June 11, 2025

Center for Modern Aging Looks Back With Pride, Ahead With Optimism

By Donald Gilpin

The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) will be presenting its inaugural Symposium on Ageism, “Living Longer Lives: Overcoming Our Fears of Growing Old,” on Thursday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mercer County Community College Conference Center.

Sponsored by the Silver Century Foundation and designed for individuals who are aging, professionals working in the aging sector, and advocates supporting the aging community, the event features workshops on aging and ageism, along with valuable networking opportunities.

New York Times “The New Old Age” columnist Paula Span and Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It author Tracey Gendron are keynote speakers for the event. Visit cmaprinceton.org for registration and further information. More than 150 people had already registered as of Monday evening. more

Juneteenth Is Coming Up Next Week, Celebrating End of Slavery in U.S.

By Donald Gilpin

In celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, a flag raising will take place next Thursday, June 19 at 1 p.m. in Princeton’s Monument Plaza in front of Monument Hall, and a variety of other events commemorating the occasion will be occurring in Princeton and the surrounding area next week.

“Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the ending of slavery in this country,” Princeton Mayor Mark Freda wrote in an email. “We should embrace such an important milestone. What an inhuman and unjust practice that existed in this country, and in this town. Always better to acknowledge the wrongs of the past so they are not repeated again in the future.”

Questioning the extent of that liberation and whether the current situation gives cause for celebration, Councilman Leighton Newlin, who will be speaking at the flag raising, shared a draft of remarks that he will be delivering. more

Book on Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood To Launch at Reading and Open Mic Event

THE STORY OF A COMMUNITY: Among the 98 illustrations in Adam Welch’s book about the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood is this photo of Booker T. Washington’s visit to Princeton thought to have been taken in 1914 at 20 Green Street. The photo, which has been colorized, comes from the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.

By Anne Levin

Adam Welch never intended to write a book. But once he started digging into the history of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, Welch, who is the executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), was hooked.

“You research this tentacle, and then there’s another one — all these different spokes,” he said about The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood: How One Community Changed Princeton, the 172-page volume he has written and designed. “There is all of this uncovering of information. It sort of fast-forwards in each chapter to the people who are on the street now.” more

Advice from Animal Control Officer on Being “Bear Aware” During Bear Season

DON’T RUN: The best thing to do if encountering a bear is to make noise and back away, experts say. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com)

By Anne Levin

When a black bear was spotted on the playground of Riverside Elementary School a few weeks ago, the school went into lockdown and the surrounding neighborhood was put on alert. The shaggy visitor had made an earlier appearance at the Butler tract on Harrison Street, and stopped on Dodds Lane before making itself scarce.

Princeton Animal Control Officer Jim Ferry thinks it was the same animal that has shown up in Lawrence Township, West Windsor, and Plainsboro. Whether or not that bear or any other makes a return visit to the area, it is a good idea to get familiar with how to handle an encounter. more

Renowned PU Climate Scientist Teams With Comedian to Communicate Urgent Message

By Donald Gilpin

Michael Oppenheimer
(Princeton University: Egan Jimenez)

Climate change is no joking matter, and perhaps no one knows that better than Princeton University Geosciences Professor Michael Oppenheimer, who has been at the forefront of climate research and attempts to communicate crucial climate warnings to the general public for more than five decades.

But in his latest effort to bring understanding and a sense of urgency to the endeavor, Oppenheimer has teamed up with the famous comedian and Emmy Award winner David Cross to present a new video campaign.

Oppenheimer is very familiar with the challenges that scientists face in trying to explain their work in a way that the masses can understand. “So I thought this was an interesting way to think about getting out the climate message — a little different than previously,” he said in a June 6 phone interview.

“There is a problem in that scientists don’t receive training in how to simplify their message and yet assure that it’s still scientifically valid and get it across to the average person,” said Oppenheimer. more

“A Life Well Spent” — William Styron at 100

By Stuart Mitchner

Only at the end of the book [Lie Down In Darkness]… in Peyton’s Molly Bloom-like monologue, would I finally enter her mind.  And I hoped that this passage would be all the more powerful, because it was suddenly and intensely interior and personal.

