February 21, 2024

With Senior Star Weber Having Fun in Piling Up Wins, Undefeated PHS Girls’ Swimmers Roll in Sectional Final

COURTING SUCCESS: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Courtney Weber does the breaststroke leg in an individual medley relay race earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior star Weber placed first in the 200-yard IM and the 100 breast to help top-seeded PHS defeat second-seeded Manasquan 96-69 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional final at The College of New Jersey. The Tigers, now 13-0, will face Shawnee in the group semis on February 21 at Passaic Tech with the victor advancing to the final on February 25 at Rutgers University. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While Courtney Weber is determined to compete hard this winter in her final campaign for the Princeton High girls’ swimming team, she has another major goal.

“It is my senior year, so I have been trying to focus on just having fun and keeping the fun in the swimming,” said Weber.

Last Thursday Weber had a lot of fun, placing first in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke to help top-seeded PHS defeat second-seeded Manasquan 96-69 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional final at The College of New Jersey.  more

PHS Boys’ Swimming Falls to Chatham in Sectional Final, Competing Hard to the End as it Finishes with a 13-1 Record

FAST FINISH: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu displays his breaststroke form in a recent race. Last week, junior star Xu placed first in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke as second-seeded PHS fell 96-74 to top-seeded Chatham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional final. The defeat left the Tigers with a 13-1 final record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden 

As the second-seeded Princeton High boys’ swimming team faced top-seeded Chatham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional final last Wednesday, it was round three in state tournament action between the powerhouses.

With PHS having lost to Chatham in the Public B state final in 2022 and in the sectional final last winter for its only two defeats in the last two seasons, the Tigers realized that they faced an uphill battle in the showdown of undefeated squads. more

PHS Boys’ Hockey Falls in State Opener, As its Offense Sputters Down the Stretch

SHOOTING STAR: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Brendan Beatty fires a shot in recent action. Last Friday, junior star Beatty scored two goals as 16th-seeded PHS fell 7-3 to 17th-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood in a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public Soth Play-in round contest. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 5-13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High boys’ hockey team having suffered five straight losses heading into its New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public South Play-in round contest against Scotch Plains-Fanwood last Friday afternoon, the Tigers were viewing the state opener as a fresh start.

“We were hoping to re-set and see if we could get the wheels going again,” said PHS head coach Rik Johnson. “Unfortunately our numbers were down, I think we had 11, 12 skaters today.” more

PHS Junior Monga Earns Trip to Region 5 Wrestling, Making Great Strides After Nearly Quitting the Sport

GETTING A LEG UP: Princeton High wrestler Danny Monga, right, battles a foe in a bout earlier this season. Last Saturday, junior Monga took third at 120 pounds at the District 17 tourney at Middletown South to earn a berth to the Region 5 tournament this coming weekend at Franklin High. Monga will be joined at the Region competition by teammates Cole Rose (126), Blasé Mele (138), Christian Paul (157), and Kwabena Afrifah (285). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Danny Monga made the podium at the District 17 wrestling tournament on Saturday to earn a berth to the Region 5 tournament.

The Princeton High junior thought about quitting at times last season, his first year back on the mats since wrestling in sixth and seventh grade. He’s glad that he stuck with it to be among the five PHS wrestlers to reach regions that begin Friday with first round and quarterfinals and continue Saturday with the remainder of the tournament at Franklin High.

“It feels amazing,” said Monga after placing third at 120 pounds. “I feel like I got a lot better since last season. It was a goal I’ve had since last year. I’m excited to hit it before senior year.” more

Turning the Tables on Longtime Nemesis Mo-Beard, PDS Girls’ Hockey Tops Crimson in Librera Cup Final

FINE AND DANDY: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Sammy Dandy, left, battles for the puck in a game earliest this season. Last Wednesday, freshman defender Dandy contributed two assists to help second-seeded PDS defeat top-seeded Morristown-Beard 3-1 in the Librera Cup final at the Twin Oaks Ice Rink in Morristown. The Panthers, now 11-5, will be competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Ice Hockey State Tournament where they are seeded second and will host a quarterfinal contest on February 26 between the victor of the first round contest between seventh-seeded Kent Place and 10th-seeded Madison. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden
Having lost 6-0 and 5-0 to Morristown-Beard in two regular season meetings this January, the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team was looking to flip the script when the rivals met in the Librera Cup final last Wednesday.

