April 23, 2025

Senior Standout Omene Looking to Come Full Circle As Top-Seeded PU Men’s Volleyball Hosts EIVA Tourney

FLYING HIGH: Princeton University men’s volleyball player Nyherowo Omene (#25), right, leaps to make a hit in a game this season. Last Friday, Omene led Princeton with 19 kills as it topped Penn State 3-1 (25-22, 25-27, 25-18, 25-23) to clinch the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) regular season title. The Tigers, who fell 3-0 to Jenn Stare last Saturday to give to 14-10 overall and 10-2 EIVA, are next in action when they host an EIVA semifinal contest on April 24 at Dillon Gym with the victor advancing to the final on April 26. (Photo by Andee Fagan – On NJ, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Justin Feil

Nyherowo Omene is hoping to end his Princeton University men’s volleyball career the way it began — with an Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tournament championship.

The Tigers last won the tourney in 2022 when Omene burst onto the scene in a promising freshman year. But Princeton hasn’t been able to win it since then. more

With Beatty Providing Production, Leadership, PHS Boys’ Lacrosse Primed for Stretch Drive

DODGE BALL: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Brendan Beatty looks to dodge a defender in a game earlier this season. Last week, senior midfielder and University of Vermont commit Beatty tallied four goals and two assists in a losing cause as PHS fell 13-8 to Notre Dame. The Tigers, who defeated Montgomery 13-5 last Saturday in improving to 5-4, host Hightstown on April 24, play at WW/P-North on April 26, and then host Hopewell Valley in April 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Brendan Beatty fired in a pair of goals as the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of its clash at Notre Dame last week.

PHS senior midfielder Beatty and his teammates were hoping that history would repeat itself as the Tigers built an early 3-0 lead in its 2024 meeting with the Irish on the way to a 21-11 win.  more

Sparked by Junior Star Hester’s Aggressive Play, PHS Softball Aiming to Be More Competitive

COMING IN CONTACT: Princeton High softball player Natalie Hester makes contact in a game last season. Junior star shortstop and Rutgers commit Hester is batting .312 with six RBIs to provide a spark for PHS. The Tigers, who lost 14-2 to Monroe last Monday to move to 1-5, host Robbinsville on April 24 and Holy Cross Prep on April 26 before playing at Hightstown on April 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton High softball team trailed Monroe 14-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning last Monday and faced getting run-ruled, Natalie Hester wasn’t about to give up.

PHS junior shortstop Hester legged out an infield grounder to get on base and proceeded to steal second and third. more

After Waiting to Lead Hun Softball Pitching Staff, Murphy Starring as the Raiders Have Started 8-0

MURPHY’S LAW: Hun School softball pitcher Anna Murphy fires a pitch in recent action. Last Thursday, senior Murphy produced a stellar effort in the circle as Hun defeated the Blair Academy 6-1, striking out eight and giving up five hits with no walks. Hun went on to sweep Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) in a doubleheader last Saturday, prevailing 7-2 and 10-6. The Raiders, who improved to 8-0 with the wins, host Lawrence High on April 26 and the Peddie School on April 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Anna Murphy patiently waited for her chance to be the ace of the pitching staff for the Hun School softball team and she is determined to make the most of that opportunity.

“I have definitely been looking forward to it since freshman year with Lexi here and everything, it is big shoes to fill,” said senior right-hander Murphy, referring to former Hun record-breaking standout Lexi Kobryn, who is now pitching for the Villanova University softball team. more

While Hun Girls’ Lax Has Taken its Lumps, New Head Coach Schwartz is Seeing Growth

STOWE AWAY: Hun School girls’ lacrosse player Emma Stowe looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Wednesday, junior midfielder Stowe scored two goals in a losing cause as Hun fell 18-4 to the Hill School (Pa.). The Raiders, who lost 13-12 to the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) last Saturday to move to 0-9, play at the Shipley School (Pa.) on April 24 before hosting the Blair Academy on April 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In taking the helm of the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team this spring, Samantha Schwartz’s coaching approach has centered on one main theme.

