April 2, 2025

“David Stier: Refuge” Exhibit Opening at Silverman Gallery

“HAVEN”: Recent works by award-winning artist David Stier are featured in a solo exhibit on view April 5 through May 4 at the Silverman Gallery of Bucks County Impressionist Art in Holicong, Pa.

Award-winning Carversville artist David Stier will be presenting a collection of his most recent paintings and drawings in a solo exhibit, “David Stier: Refuge,” at the Silverman Gallery of Bucks County Impressionist Art. Opening receptions with the artist are on Saturday, April 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibition continues through May 4.

Three standout paintings — Refuge III, Haven, and Approaching Light — embody feelings of quiet and peaceful spaces, urging viewers to stop and reflect. Stier said, “To be the silent witness to our minds and our sensory experience is a refuge. It’s the place where imagination and observation intersect. Where compulsions and judgement surrender and a wordless perspective arises to celebrate life.” more

Works by Prajakta Joshi at Green Building Center

“ENOUGH”: Works by artist Prajakta Joshi will be featured in “Awakenings,” on view April 12 through June 20 at the Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville. An opening reception is on Saturday, April 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Awakenings,” featuring works by Prajakta Joshi, will be on view at the Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, April 12 through June 30. An opening reception is on Saturday, April 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Joshi is an emerging artist residing near Princeton. After earning a BFA in design and visual communication, she established herself as a successful design entrepreneur in Mumbai, Dubai, New York, and New Jersey. more

“Super/Natural” Exhibit at Michener Art Museum

“SUPER/NATURAL”: Judith Schaechter’s eight-foot-tall stained-glass dome, representing a “three-tiered cosmos,” is on view at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pa., April 12 through September 14.

On view April 12 through September 14 at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., “Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural” is the first exhibition to feature the internationally known glass artist’s newest work, an eight-foot-tall stained-glass dome designed for a single viewer.

The immersive stained-glass environment represents a “three-tiered cosmos” that explores the idea of biophilia, the human tendency to connect with nature.  more

Online Call for Art: Annual “Ellarslie Open”

Sheryl Liebman Fisher

The “Ellarslie Open,” Trenton City Museum’s annual juried art show, invites artists to enter artwork from April 6 through May 16 via its online call for art. Sheryl Liebman Fisher, associate director of Gallery Henoch in New York City, will jury the 2025 show.

Artists may submit from anywhere and may enter up to four works. Complete instructions and timeline are found at ellarslie.org/eo42. The link to the call for art will activate Sunday, April 6. The show’s five categories are: Paintings, Works on Paper, Sculpture; Photography, and Digital Art. The top award, Best in Show Overall, carries a prize of $1,000. Five category awards and sponsored awards also carry cash prizes.

Showcasing contemporary creations by established and emerging artists, the Ellarslie Open has developed into one of the area’s premier annual juried exhibitions since its beginnings in the early 1980s. In 2024, out of 555 entries, the juror selected 110 diverse pieces by artists from across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and beyond. The 2025 show will open with an Artists’ and Members’ Reception Saturday, June 21, and will remain on view through September 7.  more

Kitchen Cabinet Door Replacement and Painting Are Available from the Cabinet Painting Guru Team

NEW LOOK: “We look forward to offering more customers the opportunity to give their kitchen a new look, either with painted cabinets or replacement cabinet doors, drawers, and shelving. It’s a great way to add new interest to the kitchen Our talented staff can provide customers with the best quality work at very affordable prices.” Kevin Casey, second from right, owner of Cabinet Painting Guru in Pennington, is shown with his expert team and popular pooch “Mason,” the team mascot.

By Jean Stratton

Kevin Casey wants to give your kitchen a new look!

The most popular gathering place in the house, the kitchen is often called the heart of the home. Not just the domain of the cook, it is a high traffic area not only for family but for friends who visit and so often head for the kitchen.

Eye appeal can add so much to the overall ambiance and comfort level of this companionable place, especially considering the many hours spent within its confines.

This is where Kevin Casey, founder and owner of Cabinet Painting Guru, can bring his and his team’s expertise to give your kitchen a bright new glow. more

Junior Wright Thriving in Move to Starting Rotation As PU Softball Takes Over 1st Place in Ivy Standings

THE WRIGHT STUFF: Princeton University softball pitcher Brielle Wright delivers a pitch in action last weekend as Princeton hosted Yale for a three-game series at its new Cynthia Lynn Paul ’94 Field. Junior Wright starred for the Tigers, going 2-0 in the circle as Princeton swept the Bulldogs. The Tigers topped Yale 6-0 on Friday and then defeated the Bulldogs 9-0 and 2-0 in a doubleheader on Saturday. Wright got the wins in games one and three, striking out 13 batters in 13 innings. She was later named as the Ivy League Pitcher of the Week. The Tigers, now 11-12 overall and 6-0 Ivy, host Lehigh on April 2 and then head to Dartmouth for a three-game set with a doubleheader on April 5 and a single game on April 6. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

After excelling in a relief pitching role last spring for the Princeton University softball team, Brielle Wright had to shift gears this season as she was moved into the starting rotation.