“We definitely wanted to play more of a possession game, we didn’t want them to have the puck,” said PDS head coach Jamie Davis. “We wanted to keep the puck away from our defensive end and keep it down at our offensive end. We tightened up our roster a little bit, especially on defense.” more

Councilwoman Responds to Letter Regarding PU’s Voluntary Contribution

To the Editor:

I write in response to the recent letter to the editor by Maria Juega about Princeton University’s voluntary contribution to the community and the municipality [“Renters Should Be Included in PU Plan for Tax Relief Payments,” Mailbox, February 14].

When my colleagues and I began our discussions with University representatives, a priority in those conversations was addressing affordability and social equity, goals shared by both town and gown. Together, we explored a variety of possibilities, which ultimately led to an unprecedented increase in University support for a broad range of meaningful services that aid the most vulnerable in our community.   more

Newly Adopted Master Plan Puts Princeton on New Path Forward

To the Editor:

A small, but very vocal group of residents has decided to launch a lawsuit against Princeton’s newly adopted Master Plan. Their group’s name? The Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development. Their objection? The new Master Plan modestly expands the number of neighborhoods where small-scale multifamily housing can be built. This lawsuit is nothing more than NIMBYism cloaked in legal jargon, and it threatens to stall Princeton’s progress at a crucial juncture. more

Town Should Accelerate Implementation of Convenient Curbside Compost Program

To the Editor:

Several recent letters from fellow residents express frustration about the size of our trash bins, and detail some folks’ struggles to deal with their waste streams. I am writing to implore the town to accelerate the implementation of a convenient curbside compost program for residents.

The EPA estimates that more food reaches landfills than any other single material in our everyday trash, constituting 24 percent of municipal solid waste. I imagine this does not include all organic waste. more

Residents Struggling with Trash Capacity May Explore Ways to Reduce Their Waste

To the Editor:
In contrast to other readers (“New Town Trash Collection System Doesn’t Work for Larger Families, Mailbox, February 14 and “New Curbside Trash Collection System Needs to Accommodate More Garbage,” Mailbox, February 7), our family of five has had no problem staying within the confines of one trash can. Having only one garbage can should nudge residents to explore whether waste can be reused, recycled, or composted. more

Obituaries 2/21/2024

Margaret Jill (Wright) Michaels

Margaret Jill (Wright) Michaels, 78, of Kingston, NJ, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024 while in treatment at Care-One at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.

She was born in Princeton, NJ. Jill graduated from Princeton High School and then completed her Practical Nursing degree from Princeton Hospital School of Practical Nursing. Jill was a proud nurse throughout her life and retired as a critical care nurse at Princeton Hospital, saving lives every day.

Predeceased by her parents, Harry J. Wright Jr. and Helen Sullivan Wright, her sister Karen J. Panicaro, and her brother Harry J. “Skip” Wright, 3rd. Jill’s husband John “Mickey” Speinheimer passed away five days after her on February 17, 2024. She is survived by her stepson, Daniel Lee Speinheimer, her step-grandson, Donald Speinheimer Jr. and her sister and brother-in-law Katharine “Kitten” Jameson and Dennis of Mary Esther, FL.

Visitation for both Jill and Mickey will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 9-11 a.m. with a funeral service at 11 a.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in the Kingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

———

John “Mickey” Speinheimer

John “Mickey” Speinheimer, 86, lifelong resident of Kingston, NJ, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Carnegie Post Acute Care in Princeton, NJ.

He was the head mechanic for The Lawrenceville School where he worked for about 50 years.

He is predeceased by his parents, Mame (Briggs) and Harry Speinheimer Sr., his beloved wife Margaret Jill (Wright) Michaels who passed away five days before him on February 12, 2024, his son Donald Speinheimer Sr., his bother Harry Speinheimer Jr., and his sister Joan Snyder. John is survived by his son, Daniel Lee Speinheimer and his grandson, Donald Speinheimer Jr.

Visitation for both Mickey and Jill will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 9-11 a.m. with a funeral service at 11 a.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in the Kingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

February 14, 2024

Old-Fashioned Valentine’s Day

Rides in a two-seater carriage pulled by a light workhorse were among the activities on Saturday at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)

Eisgruber Delineates “State of the University”

By Donald Gilpin

In his eighth annual “State of the University” letter last month, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber described “a challenging political landscape” for universities with “increasingly virulent threats to academic freedom and institutional autonomy,” as he highlighted Princeton University’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, free speech, and academic excellence.

