May 21, 2025

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

“Shanghai Nights Princeton” Comes to Arts Council

Xiaoqing Zhang

The Arts Council of Princeton presents Shanghai Nights Princeton, an immersive jazz experience held in collaboration with Princeton Active Circle, on Saturday, May 17 from 7-9 p.m. The event takes place in the Solley Theatre.

Featured performers include Xiaoqing Zhang and Vince di Mura, alongside Sean Decker (bass), Alex Laurenzi (alto sax), Jared Decker (drums), Joshua Roberts (drums), Wesley Rast (percussion), Kurt Coble (violin), and Rachel Massey (violin/viola).

Tickets include the live performance, small bites, and beer and wine. Proceeds support these two nonprofits and their community programs.  more

Ukrainian Classical Music At Trenton City Museum

An exploration of Ukrainian classical music is the focus of the concert “Sorrow and Joy,” set for Saturday, May 17, 2 p.m., at the Trenton City Museum.

The event was designed to bring attention to the current plight of the people of Ukraine and to recognize the Ukrainian presence in the region. It also complements the current Trenton City Museum exhibition, “Cultural Connections: Eastern European Artists of Greater Trenton.”

The concert includes music by Mykola Lysenko, known as the father of Ukrainian classical music; Kyrylo Stetsenko, one of Ukraine’s most prolific and important 20th century artists; Vasyl Barvinsky, Ukraine’s first internationally known composer; and Stefania Turkewich, Ukraine’s first female composer. more

Musician and Songwriter Appear in New Brunswick

TAKING THEIR SHOW ON THE ROAD: Katharine McPhee and David Foster will perform at State Theatre New Jersey on Saturday, May 17.

State Theatre New Jersey presents “An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katharine McPhee” on Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $59-$179.

Sixteen-time Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, and producer Foster and singer, television, and Broadway star McPhee are bringing their live show on the road. This intimate performance will be packed with Foster’s hits from Chicago, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, etc. and McPhee’s biggest songs from American Idol, Smash, and Waitress. more

Capital Philharmonic Plays Chamber Music Concert

Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey (CPNJ) Presents “Wind and Wood: Music for Flute, Strings, Piano, and Percussion” on Sunday, May 18 at the 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road in Ewing.

Led by flutist Lish Lindsay, the concert will showcase a selection of pieces performed by musicians including pianist Artem Tenkeli, cellist Alan Amira, and percussionist Randall Rudolph. The program highlights the rich textures and expressive capabilities of this eclectic ensemble, including a special composition by former CPNJ Music Director Dan Spalding.

Dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of New Jersey through performances and community engagement, the Capital Philharmonic continues to foster a love of classical music across all generations.

Tickets are available at capitalphilharmonic.org or (800) 514-3849.

“How Trees See The World”

Works by John Stritzinger will be on view at Gallery 14 fine Art Photography in Hopewell from May 17 through June 15. A meet the artists reception is on May 17 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Freeman’s | Hindman Exhibit  at Phillips’ Mill May 19–21

“A GLORIOUS DAY”: This painting by Daniele Garber, from the Collection of Renny Reynolds, will be featured in a special exhibition at the Phillips’ Mill Community Association in New Hope, Pa., May 19-21.

The Phillips’ Mill Community Association has partnered once again with Freeman’s | Hindman auction house of Philadelphia on an exhibition of important Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings. The three-day event May 19-21 will offer collectors and art lovers an opportunity to admire the works of many of Phillips’ Mill’s founding artists including fresh-to-market examples by Edward Redfield, Daniel Garber, Fern Coppedge, George Sotter, and Robert Spencer.

Works exhibited at this event represent highlights from two upcoming auctions, American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists on June 8, and on September 21, Garden Party: The Collection of Renny Reynolds, a collection with strong local ties. A longtime Bucks County resident and garden and event designer, Reynolds is perhaps best known as the creator of Hortulus Farm along with late garden writer, Jack Staub, a property Reynolds sold not long ago. more

“Articulated”

Works by Dutch Bagley are featured in “Dutch Bagley: The Creative Tool,” on view May 17 to June 15 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell.

