PTOC).

In Princeton the race for three seats on the School Board, with one incumbent and five new candidates running, is drawing the most attention and generating the most lawn signs, while Mark Freda in the race for another term as mayor and incumbent Leighton Newlin and new candidate Brian McDonald in the race for two seats on Princeton Council are unopposed.

In the contest for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Robert Menendez, Democrat Andy Kim is running against Republican Curtis Bashaw; in the 12th District race for Congress incumbent Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman is running against Republican Darius Mayfield; and in the county commissioners competition a slate of three Democrats is vying against three Republican candidates for three seats.

Information about the Princeton BOE candidates is available on the PTOC website at princetonptoc.weebly.com, in local and social media, and on candidates’ websites, as well as in a continuing flow of letters to the Town Topics Mailbox. For this article Town Topics asked the candidates to provide a statement of no more than 100 words on what they would like local residents to know about them and their candidacy. Their responses follow in reverse alphabetical order. more