“The thing that I have been driving home with our girls is that everything is effort-based,” said Schwartz, who joined the Hun program midway through last spring as an assistant coach and previously had stints coaching club in New York, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania, and high school coaching in Michigan and Texas. more

April 16, 2025

Celebrating Record Store Day

Music lovers lined up outside Princeton Record Exchange at the 15th annual National Record Store Day celebration on Saturday for a chance to find limited-edition titles. People share that they were hoping to find in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Council Approves Budget With 3 Percent Increase

By Anne Levin

At its meeting on Monday night, April 14, Princeton Council voted to pass a budget that is 3.04 percent higher than that of last year. The total figure will rise from $75,674,457.12 to $77,982,417.10.

This means that a home of average value in Princeton will see its taxes increase by about $133, said Sandra Webb, the town’s chief finance officer, during the public hearing. This year’s budget was driven by the usual things, she said: garbage and trash collection, insurance, debt service, participation in the Stony Brook Regional Sewage Authority, and the public library.

Councilman Brian McDonald commented that though he considers Princeton Public Library to be “one of our crown jewels,” he was concerned that their increase of 5 percent, from $4,738,184 to $4,975,094, was high. Mayor Mark Freda, who sits on the library board, said he had advised the board that next year’s budget is not likely to provide that much of an increase. more

Trump Administration Cuts Off Funding For PU Climate Research

By Donald Gilpin

Claiming that three programs are “no longer in keeping with the Trump administration’s priorities,” the Department of Commerce (DOC) last week announced that it is terminating nearly $4 million in funding for climate research at Princeton University.

The DOC stated that one of the programs to be defunded, conducted by Princeton’s Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System (CIMES), “promotes exaggerated and implausible climate threats” and contributes “to a phenomenon known as ‘climate anxiety,’ which has increased significantly among America’s youth.”

The announcement’s criticism of the program continued, “Its focus on alarming climate scenarios fosters fear rather than rational, balanced discussion. Additionally, the use of federal funds to support these narratives, including educational initiatives aimed at K-12 students, is misaligned with the administration’s priorities.” more

Local Arts and Cultural Organizations Affected by Cuts From Federal Agencies

By Anne Levin

On April 2, Morven Museum & Garden got welcome news from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): The museum was being awarded a grant of $25,000 to help support an interpretive plan addressing Morven’s history of slavery when it was owned by two generations of the Stockton family.

But a few days later, another communication arrived from the federal agency. The grant was being rescinded, it said, because it “no longer effectuates the agency’s needs and priorities and conditions of the Grant Agreement and is subject to termination due to several reasonable causes.” Citing some statutes, the email continued that the NEH “is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.”

The letter arrived in an email, at midnight. more

Hinds Plaza and Palmer Square Join Settings for This Year’s Porchfest

FOURTH ANNUAL PORCHFEST: This year’s version of what has become an annual tradition in Princeton brings more bands, on more porches and public spaces, to town for a day of free music and community activities. Pictured is a view from last year’s event. (Photo by Matt Raspanti)

By Anne Levin

When the Arts Council of Princeton issued a call for musical acts interested in performing at this year’s Porchfest, applications poured in from 130 bands. After some culling, 80 were selected to appear in the fourth annual event, taking place on front porches and public spaces throughout Princeton on Saturday, April 26 from 12 to 6 p.m.

“We’ve got 15 porches, which is a little bit up from last year,” said Adam Welch, executive director of the Arts Council. “And we’re activating both Hinds Plaza and Palmer Square, which is where the closing gig will be. I’ve got to tell you, the quality of these musicians is incredible.”

Bands are being hosted at porches on Witherspoon Street, Moore Street, Chestnut Street, Nassau Street, Birch Avenue, Jefferson Road, Markham Road, Murray Place, Queenston Place, Linden Lane, and at Maclean House on the Princeton University campus. Each location will host five live performances from 12 to 5 p.m. more

Princeton High School Students Take a Behind-the-Scenes Role for Regional Theater

BEHIND THE SCENES: Students from Princeton High School, from left, juniors Branden Zhou and Allan Chen, and senior Nicolas Grahamdetto, transform original prop robot Artie in time for the Langhorne Players’ production of “After the Blast” by Zoe Kazan. The play opens April 25 and runs until May 11. Information is at LanghornePlayers.org.