—William Styron (1925-2006), from a 2002 talk

The girl, Peyton …would have wound up jumping from a window no matter where she came from.

—from Writers at Work (Viking 1957)

Interviewed at a Parisian cafe in the mid-1950s, William Styron is described as “a young man of good appearance, though not this afternoon; he is a little paler than is healthy in this quiet hour.” A few questions later Styron admits, “I like to stay up late at night and get drunk and sleep. I wish I could break the habit but I can’t.”

Styron was 77 when he delivered the 2002 talk at the Whiting Foundation, some 17 years after the battle with suicidal depression that he recounted in Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (1990) and not long before the recurrence of the illness that clouded the last years of his life, which ended when he was 81 in 2006. In the memoir, which first appeared as an essay in Vanity Fair, Styron connects the onset of depression with the realization, “almost overnight” that “I could no longer drink.” It was as if “a comforting friend had abandoned me not gradually and reluctantly, as a true friend might do, but like a shot — and I was left high and certainly dry, and unhelmed.” Worse yet, he hadn’t published a book since Sophie’s Choice in 1979 and would live the last 27 years of his life in the shadow of that fact, which may explain why he devoted the Whiting talk to his first book, Lie Down In Darkness (1951).

The word “darkness” and occasional echoings of the novel’s title recur throughout Peyton’s monologue, a 50-page-long un-indented paragraph, which, contrary to Styron’s framing, has little in common with Molly Bloom’s earthy, life-affirming monologue that famously ends with a simple “Yes.” Peyton’s monologue is bookended by a pompous preface (“Strong is your hold O mortal flesh, strong is your hold O love”) and two fragments, one set above the other, as if thought or cried out in mid-fall: “Oh most Powerful …. Oh must.”  more

Princeton Festival Launches in Grand Fashion with Gala Opening

By Nancy Plum

Soprano Renée Fleming is busy these days. She was recently featured in the opening session of Chorus America’s national conference, speaking on the connection between singing and health; next week, she will be appearing with LA Opera; and her hectic schedule continues through the summer leading to a concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra in Saratoga, N.Y. This past Saturday night, Fleming was in Princeton, performing at Morven Museum & Garden with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra as part of the Princeton Festival. The Festival added to the glamour of the evening by building a gala celebration around Fleming’s appearance, with cocktail and dinner parties and a high-level reception. Conducted by Rossen Milanov, Fleming’s recital with the Orchestra included a wide range of music, from Fleming’s own favorites and “signature” arias to pieces the audience may not have previously known.

Conductor Rossen Milanov and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra opened Saturday night’s program with a journey through the oratorios of Georg Frideric Handel. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba was originally part of the 1748 Solomon, and on its own was heard in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Scored for string and oboes, this one-movement sinfonia depicts the bustling preparation for the Queen of Sheba’s arrival and was a fitting opening to establish a regal mood. Milanov and the players began crisply, with active violins and a joyful spirit. A pair of oboes led by Kemp Jernigan provided elegant contrasts to the string palette with sweet thirds and perfectly timed duet passages.

Fleming took the stage for two Handel arias, singing with a voice which well filled the expanded space at Morven and instantly connecting with the listeners. Noting the composer’s ability to understand the human condition, Fleming sang “Calm Thou My Soul” (from the little-known oratorio Alexander Balus) with pensiveness and lyricism against steely and exact accompaniment. Fleming also advised the audience to take Delila’s advice not to lose a moment—for life is short, with a stylish interpretation of “To Fleeting Measures Make Your Court” from Samson.   more

Princeton Festival Presents “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico”; Broadway Star Delivers Exquisite Performances, Fascinating Stories

“SONDHEIM IN THE CITY WITH MELISSA ERRICO”: Princeton Festival has presented “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico.” Broadway and film star Errico (above, center) performed a selection of songs by Stephen Sondheim, most of which comment on life in New York City. Errico was accompanied by musicians including Musical Director and pianist Tedd Firth (left); and bassist David Finck (right). (Photo by Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

Princeton Festival has presented “Sondheim In the City with Melissa Errico.” As the title suggests, the stage and film star performed a program of songs — the majority of which comment on life in New York City — by Stephen Sondheim.

