May 21, 2025
By Anne Levin
As of Tuesday morning, May 20, the three-day strike by NJ Transit engineers had been settled, restoring service to commuters and travelers from Princeton Junction and elsewhere into New York City’s Penn Station.
But the agreement reached Sunday between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and NJ Transit is labeled “tentative.” Terms will be sent to the union’s 450 members for their consideration, according to BLET. Contract language and dollar figures are to be announced to the public after the members have a chance to review.
The agreement also requires a vote by the NJ Transit Board at their next regularly scheduled meeting, which is June 11. more
By Donald Gilpin
Forty-four Princeton teenagers are getting ready to embark on a host of summer jobs, from child care at Princeton Nursery School (PNS) to clerical and administrative positions at area community organizations to a variety of jobs with local government and nonprofits — all under the auspices of the Princeton Human Services Department’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
The Human Services Department pairs these students, from age 14 to 18, with local organizations, Princeton University, and others, and the employers sign up to accept the youths for eight weeks, from July 7 to August 29.
The employers provide their young recruits with work experience, and coach them through the process, ensuring that they understand and meet all work expectations, explained Human Services Director Rhodalynn Jones. “The program has been tremendously successful,” she said, with 70 applications received and a record number of students hired this year. more
By Donald Gilpin
The times have changed. The internet has usurped the dominance of traditional “legacy” media. The public’s trust in media has declined. The current administration has been attacking the press, targeting reporters, co-opting and suing major news organizations, distorting daily press briefings, threatening PBS and NPR.
But “our mission hasn’t changed,” said John Mooney, founding editor of NJ Spotlight News, who was one of three veteran journalists leading a May 19 forum on the erosion of traditional media, hosted by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO).
“The way we do our jobs, the way we get information, report on a story, write the story including both sides of the story — all of those basic tools — haven’t changed at all,” said Nancy Solomon, senior reporter for WNYC and founding managing editor of New Jersey Public Radio. more
SAVED BY A SALE: The elaborate model train system at a house in Rocky Hill will remain in place thanks to its purchase by Princeton residents Melyssa and James “Murr” Murray. Murr, right, is familiar to fans of the long-running TV show “Impractical Jokers.”
By Anne Levin
Princeton resident James “Murr” Murray is one of the hosts of the TBS television show Impractical Jokers. But the recent purchase by Murray and his wife, Melyssa, of a house in Rocky Hill that is home to a 5,000-square-foot model train layout in its basement, is no joke.
The couple stepped in at the eleventh hour, buying the house the night before its previous owner was putting it on the market. What was likely to have been a hard sell — it is the weekly meeting place of the 60-year-old Pacific Southern Railway Club, whose 40 members use the basement to operate their elaborate system of trains, buildings, bridges, mountains, and rivers, and hold annual fundraisers for the public — has been avoided. more
By Donald Gilpin
Princeton Council voted unanimously last week to support the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, a bill currently pending in the state legislature that would hold major fossil fuel companies financially responsible for expenses resulting from climate change.
Princeton is one of 33 municipalities that had supported the resolution as of Monday, May 19. Two states, Vermont and New York, have passed similar resolutions, and supporters of the proposal are seeking to make New Jersey the third.
The bill calls for “responsible parties,” large fossil fuel companies that are responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 1944, to be held liable for costs of funding “climate change adaptation and resilience projects instead of placing the burden on New Jersey taxpayers.” more
By Anne Levin
In the past two decades, one out of five Reform synagogues in America has closed its doors. Soon to join the list is Har Sinai Temple, which was founded in Trenton in 1857 and moved to Pennington nearly two decades ago.
Changes in demographics are generally credited for this spiritual shift. While the closing of Har Sinai marks the end of an era for the local Jewish community, it has presented an opportunity for reflection, said Rabbi Jordan Goldson, who has led the congregation for the last five years.
“People have very fond memories of those times in Trenton,” Goldson said. “At our service [last] Friday night, we went around the sanctuary, and heard from people who had been members for 70 years. There was another century of history prior to that. So, on the one hand, people feel there is this long, long history, and it’s sad that it can’t continue. But people also realize that things change. Even the ancient temple in Jerusalem is no longer around, and that was a pretty vibrant place.” more
By Stuart Mitchner
In an interview in this Sunday’s New York Times, the actor Ed Helms (The Office) says his favorite reading experience took place on the subway, clinging to a pole with one hand and reading Moby-Dick on his cell phone with the other. It’s a connection that might have amused Herman Melville, who was riding the elevated subway to and from his job as a customs inspector until his retirement in 1886, five years before his death. I wish he were around to write a response to D.H. Lawrence’s wildly conflicted tribute to the “deep great artist” who wrote Moby-Dick, “a very great book” that “commands a stillness in the soul, an awe” that Lawrence found hard to match with the author, a “rather tiresome New Englander” — “Oh dear, when the solemn ass brays! brays! brays!”