“It was definitely a transition at first; last year I was typically coming into the end of the game for two innings, maybe three every weekend,” said junior lefty Wright, a 5’8 native of Rocklin, Calif. more

With Koonin Following in his Father’s Footsteps, PU Baseball Produces Solid Start in Ivy League Play

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Princeton University baseball player Jake Koonin makes a play in the infield in recent action. Junior infielder and leadoff hitter Koonin has helped the Tigers get off to a solid 4-2 start in Ivy League action. Princeton, now 7-18 overall, plays at Seton Hall on April 2 before heading to Penn for a three-game series with a doubleheader on April 5 and a single game on April 6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Jake Koonin is not the first guy in his family to lead off for the Princeton University baseball team.

Koonin’s dad, Jason, hit atop the lineup for the Tigers before graduating in 1999.

The similarities don’t end there. Both have been strong, fast players for Princeton head coach Scott Bradley, who is now in his 28th season guiding the Tiger program. He took over in the elder Koonin’s final year. more

Looking to Build on Last Season’s Progress, PHS Girls’ Lax Primed to Take the Next Step

BORN READY: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Leah Bornstein looks to unload the ball in a game last year. Junior midfielder Bornstein, who tallied 56 goals and 22 assists last year, figures to be an offensive catalyst again for the Tigers this spring. PHS opens its 2025 season by hosting Hopewell Valley on April 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After enduring a disappointing 7-12 campaign in 2023, the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team produced a reversal of fortune last spring, going 12-9 and advancing to the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 sectional.

As PHS looks ahead to the upcoming season, Tiger head coach Katie Federico believes that run will serve as motivation for this year’s squad. more

Bringing his Love of the Game to PDS Boys’ Lacrosse, Coach Kosoff Aiming to Invigorate the Panther Program

BRING IT ON: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Colton Simonds heads upfield in a game last spring. Senior Simonds brings grit and production to the midfield for the Panthers. PDS, which will be led by new head coach Sam Kosoff this spring, was slated to open its 2025 campaign by hosting the Blair Academy on April 1, Notre Dame on April 3, and Hopewell Valley on April 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sam Kosoff fell in love with lacrosse as a youngster.

“I grew up in upstate New York outside of Syracuse and I started playing at a very young age before it was popular to start playing at a young age,” said Kosoff. “I used to go to Syracuse games as a little guy. I just grew up around the sport.” more

With Young Players Poised to Seize Opportunity, Hun Baseball Gets Off to a Promising 2-0 Start

OPENING SALVO: Hun School baseball player Nico Amecangelo follows through on a swing in a game last year. Senior second baseman Amecangelo has gotten off to a hot start this spring, going 5 for 7 with five runs and two RBIs as Hun opened the 2025 season by topping Georgetown Prep (Md.) 8-4 last Thursday and then defeating Lawrenceville 11-4 on Saturday. The Raiders will look to keep on the winning track as they host Gloucester Catholic on April 3, play at Peddie on April 5 and then host the Hill School (Pa.) on April 8. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

Sparked by a group of blue chip seniors, the Hun School baseball team produced a historic campaign last spring, achieving a title triple of winning the Mercer County Tournament, the Prep A tourney, and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) championship.

While losing such stars as Charlie Batista, Sam Wright, Michael Olender, Ryan Greenstein, and E.J. Balewitz to graduation could result in a rebuilding season, Hun head coach Tom Monfiletto believes that this year’s group has the chance to make some history of its own. more

Dealing with the Void Left by the Exit of Kobryn, Staub, Hun Softball Shows Punch in 7-6 Win Over Lawrenceville

IN THE SWING: Hun School softball player Emma Eisenberg takes a swing in 2023 action. Last Thursday, senior catcher Eisenberg went 1 for 64 and one run to help Hun edge Lawrenceville 7-6 in its season opener. The Raiders host the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on April 3 and the Pingry School on April 4 before playing at South Hunterdon in April 5 and at Villa Joseph Marie High (Pa.) on April 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Hun School softball team headed into the spring, it was facing a major challenge as it looked to fill the void left by the graduation of stars and program stalwarts Lexi Kobryn and Jamie Staub.