In the wake of campus conflicts across the country, including protests, charges of Islamophobia and antisemitism, and congressional hearings leading to the resignations of the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, Eisgruber pointed up a “healthier” campus climate at Princeton. He described that climate as “a credit to faculty, students, and staff who have searched for ways to communicate civilly about sensitive issues, to support one another, and to comply fully with Princeton’s policies that facilitate free speech in ways consistent with the functioning of the University.” more

Sustainable Princeton Gives Progress Report On Climate Action Plan

By Anne Levin

Five years ago, Princeton adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve environmental quality, and enhance public health and safety. Closely involved in the plan is Sustainable Princeton, which delivered a progress report last Wednesday, February 7 at Princeton Public Library.

Christine Symington, executive director of the nonprofit, emphasized to those in attendance in person and on Zoom that the work that has been done since 2019 “is not ours necessarily, but is the result of many individuals putting together their ideas. We compile it and keep tabs on it. But this is not Sustainable Princeton’s Climate Action Plan. It’s the Princeton community’s Climate Action Plan.” more

Airport Advances with New Terminal Plans, But Critics Continue to Press Objections

By Donald Gilpin

Most travelers who have flown out of Trenton-Mercer Airport recently would probably agree that upgraded facilities are needed, but Mercer County’s plans to build a new, larger terminal are meeting resistance and facing environmental, economic, and quality-of-life concerns.

The airport website notes that a new terminal has been a priority of the county in order to accommodate airport users and to meet future demand. Plans call for the 28,000-square-foot terminal, built in the 1970s, to be replaced with a new 125,000-square-foot facility located adjacent to the existing building, which is to be demolished. There is no plan for new or longer runways, and the size of the airport will remain unchanged, the website says. more

Princeton Festival Returns in June with Opera, Gospel, Ballet, and More

NEW SEASON: Back in the big tent on the grounds of Morven, Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) plans an eclectic mix of programming for the Princeton Festival June 7-22. PSO Artistic Director Rossen Milanov will lead several performances. (Photo by Carolo Pascale)

By Anne Levin

It has been three years since the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) first staged the annual Princeton Festival in a spacious tent atop the parking lot of Morven Museum & Garden. There were certain logistical challenges in year one. But by last summer, things had fallen into place.

“We actually had no idea what it would be like when we were planning it. And all things considered, year one was an unbelievable success,” said Marc Uys, PSO executive director. “Year two was actually really fun.” more

PHS Senior Nick Hagedorn Brings Home First Place In Math at Taiwan Science Fair

INTERNATIONAL MATH CHAMP:Princeton High School Senior Nick Hagedorn, third from right in front row, celebrates his victory in the math competition at the 22nd Annual Taiwan International Science Fair in Taipei. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

By Donald Gilpin

Not a stranger to the worlds of science, math, and high-level competition, Princeton High School (PHS) senior Nick Hagedorn took his knot theory project to the 22nd Annual International Science Fair in Taiwan (TISF) last month and brought back a first place award in mathematics.

During the five-day event, Hagedorn competed with about 630 students from 27 different countries who were presenting their research projects to judges and peers at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei. The TISF is sponsored by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. more

Princeton University Trivia Book Takes on Campus Myths and Truths

By Anne Levin

Maybe you’ve heard of Betsey Stockton, the enslaved servant of a Princeton University president who founded the first school for children of color in Princeton in 1840. Perhaps you’re aware of the year that the University finally admitted women (1969).

But you might not know about the 24 Princeton students who were arrested for “sleighing” in Trenton and drunkenly singing “Jingle Bells” loudly, after midnight, on January 18, 1879. It’s also unlikely that you’ve heard the rumor that Alexander Hall was designed by an architecture student as his senior thesis, for which he was failed. Later, seeking revenge, he donated money on the condition that his design be used. more

Love Calls the Tune: Sinatra, Swift, the Beatles, and Carolyn Leigh

By Stuart Mitchner

…when love finally calls the tune, it almost always comes from the least expected direction — from the bohemian, the excluded, the marginalized and least powerful folks, and the most hidden places.

—Ted Gioia

On Valentine’s Day 2024 I’m thinking about the way love happens in a song that’s been synonymous with February 14 ever since I sang along with it as a teenager. Although “How Little We Know” comes from a relatively “hidden” songwriter, it was put on the map in 1956 by Frank Sinatra, one of the “least marginalized” and “most powerful” of performers. According to Ted Gioia’s Love Songs: The Hidden History (Oxford University Press 2015), Sinatra brought a “new level of sophistication” to the romantic ballad by adding “layers of irony, sometimes outright cynicism, to the emotional immediacy of the torch singers,” which resulted in “a performance that delivered the inner meaning of the lyric while also offering an arch commentary on it.”  more