My guess is that besides savoring words of praise from a brilliant colleague, a man with Melville’s wonderfully inventive sense of humor would laugh at the “solemn ass,” and, if it were possible, post Lawrence a copy of his sketch “Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!” about “the loudest, longest, and most strangely musical crow that ever amazed mortal man…. a wise crow; an invincible crow; a philosophic crow; a crow of all crows.” more
By Nancy Plum
Princeton Pro Musica took on a challenge this past weekend with its final performance of the season. Connecting back to World War II, the 100-voice vocal ensemble presented British composer James McCarthy’s 2014 Codebreaker: The Alan Turing Story, an oratorio for chorus, soprano, and orchestra depicting scenes from the life of famed mathematician, inventor and codebreaker Alan Turing. Turing’s incalculable role in history was rooted in his responsibilities during World War II for cracking naval Enigma codes and his invention of a machine to significantly speed up the decryption process and anticipate enemy moves. Considered one of the great intellectual feats of the 20th century, Turing’s invention was credited with saving millions of lives during the War. Writing that there are few people who have “achieved so much of profound consequence for humanity in so little time,” McCarthy approached setting Turing’s life and accomplishments in musical form as a “portrait of a living, breathing human being and not the musical equivalent of a marble monument to a Great Hero.”
In Sunday afternoon’s concert at Richardson Auditorium, Pro Musica Artistic Director Ryan J. Brandau opened with a one-movement string piece of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The 1977 Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten was a tribute to a composer from Turing’s time and a connection to the era and country in which the events of the oratorio took place. The 15 string players assembled for this performance began Cantus quietly, as conductor Brandau allowed the music to unfold on its own. The musicians initially played with almost no vibrato, but as the work progressed, the musical fabric became warmer. more
“VIENNESE CELEBRATION”: Pianist Esma Pasic-Filipovic is the soloist in the Westminster Community Orchestra’s final concert of the season in the Cullen Center on the former Westminster Choir College campus May 31.
The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO), conducted by Ruth Ochs, will present their final concert of the season on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m. at Hillman Hall, in the Cullen Center, on the Westminster campus, Walnut Lane. There are no tickets required; a suggested admission of $10/person cash will be collected at the door.
Titled “Viennese Celebration,” the concert will feature soloist Esma Pasic-Filipovic performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, a movement from Shubert’s Unfinished Symphony, an orchestration of Schubert’s “An die Musik,” and Johann Strauss Jr.’s Emperor Waltzes. more
The Princeton Festival’s annual season of musical events is held on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, June 6-21. Starting with “ICONS: The Voices that Changed Music on June 6, followed by Renee Fleming performing with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on June 7, the festival continues with music from Broadway, Baroque, a Motown revue, dance, and much more. Visit princetonsymphony.org/festival or call (609) 497-0020 for tickets.
The Princeton Symphonic Brass, under the baton of Lawrence Kursar, will hold its annual Summer Concert on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Middle School Auditorium, 95 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro.
This summer’s eve concert features Americana, jazz, pop, and light classical in a spacious, state-of-the-art performance space with ample free parking. For the first time, the band will feature a special guest artist, trumpeter Liesl Whitaker.
Whitaker joined the Army Blues of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in 2000, becoming the first woman to win a lead position in a premier U.S. military jazz ensemble. She repeated this feat with the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band in 2012. She will appear as soloist on several new arrangements crafted for her and the Princeton Symphonic Brass. more
BEATLES COVER BAND: The Fab Faux sing songs from two Beatles’ classic albums at State Theatre New Jersey on May 31.
State Theatre New Jersey presents The Fab Faux on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. The band performs A Hard Day’s Night and Abbey Road in their entireties. Joining The Fab Faux are The Hogshead Horns (with Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears and SNL band alums) and The Creme Tangerine Strings..
