May 21, 2025

Garden Theatre Announces Summer Family Matinees

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

Youth Orchestra Marks 65 Years with Concert

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.

“Selma Burke African American Art Show” at Phillips’ Mill

“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

Kuscin Named Director of Programming, Events at ACP

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

Flemington Fine Artisans Show at Stangl Factory

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.

“50 Over 50” Exhibit at Kris Giacobbe Photography

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

Photography Exhibition At Gourgaud Gallery

“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

”Einstein’s Brain” Exhibit Coming to Dohm Alley

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

Popular New Anej Skin Studio on Nassau Street Offers Range of Holistic Facial and Body Care

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

In Renewal of Storied NCAA Rivalry with Syracuse, PU Men’s Lacrosse Falls 19-18 in Quarterfinal Thriller

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

PU Men’s Heavyweights Excel at Eastern Sprints, Now Aiming to be in Title Mix at the IRA Regatta

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

With Junior Star Chung Leading the Way, PHS Girls’ Golf Wins Public A State Title

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

Sparked by Donahue’s Versatility, Leadership, Hun Boys’ Lax Caps Late Surge with Prep Title

TITLE TIME: Members of the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team celebrate after they defeated Lawrenceville B 9-8 in the Prep state final last Thursday. The Raiders ended the spring with a final record of 7-13. (Photo by Bill Alden)

By Bill Alden

Luke Donahue wasn’t fazed as the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team found itself trailing Lawrenceville B 2-0 in the first quarter of the Prep state championship game last Thursday.

“It seems to be a theme this year, we take the first punch but this group of guys are some of the grittiest kids I have ever met and played with,” said Hun senior midfielder Donahue. “We have been battle-tested throughout the year with such a difficult schedule that we are really ready for anything they throw our way.” more

Junior Francis Stars in a Losing Cause As Hun Baseball Falls in Prep A Semis

TURNING THE CORNER: Hun School baseball player T.J. Francis races home in a game last spring. Last Sunday, junior outfielder Francis went 2 for 4 with one run, one RBI, and two triples as top-seeded Hun fell 7-4 to fourth-seeded Peddie in the Prep A state semifinals. The Raiders finished the spring with a 15-7 record. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

With the Hun School baseball team trailing Peddie 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Prep A state semifinals last Sunday afternoon, T.J. Francis wasn’t about to give up.

Junior outfielder Francis ripped a triple to left center field to drive in T.J. Tift. more

Senior Riviello Comes Through in the Clutch But Hun Softball Falls In Prep A Semifinals

FINAL CUT: Hun School softball player Brianna Riviello makes contact in a game earlier this spring. Last Thursday, senior third baseman Riviello went 2 for 3 with one RBI as second-seeded Hun fell 3-2 to third-seeded Lawrenceville in the Prep A state semis. The loss left the Raiders with a final record of 14-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Brianna Riviello and her teammates on the Hun School softball team knew they were in for a scrap as they faced rival Lawrenceville for a third time this spring in the Prep A states semis last Thursday evening.

“We were expecting a tough battle but I think we were prepared,” said senior third baseman Riviello. “We practice hard enough.” more

May 14, 2025

Talking Books

Local published authors of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry were on hand to sell and sign their books, and interact with readers, at Local Author Day at Princeton Public Library on Saturday afternoon. Attendees share what brought them to the event, and if they discovered any new authors, in this week’s Town Talk on Page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Municipality Approves Shared Services Agreement with Schools

By Anne Levin

At its regular meeting on Monday evening, May 12, Princeton Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution for a shared services agreement in which the town gives 100 percent of the surplus from the annual PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the Avalon Thanet Circle 55-plus housing complex to the Princeton Public Schools.

Nearly all members of the School Board, including Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster, were in attendance, applauding the resolution once the vote was passed.

According to information in the agenda packet, the funds will go toward maintaining certain public facilities within the municipality “that are utilized for the School District’s educational needs as well as by the municipality and its residents for civic and club activities, athletic and recreational activities, election polling, and other public needs.” more

PU Pushes Back Against, And Prepares For, Federal Funding Cuts

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University last week announced that it was joining 12 other universities and three academic associations in a lawsuit against National Science Foundation (NSF) cuts to critical research. This was only the latest of a number of initiatives the University has taken, including statements made by its President Christopher L. Eisgruber and others, in responding to threats of federal funding curtailment and encroachments on academic freedom.

Adding to the budgetary threats facing the University is the possibility of a major increase in taxes on college and university endowments, which is part of a proposed Republican tax bill to be debated in Congress this week.

The lawsuit came in response to the NSF’s attempt to cut the rate at which it reimburses research universities for indirect costs, known as facilities and administrative costs, capping reimbursements at 15 percent of total direct costs. more

June Primary, Coming Up in Four Weeks, Features High-Stakes Race for Governor

By Donald Gilpin

With less than a month to go before the June 10 New Jersey Primary, there’s a field of 11 candidates — six Democrats and five Republicans — in the closely-watched contest to win each party’s nomination for governor, and New Jersey voters are mostly unaware of who the candidates are and when the election will be taking place, according to the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.