Renowned Ukrainian Orchestra Makes Long-Awaited Visit to Princeton

By Nancy Plum

The concert this past weekend by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine at McCarter Theatre was long overdue. The Orchestra was scheduled to perform at McCarter a year ago, but the ongoing conflict in that region, combined with travel and economic difficulties, shelved those plans. The Orchestra was finally able to embark on a United States tour this month, and the ensemble brought a rare musical experience to Matthews Theater Sunday afternoon. Led by Volodymyr Sirenko and featuring guest pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, the Orchestra presented a program steeped in both the Romantic symphonic tradition and Ukrainian musical history.  more

Passage Honors Hip-hop with the Premiere of “Ghetto Gods in Divineland”; A Family’s Conflicts Unfold Via a Powerful Fusion of Drama, Music, and Dance

“GHETTO GODS IN DIVINELAND”: Performances are underway for “Ghetto Gods in Divineland.” Written by Richard Bradford and Anthony Martinez-Briggs, and directed by Ozzie Jones, the play with music runs through February 25 at Passage Theatre. Above, from left, Gekiyla (Tasha Holmes), Papi Shh (Carlo Campbell), and Ameen (Davon Cochran) meet on the Lower Trenton Bridge — a tableau that recalls the Poor Righteous Teachers’ 1990 video for their song “Rock Dis Funky Joint.” (Photo by Jeff Stewart)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

In honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Passage Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Ghetto Gods in Divineland. The play — a vibrant and poignant blend of drama, music, and dance — is a salute to the Poor Righteous Teachers (PRT), a hip-hop group whose members — Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom, and the late Father Shaheed — were from Trenton.

A press release describes the show as an “experimental Afrofuturism play” that portrays “Trenton’s political and social issues through the lens of the ‘Divineland’ neighborhood — also known as the Mayor Donnelly Project Homes, where the members of PRT met and grew up. The play dramatizes the social trauma of Trenton’s Divineland using progressiveness, modern science, technology, and wisdom from the ancestors.”  more

Philadelphia Ballet Presents Angel Corella’s “Giselle”

BALLET AT ITS MOST CLASSICAL: Philadelphia Ballet’s version of the classic ballet “Giselle” comes to the Academy of Music February 29-March 10.

Philadelphia Ballet will stage the classic ballet Giselle, in a version by artistic director, Angel Corella, at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music from February 29 to March 10. Tickets for all performances start at $25.

A ballet masterpiece, Giselle is about love, betrayal and redemption.  more

“Pinkalicious The Musical” Comes to New Brunswick

PINK, PINK, AND MORE PINK: In “Pinkalicious The Musical,” coming to State Theatre New Jersey on March 10, a lover of all things pink goes a little too far. (Photo by Richard Termine)

State Theatre New Jersey presents Pinkalicious The Musical on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. After the show, a special meet and greet and photo opportunity with Pink and Peter will take place in the downstairs lobby. Tickets range from $15-$35.

In Pinkalicious The Musical, Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe — a dream come true for this pink-loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. more

Itzhak Perlman Performs at Classical Season Celebration 

VIRTUOSO: Celebrated violinist Itzhak Perlman is in recital February 24 at State Theatre New Jersey. (Photo by BYU Arts)

State Theatre New Jersey (STNJ) presents violinist Itzhak Perlman in recital on Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m. This special performance is part of State Theatre’s annual Classical Season Celebration.

“We are thrilled to once again welcome Itzhak Perlman to anchor our Classical Season Celebration,” said Sarah Chaplin, State Theatre New Jersey president and CEO. “As a nonprofit presenting theater, this signature fundraiser provides essential support from our community for STNJ’s year-round classical presentations and arts education programs.” more

Phillips’ Mill “Youth Art” Award Winners Announced

“BLOWING BUBBLES”: Annabelle Schu won the top award for Painting at the 11th annual “Youth Art Exhibition,” on view through Sunday, February 18 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.

Winners across five categories were announced at the 11th annual “Youth Art Exhibition” awards ceremony on January 27 at the historic Phillips’ Mill. Over 140 works of art from students attending 23 area high schools fill the walls of the mill through February 18.  more

“Ulises Carrión: Bookworks and Beyond” at Firestone Library

“BOOKWORKS AND BEYOND”: Princeton University Library will feature works by Ulises Carrión in the Ellen and Leonard Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library February 21 through June 13. (Photo by Brandon Johnson)

Princeton University Library (PUL) will present “Ulises Carrión: Bookworks and Beyond,” the spring exhibition in the Ellen and Leonard Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, February 21 through June 13. It is curated by Sal Hamerman, metadata librarian for Special Collections at PUL, and Javier Rivero Ramos, a recent Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Art and Archaeology, who is now assistant curator at Art Bridges Foundation in Arkansas. more