The concert, which took place June 8 at 4 p.m. in the Festival’s performance tent on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden, featured selections from two of Errico’s solo albums. Most of the selections appear on Sondheim In The City (2024). A few others are heard on Sondheim Sublime (2018).  more

Haydn, Skye, Ravel On Concert Program

OPENING CONCERT: Princeton’s Summer Concert series begins at Richardson Auditorium on June 26 with the Ivalas Quartet.

The Ivalas Quartet will open Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts’ 58th Season in Richardson Auditorium on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble will offer works by Haydn, Skye, and Ravel.

The quartet was founded in 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. They served as the Graduate Resident String Quartet at The Juilliard School from 2022 to 2024, where they studied with the Juilliard String Quartet. They were previously in residence at the University of Colorado-Boulder under the mentorship of the Takács Quartet. They premiered Derrick Skye’s Deliverance through a commission from Caramoor in 2024. more

Award-Winning Musical at Princeton Summer Theater

OPENING PRODUCTION: Rehearsals have been underway for the first show of the annual Princeton Summer Theater. “The Bridges of Madison County” opens Thursday, June 12 on the Princeton University campus.

The Tony Award-winning musical The Bridges of Madison County opens Thursday, June 12 on the Hamilton Murray stage at Princeton University.

Founded in 1968, Princeton Summer Theater (PST) is a professional summer theater company located in Princeton University’s Hamilton-Murray Theater, comprised of undergraduates and young professionals. Notable alumni include Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago), Tony Award-winning producer Geoff Rich (Avenue Q), and Hollywood actor William Hootkins (Star Wars, Batman). more

Music of Motown At Princeton Festival

The Princeton Festival celebrates the contributions of Motown to popular culture and the civil rights movement on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. The day-long commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation includes free community events presented in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton, and culminates in a ticketed 7 p.m. performance of Masters of Soul, A Motown Review in the Festival’s main performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden.

Masters of Soul, A Motown Review features harmonies and moves made famous by artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and others. The show reproduces the look, choreography, style, and sound made famous by record labels that were relatively unknown at the time but went on to profoundly influence the history of popular music: Motown Records, Stax, and others. The performance goes beyond the music to preserve the integrity of the entire Motown experience.

The show features The TFC Band. After having toured together for decades, The TFC Band created the Masters of Soul show in 2008 as a way to heighten the experience for their fans and deliver a stage show that captures the sights, sounds, and feel of the Motown era.  more

“One Vision of Queen” Embodies Famed Rockers

State Theatre New Jersey presents “One Vision of Queen” featuring Marc Martel on Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39-$118.

In 2012, Queen’s Roger Taylor and Brian May handpicked singer Marc Martel to take on the lead vocals for their Queen tribute tour known as the Queen Extravaganza. His audition video of “Somebody to Love” garnered 13 million views on YouTube. Describing Martel’s impersonation of Freddie Mercury, Taylor remarked “That voice. You listen, close your eyes and you think it’s Freddie. It’s really uncanny.”

“One Vision of Queen” features some of the band’s greatest hits, including fan favorites “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are The Champions,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org for tickets.

“Mirrored Hues” Dual Show Coming to Arts Council

“CHRYSOCOLLA — CYAN”: This work by Scott Staats is featured in “Mirrored Hues,” his dual exhibit with Christina Sorace MacKinnon, on view June 21 through July 19 in the Arts Council of Princeton’s Taplin Gallery.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has announced “Mirrored Hues,” a new summer exhibition celebrating the spirit of the season through the works of artists Christina Sorace MacKinnon and Scott Staats. It will be on view from June 21 through July 19 in the Arts Council’s Taplin Gallery. A Gallery Opening, free and open to the public, is on Saturday, June 21 from 3 to 5 p.m.