With a commitment to an accurate reproduction of The Beatles’ repertoire, The Fab Faux treat the seminal music with respect, and are known for their painstaking recreations of the songs. Far beyond a cover band, they play songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “I Am the Walrus” in complete part-perfect renditions; and such harmony-driven songs as “Because,” “Nowhere Man,” and “Paperback Writer,” reproduced not only note-for-note, but with extra vocalists to achieve a double-tracked effect. more
The Princeton Garden Theatre has shared its Summer 2025 lineup for the $5 Family Matinees program.
The series plays on one Saturday morning at 10 a.m. each month throughout the year, and is free for members of the nonprofit cinema and their children. It is made possible by the Garden’s community partners at jaZams, McCarter Theatre Center, Color Me Mine Princeton, and the Princeton Public Library.
On June 21 the Garden will screen Toy Story, Pixar’s 1995 groundbreaking theatrical debut and the first feature film to be computer-animated. The film on July 12 is The Goonies, one of the key films of the 1980s that revels in the independence and imagination of kids. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary. more
The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) presents its 65th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. This milestone performance showcases the talents of GPYO’s Concert and Symphonic Orchestras, led by conductors Judith Morse and Joseph Pucciatti, and will feature a wide-ranging program that spans centuries and continents.
Highlights include performances by Cassidy Shae, winner of the 2024–2025 Maestro Matteo Giammario Concerto Competition, and professional accordionist Klajdi Cerriku. The Concert Orchestra, led by Morse, will perform works by Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov, Saint-Saens, Piazzolla, and Carlos Gardel. Pucciatti leads the Symphonic Orchestra in music of Liszt, Khachaturian, and Haydn.
The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) provides training and performance opportunities for students seeking challenging musical ensemble experiences, while cultivating a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
Tickets are available at tickets.princeton.edu.
“MEMORY OF WATER II”: This work by Janet Taylor Pickett is featured in “The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show,” on view May 31 through June 29 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.
Phillips’ Mill Community Association in New Hope, Pa., has announced a new exhibition, “The Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show,” paying homage to one of America’s most notable sculptors and art educators of the 20th century, an artist who called New Hope home for the last 40 of her 95 years. This exhibition will feature more than 60 works by many African American artists Burke mentored, taught, and inspired, including James E. Duprée and Kimberly Camp. It will be on view May 31 through June 29.
Born in Mooresville, N.C., in 1900, Burke rose to national prominence through her contributions to American art, namely her artwork and dedication to teaching others. She became an integral figure of the Harlem Renaissance, founded the Selma Burke School of Art, and earned her MFA from Columbia University. She later founded the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., and eventually settled in New Hope, leaving an indelible mark on the local arts community through her leadership at the Solebury School and Robert McClellan’s New Hope School of Art. In 1977, she also founded the Bucks County Sculpture Show, which is still held annually. more
Melissa Kuscin
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has announced the appointment of Melissa Kuscin to director of programming and events. She previously served as the organization’s programming and marketing manager.
An ACP press release notes, “If you have attended an ACP event, admired one of the many murals around town, received a newsletter from the Arts Council, or engaged with ACP on social media in the past decade, chances are you’ve experienced Melissa’s creative vision and dedication firsthand. Throughout her tenure, Melissa has been instrumental in developing inspired arts and cultural programming that reflects the diversity and unique interests of the Princeton community.”
Kuscin’s contributions include spearheading programs such as Princeton Porchfest, the Princeton Sketchbook Club, monthly poetry and spoken word open mic Story & Verse, the Hometown Halloween Parade, and BYOB Series, to name a few. She co-coordinates ACP’s public art program and well-known seasonal art markets, Sauce for the Goose and the Princeton Art Bazaar, with Artistic Director Maria Evans. She partners often with fellow nonprofits, University groups, and individual artists to bring programs to life. more
The Flemington Fine Artisans Show returns to the historic Stangl Factory, (4 Stangl Road, Flemington, on Sunday and Monday, May 25–26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This curated event brings together 27 artists and makers, offering a diverse array of handmade goods, including jewelry, ceramics, artisan woodwork, home décor, fiber art, one-of-a-kind clothing, photography, and paintings.
Admission and parking are free.
Kris Giacobbe Photography, a local photography studio committed to empowering women, has announced the “50 Over 50” gallery exhibit, an event celebrating 50 extraordinary women, each age 50 and older, who embody resilience, strength, and beauty. The event will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Kris Giacobbe Photography, 108 Straube Center Boulevard, Suite I-20, Pennington.