By Wendy Greenberg

Students from the Robotics Club at Princeton High School are getting rave reviews for their role behind the scenes for a regional theater company: rehabilitating a robot prop that is integral to the plot of an upcoming play.

The Langhorne Players, based in Newtown, Pa., opens its 78th season on Friday, April 25 with Zoe Kazan’s play After the Blast, about people living underground after a nuclear disaster. The robot enters the story to train the female lead character for a new profession, however, she makes a strong connection to the fuzzy companion, which brings out her inclination to nurture in a society where fertility is regulated. more

New CEO Leads Meals on Wheels MC — Healthy Food and Friendly Connections

By Donald Gilpin

Venetta Ellerbe

Venetta Ellerbe, an experienced leader of nonprofits, has, as she said in an April 11 phone conversation, “hit the ground running” in her first month on the job as the new CEO of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC).

With a recent surge in demand for the nutritious meals and sociable engagement the MOWMC delivers — 95,000 meals for nearly 600 participants across Mercer County last year — Ellerbe has expressed her determination to “expand our reach, deepen our partnerships, and ensure that every person who needs our services can count on us.”

In a recent press release, MOWMC Board Chair David Dafilou announced the board’s unanimous selection of Ellerbe to lead the growing organization. “She brings more than 20 years of experience within New Jersey’s nonprofit sector, in roles that highlighted her skills in leadership, operations management, fundraising, and strategic planning,” he said.  more

Alexandra of “1923” Finds Comic Relief in Chaplin’s “The Pilgrim”

By Stuart Mitchner

The SOB is a ballet dancer, the best ballet dancer that ever lived. And if I get a good chance I’ll kill him with my bare hands.

—W.C. Fields on Charlie Chaplin

The talkies brought forth one great comedian, the late, majestically lethargic W.C. Fields who could not possibly have worked as well in silence…

—James Agee, from “Comedy’s Greatest Era”

I’d agree with Agee if I hadn’t just seen Fields at his flinching, cringing, fumbling, pugnacious, masterfully disoriented best in the 1926 silent The Old Army Game, which also offered actual visual details (cars, stores, streets, small town America) to compare to the period recreation in Paramount’s recent series 1923. Given Chaplin’s immense popularity in those days, it was interesting to watch his 1923 silent feature The Pilgrim alongside Taylor Sheridan’s brilliant prequel to Yellowstone at a time when theaters all over the country, including one in Billings, Montana, would have been screening the latest Chaplin. And since The Pilgrim opened in New York in late February 1923, I’m taking the liberty of installing it in a Times Square movie house on the day that 1923’s embattled heroine Alexandra Dutton arrived in America.

Ellis Island Ordeal

What tempts me to imagine The Pilgrim into the third episode of 1923’s second season (“Wrap Thee in Terror”), is the witty, charming, and altogether delightful woman portrayed by Julia Schlaepfer. Admirers of Paramount’s Golden Age star Carole Lombard will see a 21st-century throwback in Alexandra, which makes it even harder to watch her being brutally debased by three Ellis Island immigration doctors. Poked in the stomach, made to strip naked, treated as a pregnant adventuress, she braves the humiliation, and, in one of the great moments of the show, shames the last and harshest of the doctors by quoting the lines on the Statue of Liberty (“give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses”) and reading a passage from Walt Whitman as further proof of her literacy.  more

Chamber Music Series Presented by PSO

MUSIC AT TRINITY: The Signum Quartet returns to Princeton as part of Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Series at Trinity Church on May 1.

The Signum Quartet returns to Princeton on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. to perform in the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO)’s new chamber music series at Trinity Church.

The ensemble consists of violinists Florian Donderer and Annette Walther, violist Xandi van Dijk, and cellist Thomas Schmitz. On the program are Franz Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3, “The Bird”; Vítezslava Kaprálová’s String Quartet, Op. 8; and Antonín Dvorák’s String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106.