“Mirrored Hues” invites viewers to experience the season’s vivid energy through the expressive lens of color MacKinnon’s paintings feature swirling, layered palettes that evoke both movement and meditation, encouraging a deep emotional resonance with the viewer. In Staats’ glasswork, each piece is a carefully crafted exploration of transparency, light, and hue. more

Princeton Makes is Moving to New Space in Shopping Center

ON THE MOVE: Princeton Makes artist cooperative is moving to a new location in the Princeton Shopping Center. A reopening celebration is on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, has announced that it will be moving its store and studios to a new location within the Princeton Shopping Center. Princeton Makes will host a reopening celebration on Saturday, June 14 at the new location, which is in the southeast section of the shopping center, between Princeton Nassau Pediatrics and Pizza Star. People will have the opportunity to shop in the new space, meet many of the Princeton Makes artists, and enjoy refreshments. The event will start at 10 a.m. and continue through regular store hours until 6 p.m.

Princeton Makes will also host an indoor moving/yard sale on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come to the former location to shop for items that are not being moved to the new location, including furniture, displays, art books, art supplies, and myriad other items that somehow get accumulated when you spend almost four years in one location. Half of all proceeds from the yard sale will be donated to the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry. more

Weekend on the Veranda At Trenton City Museum

The breezy veranda of Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will welcome the community for two events over the weekend of June 14 and 15.

On Saturday, June 14, from 12 to 3 p.m., the museum teams up for the second year with the Trenton Knit ‘n’ Stitch club to celebrate international Knit in Public Day. Attendees are invited to get comfortable on the veranda, pull out a favorite project or start a new one, and enjoy crafting and creating with friends. All are welcome, from beginners to expert hand-crafters. Register in advance at ellarslie.org/knit.

On Sunday, June 15, from 1 to 4 p.m., the annual Sundaes on the Veranda will offer ice cream and fun for the whole family. Activities for all ages include making Father’s Day cards, playing corn hole, and, from 2-4 p.m., free face painting by professional face painter Antoinette Marchfelder, who is known in the greater Trenton area for her whimsical creations. There will also be a new array of artisan-made ceramic ice cream bowls to take home. Admission: $20/sundae in a ceramic bowl to take home; $10/disposable bowl; free for kids 6 and under accompanied by a paid adult. Reserve in advance at ellarsie.org/sundaes or pay at the door.

Located in Trenton’s Cadwalader Park, Trenton City Museum is accessible by car from Parkside Ave. and has ample, accessible parking alongside the museum. It is open Thursday through Saturday 12 to 4 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee to view exhibitions, but  donations in support of the museum’s programs are appreciated. Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion, an 1848 Italianate Villa on the National Historic Register. For more information, visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.

Art Reception at Montgomery Township Municipal Center

“CLIMATE CHANGE NOW”: Artists Spriha Gupta and Susan Hockaday pose with two pieces from their new exhibit, now on display in the Montgomery Township Municipal Center lobby. A reception is on Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The Montgomery Township Municipal Center lobby now features a new exhibit by two local artists. There will be a reception and talk with local artists Spriha Gupta and Susan Hockaday on June 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The artists have titled their show “Climate Change Now.” The new exhibit explores the fragile balance between humanity and nature, spotlighting the environmental harm caused by plastics and mass consumerism. Through their art, Hockaday and Gupta hope to inspire viewers to be mindful of their choices, appreciate the beauty of the planet, and take that first step — however small — toward creating positive change. more

“Rose That Grew From Concrete” Opening at Capital Health

On June 11, Capital Health will host an opening reception for “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Leon Rainbow, the latest art exhibit at the Investors Bank Art and Healing Gallery, located in the second-floor atrium of Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, One Capital Way, Pennington. This event is open to the public and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

This exhibition celebrates resilience and transformation through the works of artists who have overcome mental health struggles, addiction, poverty, and other challenges. Their art tells compelling stories of survival, hope, and the strength of the human spirit, highlighting the beauty that can emerge from adversity.