Kobryn, who is now playing at Villanova, produced a record-breaking career for the Raiders as a pitcher and a hitter with 638 strikeouts and a 0.41 ERA and a batting average of .537 with 123 hits ands 119 RBIs while Staub, now competing for Brandeis, also starred in the circle and at the bat as she had 134 strikeouts and a 0.40 ERA and batted .427 with 88 hits and 61 RBIs. more

Benefiting From Last Season’s Youth Movement, Stuart Lacrosse in Position to be More Competitive

ALL IN: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee heads to goal in a game last season. Senior midfielder Lee, who tallied 88 goals and 10 assists last spring, is poised for a big final campaign. Stuart opens its 2025 season by hosting WW/P-North on April 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Paige Meszaros took the helm of the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team last spring, she worked a number of freshmen into the rotation over the course of the season.

While Stuart took its lumps early on with many of the freshmen being new to the game, the Tartans showed growth, going 3-2 in their final five games. more

March 26, 2025

All About Water

Youngsters participate in an “enviroscape” demonstration, one of many activities at the World Water Day event on Saturday at the Watershed Institute in Titusville. Participants share their favorite part of the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Council Hears Report on Future of Kiosks

By Anne Levin

Downtown Princeton’s kiosks were back on the agenda at Monday’s meeting of Princeton Council. While no final decision was made about the fate of the two unofficial information stations — one at Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue in front of the Princeton Garden Theatre, the other at Nassau and Witherspoon streets – a degree of compromise was reached after a presentation by the town’s Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton.

Both kiosks need to be removed for a capital improvements project replacing the sidewalks on Nassau Street. It is the next step, once the construction is completed, that was the subject of Stockton’s presentation. The report recommends permanently removing the kiosk at Witherspoon, and transforming the one at Vandeventer into a combination of new electronic signage and the current, informal surfaces where flyers are posted by anyone who wishes to do so.

Council agreed that staff should further explore the idea, including how many sides to allow for the two functions. While most agree that the current kiosks are messy, they serve a purpose and promote free speech, members said. Councilman Leighton Newlin was originally in favor of getting rid of the kiosks, but after hearing what members of the public have said at his weekly “Leighton Listens” sessions around town, he has changed his mind. more

“Tesla Takedown” At Lawrence Tesla Protests Musk Actions

“TESLA TAKEDOWN”: About 500 protesters gathered outside the Tesla dealership in Lawrence Township last Saturday to demonstrate against the actions of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), calling for people to sell their Tesla vehicles and Tesla stock and join in on the anti-Musk chants. (Photo by Andrea Kane)

By Donald Gilpin

About 500 demonstrators gathered outside the Tesla dealership adjacent to the Mercer Mall in Lawrence Township on Saturday afternoon, March 22 for Tesla Takedown III, a rally against the actions of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“This illegal, unconstitutional onslaught of Elon Musk, along with President Trump, is a grave danger to the continued functioning of our precious U.S. democracy, including checks and balances central to its proper functioning,” said the Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action, which organized the rally along with Indivisible Cranbury.

The demonstrators, carrying signs stating “Stop Elon,” “I Traded In My Tesla and You Should Too,” “Nobody Voted for Elon,” “Arrest Elon Musk,” and more lined the road outside the Tesla Dealership on Brunswick Pike/Route 1 from before 2 p.m. until about 3:30 p.m.  more

Eisgruber Pushes Back Against Federal Attacks on Research and Universities

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber last week responded to the Trump administration’s withdrawal of $400 million in funding to Columbia University and other threats to universities with an article in The Atlantic speaking out in defense of higher education and the crucial importance of academic freedom.

Titled “The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia,” the article does not mention Princeton University directly, but it is clearly relevant to many of the issues that Princeton is currently facing.

Emphasizing the importance of research universities to “America’s prosperity, health, and security,” Eisgruber wrote, “The Trump administration’s recent attack on Columbia University puts all of that at risk, presenting the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare of the 1950s. Every American should be concerned.” more

Princeton Salamander Crossing Brigade Helps Amphibians Return Safely to Breeding Pools

MAKING IT SAFE: Volunteers with the Princeton Salamander Crossing Brigade were on hand recently to help local amphibians cross Herrontown Road without getting squished by cars during their annual migration to breed. Similar efforts take place each year across the globe.

By Anne Levin

On a warm, rainy night a few weeks ago, a group of dedicated volunteers gathered on Herrontown Road to help some tiny residents cross from one side of the road to the other.