The quartet began their 2024-25 season with performances across Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. They also toured South Africa combining programs featuring select works by Haydn, Schumann, and Brahms with an original presentation highlighting current South African composers and musicians in honor of the 30th anniversary of the fall of apartheid. more

Henson/Bowie Collaboration Fuses Film and Live Music

GOBLIN CITY: Jim Henson’s film “Labyrinth” starring David Bowie is the subject of “Labyrinth in Concert” at the State Theatre New Jersey on May 2 at 7:30 p.m.

State Theatre New Jersey presents Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert on Friday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. For the first time, Jim Henson’s original masterpiece and musical fantasy film Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, will transport fans to Goblin City in a blend of film and live music on stage.

The event will start with a costume contest on stage. The movie is presented on a large HD cinema screen. On stage, a live band will perform in sync with Bowie’s original vocals, playing the songs and the score from the soundtrack composed by Bowie and Trevor Jones.

Tickets range from $29-$125. more

Twyla On Tour

McCarter Theatre is a stop on Twyla Tharp’s 60th Anniversary Tour on Thursday April 17 at 7:30 p.m. The celebrated choreographer is marking this milestone with a coast-to-coast tour featuring her “Diabelli Variations,” set to Beethoven’s work of the same name and performed live by pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev; and “SLACKTIDE,” a new work set to a reimagining of Philip Glass’s “Aguas da Amazonia,” arranged and recorded by Third Coast Percussion. McCarter is at 91 University Place. Visit mccarter.org. (Photo by Mark Selinger)

Dryden Ensemble Performs In Princeton Seminary Chapel

Clara Rottsolk

Clara Rottsolk

The Dryden Ensemble returns with its new artistic director, Daniel Swenberg, in a program entitled “Baroque Passion: Musical Meditations on Holy Week,” on Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. at the Princeton Theological Seminary Chapel, 64 Mercer Street. Admission is free.

The ensemble will complete its Phoenix Season with a program of musical contemplations on themes of Holy Week. The program features soprano Clara Rottsolk and gambist Arnie Tanimoto, who will join Dryden regulars Daniel Swenberg (artistic director/lutes), Lisa Terry (viola da gamba), and Webb Wiggins (chamber organ).

Rottsolk specializes in historically informed performance practice, singing with the American Bach Soloists, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Colorado Bach Ensemble, Trinity Wall Street Choir, and Seraphic Fire. She has performed at the Carmel Bach Festival, Philadelphia Bach Festival, and Boston Early Music Festival. A native of Seattle, Rottsolk earned music degrees at Rice University and Westminster Choir Collegeand was awarded recognition for musical excellence by the Metropolitan Opera National Council. Currently she is based in Philadelphia and teaches voice at Swarthmore, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr Colleges. more

English-Speaking Union Presents Practitioners of Musick

The musical riches of 18th-century Dublin will be surveyed in a concert with commentary entitled “Beyond the Fanlight — Music in Georgian Dublin” on Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. at the Center for Modern Aging. The event is hosted by the English-Speaking Union, Princeton Branch, 101 Poor Farm Road.

The performers are the Practitioners of Musick, with John Burkhalter playing English and small flutes, and Sheldon Eldridge, harpsichordist.

“Concert-going in Dublin in the 18th century was very much part of the social life in the Irish capital,” reads a release about the event. “And despite its location on the periphery of Europe, Dublin boasted a surprisingly active musical life in the 18th century. The Irish capital attracted a number of renowned musicians, including Geminiani, Arne, and Handel. An illustrated overview of Dublin by John Burkhalter will complement the musical performance.”  more

Conservatory Students to Play At Richardson Auditorium Event

WINNING PIANISTS: The winners of the Westminster Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition are, from left, Caelan Costello, Vito Cottone, and Joanna Hou. The three young musicians will perform at the Conservatory’s Showcase on May 4 at Richardson Auditorium.

On Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m., Westminster Conservatory presents the Westminster Conservatory Showcase in a concert at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus.

On the program are the Westminster Community Orchestra conducted by Ruth Ochs, the Rider University Chorale conducted by Tom Shelton, and piano duo Phyllis Alpert Lehrer and Ena Bronstein Barton.