Producing Record-Breaking Offensive Onslaught, PU Men’s Lax Tops Towson 22-12 in NCAA Opener

TOP CAT: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy prepares to unload the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior attacker Mackesy tallied one and four assists to help third-seeded Princeton defeat Towson 22-12 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Mackesy’s goal was historic as his tally marked the 164th of his career and broke Jesse Hubbard’s all-time program record. The Tigers, now 13-3, will face sixth-seeded Syracuse (12-5) in the NCAA quarterfinals on May 17 at Hempstead, N.Y. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It turned out to be a bit of a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Class of 1952 Stadium last Saturday when the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team hosted Towson in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

With the loudspeaker blasting the Skynyrd classic “Free Bird” to serenade Princeton goals, the tune was ringing in the fans’ ears as the third-seeded Tigers rolled to a 22-12 win over Towson before a crowd of 1,736. more

Rebounding From Loss in Ivy Tournament Final, PU Women’s Lax Rolls into NCAA Quarterfinals

MORE TO COME: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Haven Dora heads upfield in recent action. Last Friday, junior attacker Dora tallied two goals and three assists to help Princeton defeat Massachusetts 19-10 in the opening round of the NCAA tourney in Baltimore, Md. Dora’s three helpers gave her 101 assists for her career, to set a new program record, breaking the previous mark of 98 set by Kyla Sears. On Sunday, Dora chipped in one goal and four assists as the Tigers topped eighth-seeded and host Johns Hopkins 18-12 in a second round contest. The Tigers, now 16-3, play at top-seeded and undefeated North Carolina (19-0) in a quarterfinal contest on May 15 in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After her Princeton University women’s lacrosse team got routed 17-6 by Yale in the Ivy League tournament final earlier this month, Jenn Cook acknowledged that the Tigers needed to do some soul searching as it headed into the NCAA tournament as an at-large selection.

“It is a tough lesson to learn right now but it is a new season next weekend,” said Princeton head coach Cook after that loss. “The focus is growing and being better and really understanding that we are stronger together when we are playing our systems both offensively and defensively and executing the pieces we know we are going to see.” more

Princeton Softball Rallies to Make Ivy Final But Loses to Brown to End Spring at 28-18

CAGED TIGERS: Members of the Princeton University softball team do a cheer in their dugout during a game earlier this spring. Hosting the Ivy League postseason tournament last week, Princeton opened the double-elimination competition by falling 4-0 to Brown last Thursday. The Tigers bounced back from that loss to defeat Harvard 5-1 on Friday and topping Columbia 10-1 on Saturday to make the final round of the competition against Brown. Princeton fell 4-1 to the Bears on Saturday to get eliminated from the tourney. The Tigers finished the spring with a 28-18 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University softball team started play in the Ivy League postseason tournament last Thursday morning, it was excited to be hosting the event at its gleaming new Cynthia Lynn Paul ’94 Field.

“It is really good to be at the stadium, it is privilege to host what we have had,” said Princeton head coach Lisa Van Ackeren, whose program was hosting its third straight Ivy tourney. “A lot of our kids don’t know anything different, they don’t even know that there is another option.” more

Working Through an Up-and-Down Campaign, PU Women’s Open Crew Primed for Ivy Regatta

PULLING IT TOGETHER: The Princeton University women’s open crew varsity eight churns through the water in a race this spring. The No. 6 Tigers will be competing in the Ivy League Championships from May 17-18 on Cooper River in Pennsauken. (Photo by Row2K, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University women’s open crew has gone through the 2025 season, it has been tested on a weekly basis.

“We have a really fast league, it is something that is exceptional,” said Princeton head coach Lori Dauphiny. “We have the most competitive league. It used to be the Pac 12 or Big 10; this year, it is the Ivy League.” more

Building on Dramatic Overtime Victory against Hun, PHS Boys’ Lax Tops Robbinsville to Make CVC Semis

SLIDING IN: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Braden Barlag fires a shot from his knees in a game earlier this season. Last week, senior attacker Barlag scored a last-second goal to help PHS edge Hun 10-9 in overtime on May 6. Last Saturday, Barlag tallied four goals to help fourth-seeded PHS defeat fifth-seeded Robbinsville 11-5 in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament quarterfinals. The Tigers, now 10-6, were slated to play at top-seeded Hopewell Valley in the CVC semis on May 13 with the victor advancing to the final on May 15 at HoVal. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After suffering a 16-5 loss to Allentown on May 3, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team did a re-set as it prepared to face crosstown rival Hun last week.

“Yesterday’s practice changed everything,” said PHS senior attacker Braden Barlag. “We got our mind on the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament starting this week. It was just keeping that positive energy.” more