Made up of Princeton High School students, Princeton University professors, local experts, and other citizens concerned about safeguarding the all-important amphibian population, the Princeton Salamander Crossing Brigade was on hand to help frogs and salamanders safely reach their breeding grounds along the Princeton Ridge. The migration takes place on a wet night in early spring, and it happens every year.

“They are keystone species,” said Inge Regan, a member of the Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) who has organized the brigade for the past three years. “They feed on insects and worms, and are eaten by larger animals. Without that keystone species, there is a huge impact on the eco-system.” more

Audience Members at Upcoming PUC Event Will Have a Chance to Dance

By Anne Levin

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) is expanding its popular Late Night Annual Chamber Jam to include movement.

Following the concert at Richardson Auditorium on Thursday, April 10 by British saxophonist Jess Gillam, audience members will have an opportunity to learn some simple choreography to music they have just heard — by Benjamin Britten, John Dowland, George Gershwin, and Francis Poulenc, among other composers — with Gillam and piano accompanist Thomas Weaver playing live.

This new initiative is presented in collaboration with American Repertory Ballet (ARB). Specifically, the post-concert event will be led by dancer/choreographer/educator Rachel Stanislawczyk, who has created a dance with movement for all levels and abilities. She has already begun to teach a seated version to ARB’s Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease) classes.

“We first partnered with American Repertory Ballet around our Healing with Music event exploring the effects of music on those dealing with Parkinson’s disease,” said PUC Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. “Participants from ARB’s Dance for PD chapters danced on the stage of Richardson Auditorium as part of this event. We look forward to welcoming them back, and to welcoming Rachel back, to the stage, this time dancing alongside other members of our community.” more

Housing Initiatives of Princeton May Event Will Feature Economist Jenny Schuetz

By Donald Gilpin

Jenny Schuetz

Leading a conversation focused on helping local families who are housing insecure, housing policy economist Jenny Schuetz, author of Fixer Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing Systems, will be the lead speaker at the Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP) annual Spring Gathering on Sunday, May 4 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The public is invited for an afternoon of food, jazz, and discussion, with tickets and sponsorship information available at housinginitiativesofprinceton.org. All proceeds support HIP’s work to help local residents facing eviction, housing instability, and homelessness. The goal is to help individuals and families to acquire stable housing, improved employment, and a network of support services as they build toward a sustainable future.

“The conversation on how to remove barriers low-income families face to securing homes is especially critical at this moment,” said HIP Board Chair Tom Pinneo. We are delighted to host Dr. Schuetz, who is leveraging her research to help drive policies that will provide housing to more families.” more

Ending the Month With B. Traven’s “Capricious Woman”

By Stuart Mitchner

 I was willingly drawn into the whole scene, like a random character in a B. Traven novel.

—Patti Smith, from M Train

Mexico’s Mysterious Stranger” is the way James Agee characterized B. Traven in his February 2, 1948 Time review of John Huston’s film adaptation of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. I’ve been haunted by Traven’s multi-faceted invisibility ever since last week’s column on the “disappearing poet” Weldon Kees, who told a friend in his last phone call in May 1955: “I may go to Mexico. To stay.” My interest in Traven began in earnest on Albert Einstein’s birthday, March 14, Pi Day in Princeton, after hearing that Traven’s The Death Ship (Das Totenschiff), published in German in 1926, is the novel Einstein named when asked what book he’d take to a desert island.

The “American” Sailor

Apparently born in Germany in February 1882, the man who claims never to have laid eyes on his birth certificate died in Mexico City on March 26, 1969, a coincidence it’s hard to ignore on March 26, 2025 — which is why I’m reading Einstein’s desert island novel, subtitled The Story of An American Sailor. The fact that Traven himself translated the book into English helps explain certain peculiarities in the easygoing conversational narrative by a German castaway passing himself off as an American while casually referring to Cincinnati as a city in Wisconsin. Left behind by an American ship, without papers or passport, the sailor is shunted by various immigration authorities from Belgium to Holland to France to Spain, where he boards a massively devastated ship called the Yorikke, no doubt after the “fellow of infinite jest” whose skull Hamlet muses over prior to the “death ship” of Shakespeare’s ending.  more

Boheme Opera NJ Presents Verdi Tragedy “Il Trovatore”

By Nancy Plum

Boheme Opera NJ turned to a story of love, hate, and revenge for this year’s presentation of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore this past weekend at Kendall Main Stage Theater at The College of New Jersey. With a libretto by Italian playwright Salvatore Cammarano, who based his texts on a play by Spanish dramatist Antonio García Gutiérrez (which in turn was allegedly inspired by real events), Verdi’s 1853 opera was popular from the outset, despite its dark narrative but no doubt aided by the inclusion of traditional Italian tunes audiences would have known. Boheme Opera NJ’s productions on Friday night and Sunday afternoon, presented in Italian with English supertitles, featured a cast of seasoned opera performers, including singers heard in previous Boheme Opera presentations. Artistic director and conductor Joseph Pucciatti brought the story into modern times by focusing on the more sinister aspects of the plot while never losing sight of the luxurious music.