Also performing are Honors Music Program vocal soloists, and the winners of the Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition. Tickets at $15 and $20 are available at the door, online at tickets.princeton.edu, or by calling (609) 258-9220.

“Ya Don’t Say” Tour Stars Comic Normand

STAND-UP STAR: Mark Normand brings his comedy routines to the State Theatre in New Brunswick on April 25.

State Theatre New Jersey presents Mark Normand: Ya Don’t Say on Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$159.75.

Dubbed by Jerry Seinfeld as the “best young up-and-coming comic,” Normand has a growing reputation for his comedy acts. His 2023 one-hour Netflix special, Soup to Nuts, was a staple in the streamers’ Top 10 for several weeks. This follows Normand’s self-released special, 2020’s Out to Lunch, which amassed over 12 million views on YouTube. more

Princeton Arts Fellows Named for 2025-2027

Niall Jones
(Photo by Heather Cromartie)

Interdisciplinary artists Niall Jones and Tamara Santibañez have been named Princeton University Arts Fellows for 2025-2027 by the Lewis Center for the Arts and will begin two years of teaching and community collaboration at the University in September. The two artists were selected by faculty from more than 800 applicants in creative writing, dance, music, theater, and the visual arts.

The Arts Fellows program of the Lewis Center provides support for early-career artists who have demonstrated both extraordinary promise and a record of achievement in their fields with the opportunity to further their work while teaching within a liberal arts context. Fellows are selected for a two-year residency to teach a course each semester or to undertake an artistic assignment that deeply engages undergraduate students, such as directing a play, conducting a musical ensemble, or choreographing a dance piece. Fellows are expected to be active members of the University’s intellectual and artistic community while in residence, and in return, they are provided with the resources and spaces necessary for their work.  more

The Fraggles’ Tour Stops in New Brunswick

FAMILY FRIENDLY: “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE” plays two shows at State Theatre New Jersey on April 26.

State Theatre New Jersey presents “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE” on Saturday, April 26 at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$59.

Based on Jim Henson’s award-winning Apple TV+ original series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, recipient of this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series, this all-new, family-friendly live stage show will feature new walkaround versions of the Fraggles, new puppet versions of their gearhead friends the Doozers, and visits from a giant Gorg , as well as new puppet creature friends — all built by Henson’s Creature Shop. more

ActorsNET Has New Take On Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”

ActorsNET invites audiences to experience a fresh perspective on Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House at The Heritage Center Theatre in Morrisville, Pa., May 2-18.

Adapted by Maryalice and Hayley Rubins-Topoleski, this reimagining sets the classic drama in Philadelphia during the 1960s. A Doll’s House tells the story of Nora Helmer (Cat Milone), who appears to have it all: a comfortable suburban home, a successful husband, and adorable children. But beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect 1960s life lies a secret that threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world. As the truth unravels, Nora is forced to confront the limitations placed upon her as a woman and make a radical choice that will change her life forever. more

Student Choreography

Princeton University senior Clara Toujas, front, and the cast of her new work “entre moi et nous,” one of two dance pieces to be performed April 17-19 at 8:30 p.m. in the Hearst Dance Theater in the Lewis Arts complex on the campus. The second work is by senior Faith Wangermann. Admission is free. Visit arts.princeton.edu for more information. (Photo by Emily Tang)

Awards Presented at Phillips’ Mill Photo Exhibit

“NUMBER 40”: This photograph by Harold Stetson won Best in Show at this year’s “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition,” on view through April 18 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.

About two hundred attendees recently gathered for the artists’ reception that opened the Phillips’ Mill Community Association’s 32nd annual “Photographic Exhibition.”

Showcasing 150 contemporary works across many genres, from portraiture to nature to abstraction, the 2025 “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition” was selected by a panel of three jurors: Jennifer King, an internationally acclaimed landscape and fine-art photographer; Kristen King, a veteran photography instructor in Bucks County, Pa., high schools; and Nora Odendahl, co-chair of the Phillips’ Mill Photo Committee, whose members are responsible for putting on the exhibition. more