For Princeton voters, the only other competitive primary contest besides the race for governor will be the competition among three Democrats, incumbents Roy Freiman and Michelle Drulis and challenger Mahmoud Desouky, for two seats in the general assembly. Two Princeton Council seats are on the ballot with incumbent Democrats Mia Sacks and Michelle Pirone Lambert running unopposed for reelection and no Republicans in the race.

On the Republican side are Catherine Payne and Scott Sipos seeking the nomination for two seats in the general assembly, Shaolin Brown running for county clerk, and Daniel J. Hanley, Jr. and Alexander DiFalco for Mercer County Board of Commissioners, all running unopposed to represent the GOP in November. more

Making Music and Serving the Community Are Goals of Historic Blawenburg Band

MARKING TWO MILESTONES: The Sunday, May 18 concert by the Blawenburg Band, at Kendall Hall on the campus of The College of New Jersey, celebrates the ensemble’s 135th birthday and conductor Jerry Rife’s 40th year on the podium.

By Anne Levin

One day back in 1890, a big box of musical instruments arrived at the post office at Route 518 and the Great Road. The box was opened and the instruments were doled out to a group of fledging musicians, who went behind the building and learned how to play.

“That’s how the story goes,” said Jerry Rife, music director and conductor of The Blawenburg Band, comparing it to a scene right out of The Music Man. “We started on the second floor of the old blacksmith shop on Route 518. When we got too big, we moved to the Blawenburg Church across the street.” more

NJ Transit Engineers Could Strike Should Continuing Negotiations Fail

By Anne Levin

Despite a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 12, between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the National Mediation Board, a rail strike by NJ Transit starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 16 remains a threat.

Some 350,000 commuters throughout New Jersey use the system, which is the nation’s third largest commuter railroad. The potential stoppage would affect local residents who regularly ride the Northeast Corridor Line between Trenton and New York City’s Penn Station.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri issued a statement following Monday’s session.  more

Installation of New Pastor at FBCP To Be Celebrated First Week in June

By Donald Gilpin

Pastor Maureen Gerald

The first week in June will see a historic moment in the chronicle of the First Baptist Church of Princeton (FBCP) with the formal installation and celebration of the Rev. Maureen Gerald as pastor, the 12th pastor in the Church’s 147-year history.

“She has a new vision, a new way of doing things, working with new ideas,” said Lance Liverman, the chair of the trustee board of the church and a member of the search committee that selected Gerald. “She’s a change agent.”

Liverman went on, “Churches today have difficulty attracting young people, and she has programming that can attract young people. We wanted someone who could bring in young people and also bring us a message we can all relate to.” more

Orson Welles — “The Days That We Have Seen”

By Stuart Mitchner

On the night of October 15, 1956, viewers of I Love Lucy, the nation’s most popular television show, saw Lucille Ball and Orson Welles doing a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Welles has his doubts, but she’s been showering him with compliments, telling him he’s better than John Gielgud, Maurice Evans, Sir Ralph Richardson, and, after he prompts her, Laurence Olivier. Looking like an adult parody of her Peanuts namesake, Lucy delivers her jawbreaker of a line with outstretched arms, “What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, so stumblest on my counsel?”

“I know not how to tell you how I am,” the huge, cigar-smoking Romeo tells the hapless Juliet. “My name is hateful to myself. Had I it written, I would tear the word.” When Lucy forgets her next line, he sweeps grandly on to his “favorite scene,” Romeo’s discovery of Juliet’s body, which is when he pulls out the proverbial stops and takes Shakespeare to the sit-com max: “Here, here will I set up my everlasting rest. And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, oh you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death.” more

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Concludes Season With Program of Romantic Choral/Orchestral Music

By Nancy Plum

Princeton Symphony Orchestra closed its 2024-25 classical series this past weekend with a journey to Russia and 19th-century Europe, featuring a superstar piano soloist and a local choral ensemble. The performances in Richardson Auditorium on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon brought together instrumentalists, dynamic pianist Natasha Paremski, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir of Rider University for a program of reverent choral music and one of the most demanding piano concerti in the repertory.

The 1868 Schicksalslied of Johannes Brahms combined orchestra and four-part chorus in a powerful statement of faith and hope through long melodic lines and rich orchestration. Inspired by the writings of German philosopher and poet Friedrich Hölderlin, Schicksalslied (Song of Fate) depicts both divine beings and suffering mankind. The Westminster Symphonic Choir, at one time up to 200 members, has suffered from the Rider/Westminster Choir College turmoil of the past years, but now under the direction of noted conductor Donald Nally is getting back on its choral feet. In Saturday night’s performance, the singers showed solid musicianship and tuning with a capability to sustain long phrases and chord streams—all hallmarks of Nally’s choral pedagogy.  more

Ballet Troupe Announces Matching Gift Opportunity

SPRING SUPPORT: American Repertory Ballet dancers Lily Krisko, Avery Snyder, Jasmine Jasper, and Annie Jones in “Swan Lake.” A donor has pledged to match every gift the organization receives this spring. (Photo by Rosalie O’Connor Photography)

At American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School’s (ARB/PBS) “Dancing Through Life” gala at McCarter Theatre Center on April 11, it was announced that a donor has pledged to match every gift the organization receives this spring.

Donations help provide funds for new artistic work; pointe shoes; health and wellness support for dancers, faculty, and staff; scholarships; live music in the studios; the Dance for Parkinson’s program; Audrey’s Class for dancers with differing abilities; and more. more