Il Trovatore was unique in that the pivotal action takes place before the opera begins or between scenes. The onstage activity and music convey the emotions of the characters and their response to what has happened, which makes the singers’ jobs that much more difficult. The storyline centers on both the love triangle among Leonora, the Count di Luna, and the mystery troubadour Manrico, and the backstory of Azucena, whose mother was burned at the stake as a witch, compounded by the possibility that Azucena had inadvertently killed her own son in retaliation. The opera was also unusual in its two female roles having equal dramatic and vocal force, and in Friday night’s performance, the singers playing Leonora and Azucena each had their change to command the stage and shine.  more

Female Scientists from Different Times Share Much in “Legacy of Light”; An Elegant, Witty Script Shines in McCarter’s Lively, Exquisite Production

“LEGACY OF LIGHT”: Performances are underway for “Legacy of Light.” Written by Karen Zacarias and directed by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen (assisted by Tiger Brown), the play runs through April 6 at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. Above: In a meeting that transcends centuries, 18th century scientist Émilie du Châtelet (Lenne Klingaman), left, encounters a modern woman, Millie (Gina Fonseca), who dreams of studying in France to become a fashion designer. (Photo by Daniel Rader)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

Legacy of Light is an example of a play that cannot be fully served by a synopsis, because a plot description is unlikely to do justice to the depth and beauty of the play’s themes and dialogue. It also is an example of a fairly common theatrical conceit — characters transcending their lifetimes to meet each other — that feels fresh and works brilliantly because of deft developed and execution.

In award-winning playwright Karen Zacarias’ elegant and literate comedy, a real-life historical figure, French aristocrat and physicist Émilie du Châtelet (1706-1749), and a contemporary fictional character, astronomer Olivia, share scientific aspirations that are upended by impending motherhood (accidental in Émilie’s case, carefully arranged in Olivia’s).

 more

Thomas Edison Film Festival Presents Short Subjects

ON A LOCAL SCREEN: A still from “The Song of Flying Leaves” by filmmaker Armine Anda of Armenia. The film is one of 10 to be screened on March 27 at the James Stewart Film Theater. (Courtesy of Armine Anda)

The Thomas A. Edison Media Arts Consortium in collaboration with Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts presents a screening of 10 international short films from the Thomas Edison Film Festival’s 2025 touring collection on March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street.

The collection includes animation, documentary, experimental, narrative, and screen dance film genres from Armenia, China, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. Among those scheduled is an award-winning animated short by Princeton Visual Arts Program alum Tyler Benson, class of 2024. more

Environmental Film Fest is Signature Princeton Event

FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS: “Unearth” will be screened at the Princeton Garden Theatre as part of the Princeton Environmental Film Festival.

The Princeton Environmental Film Festival opens Friday, April 4, and runs through Sunday, April 13. A selection of films will be screened both in person in the library’s Community Room and virtually via the Eventive platform. Some will be shown in the Community Room only with others available to stream online only.

There will also be an off-site screening at the Princeton Garden Theatre on Sunday, April 6 and a shadow puppet show Saturday, April 5, at the Arts Council of Princeton. more

Clarinetist Martin Fröst Returns to Richardson

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) welcomes back clarinetist Martin Fröst on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. Fröst will be joined by violist Antoine Tamestit and the pianist and composer Shai Wosner for a program featuring their own transcriptions of music rooted in folklore and dance.

On the program are works by Dvorák, Brahms, Bach/Gounod, and Wosner. The latter is made up of arranged selections from pieces by Brahms, Lutoslawski, Bartok, and Wosner.

“Clarinetist Martin Fröst made a stunning PUC debut in 2018, and we cannot wait to have him back,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “With Antoine Tamestit’s profound virtuosity on the viola and Shai Wosner’s brilliance at the piano, this promises to be an evening of both exuberance and elegance by three masters of their instruments— one that will have us alternately swooning and tapping their toes.”

Tickets ($30-50 general/$10 students and Admit All Program members) are limited. Call (609) 258-2800.