The “50 Over 50” campaign is a portrait series that shines a light on the diversity and vibrancy of women over 50, challenging outdated stereotypes about aging, especially for women. The gallery will showcase stunning images that reveal the unique stories, personalities, and spirit of the women featured.
This evening is designed to be a night of connection, conversation, and community. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the women who participated, along with their friends, family, and supporters. Drinks and bites will be served in a warm, welcoming atmosphere with cocktail casual attire. more
“RUNRISE GLOW” This work by Mario Edini is featured in an exhibition by members of the Stonebridge Photography Club, on view June 3 through June 27 at Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An opening reception is on June 6 from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
The Cranbury Arts Council and Gourgaud Gallery will host works by members of the Stonebridge Photography Club June 3 through June 27. An opening reception is on June 6 from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
The Stonebridge Photography Club provides a rewarding and enjoyable experience for community photographers wishing to improve their technical and artistic imaging skills. The club was established in 2000 in the Active Senior Development of Stonebridge in Monroe Township. more
A ribbon-cutting is planned for May 21 at 11 a.m. at Dohm Alley, next to 102 Nassau Street, for “Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a Genius,” the second of two summer pop-up exhibits presented by the Princeton Einstein Museum of Science.
Meet “Einstein” at Dohm Alley on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when he is portrayed by Bill Agress. Kids can receive a free brain sticker, while supplies last.
The museum’s other summer pop-up exhibit, “Think Like a Genius,” is located near Concord Pet in the Princeton Shopping Center on North Harrison Street. Designed for families, the exhibit helps visitors understand how Einstein thought through problems. more
SPECIALTY SKIN CARE: “We are a results-driven aesthetic atelier specializing in facial sculpting massage, high tech treatments, and a curated selection of top skincare and wellness brands.” Jena Salzano, esthetician and owner of Anej Skin Studio, is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and experience with her clients.
By Jean Stratton
“The world is too much with us: late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;”
—William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth wrote these words long ago, and perhaps they are even more relevant today. There seems to be little time away from the onslaught of the world around us, and the stress it induces. Driven by the internet and social media, time to reflect, relax, renew or refresh is scarce.
Jena Salzano hopes to help guide her clients through these times of uncertainty. While Anej Skin Studio focuses on helping treat a variety of skin conditions, owner Jena strongly believes in a holistic approach, one that can help relieve anxiety and bring a time of relaxation and even serenity to clients while they experience a skin procedure. more
SIX SHOOTER: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Chad Palumbo works his way to goal in recent action. Last Saturday, junior midfielder Palumbo tallied a career-high six goals and two assists in a losing cause as third-seeded Princeton lost 19-18 to sixth-seeded Syracuse in the NCAA quarterfinals. The loss left the Tigers with a final record of 13-4. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
By Bill Alden
The rivalry between the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team and Syracuse ended up being the marquee matchup in the NCAA tournament from 1992-2003.
During that stretch, the foes met 10 times in the NCAA tourney with Princeton going 4-6 overall against the Orange and 2-2 in national championship games. more
SPRINT FINISH: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight crew displays its form in a recent race. Last Sunday, the Tiger top boat finished third in its grand final at the Eastern Sprints. Princeton will wrap up its season by competing in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta from May 30-June 1 on the Cooper River in Pennsauken. (Photo by Row2K pic provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
By Bill Alden
As the Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight crew raced against Brown in its final regular season regatta, the boat made a statement.
Despite missing some starters due to illness and injury, the Tiger top boat set a course record on Lake Carnegie with a blistering time of 5:20.8 over the 2,000-meter course to edge the Bears by .5 seconds. more
BRINGING THEIR A-GAME: Members of the Princeton High girls’ golf team show off the spoils of victory after they won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state championship at the Raritan Valley Country Club on May 13. Junior star Kyuyoung Chung led the way for the Tigers, placing second individually with a three-over 76. PHS posted a winning score of 339, 13 shots better than runner-up Ridgewood. Pictured, from left, are Alice Ye, Jackie Zang, Chung, Yasna Shahriarian, and Shreya Gaekwad. (Photo provided by Jess Monzo)
By Justin Feil
Kyuyoung Chung went through some ups and downs this spring on the golf course for the Princeton High girls’ squad.
“I’ve had rounds where I’ve played great and then I’ve had rounds where I’ve been like, wow, it feels like I’ve never touched a golf club in my life,” said PHS junior star Chung. more