For more information about this installation and Healing Arts at Capital Health, contact the Capital Health Foundation at (609) 303-4121 or foundation@capitalhealth.org.

Landscaping, Hardscaping, and Garden Center Now Open at Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply

OUTDOOR DESIGN: “Our mission is to provide high quality products to help you build the best outdoor setting you can imagine. We aim to be your trusted partner in creating beautiful functional landscapes and hardscapes that are long-lasting for years of enjoyment.” Evan Bogdan, left, and Ben Kilian of Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply are shown in the company’s outdoor hardscape setting.

By Jean Stratton

Enjoying the outdoors, being together in nature is more important than ever,” says Rich Kilian. “The interest in outdoor living today is just the tip of the iceberg. People want to be outside with family, friends, or just by themselves to enjoy the pleasure of their landscape. Spending time in the beauty of their own backyard is appealing to more and more people.”

Owner of Kilian’s Outdoor Living Supply, Rich Kilian just relocated his company to 133 Carter Road, the former site of Kale’s Nursery and Landscaping, which closed after many years as a Princeton mainstay. more

After Superb Tenure Guiding PU Women’s Hockey, Gardner Morey Bringing Leadership Skills to Pro League

GOING PRO: Cara Gardner Morey instructs a player during her tenure as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team. After spending the last 14 seasons as a member of Princeton’s coaching staff, including the last eight as head coach, Gardner Morey recently resigned that position to accept a new role as the general manager of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Vancouver team, an expansion franchise set to begin play in the 2025-26 season. The second-winningest head coach in program history with a 120-82-24 record in her tenure at the helm, Gardner Morey guided the Tigers to the 2020 ECAC Hockey Championship. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

In her role as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team, Cara Gardner Morey has often urged her players to be daring in their play.

Taking a page out of her book, Gardner Morey is making a bold move in her hockey life as she has stepped down from her Princeton job to become the general manager of the Vancouver expansion franchise in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). more

Producing Record-Breaking Season for PHS Boys’ Track, Senior Thrower Wilton Aiming for Big Finale at Nationals

GROUP EFFORT: Princeton High boys’ track star Sean Wilton, center, and PHS throws coach Brandon Willams, left, and Tiger volunteer assistant coach and former Princeton University men’s track coach Fred Samara are all smiles after Wilton placed first in the shot put at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state meet at Franklin High on May 30. Last Wednesday, senior and Brown University commit Wilton placed ninth in the shot put at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Wilton will wrap up his PHS career by competing in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2025 from June 19-22 in Philadelphia. (Photo provided courtesy of Ben Samara)

By Justin Feil

Sean Wilton will have at least three more throws in his Princeton High track career.

The PHS senior will try to further his own school record in the shot put at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2025 from June 19-22 in Philadelphia.  more

PHS Girls’ Lacrosse Battled Hard to the End In Federico’s Swan Song Coaching the Tigers

ON POINT: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Emerson Barker, right, heads to goal in a game this spring. Sophomore Barker tallied 24 goals and eight assists this spring to help PHS go 12-10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In 2024, an 11th-seeded Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team stunned sixth-seeded Montgomery 9-8 in overtime in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament.

Heading into this year’s NJSIAA Group 3 North Jersey tournament, PHS was aiming to make history repeat itself as the 11th-seeded Tigers played at sixth-seeded Red Bank Regional on May 29.
In the early going, PHS was on track for another upset as it jumped out to a 6-2 first quarter lead. But this year, the Tigers couldn’t close the deal as Red Bank battled back to make it 7-7 at halftime and then pulled away to an 11-8 win. more

With High-Powered Midfield Fueling Late Surge, PDS Girls’ Lax Goes 5-1 in Last 6 Games to End at 9-9

RUF AND TUMBLE: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Shelby Ruf races upfield in recent action. Senior star and Merrimack College commit Ruf led the Panthers in scoring this spring with 72 points on 60 goals and 12 assists as PDS went 9-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After losing 15-9 to WW/P-North in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament in early May to fall to 4-8, the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team could have thrown in the towel on the rest of its season.

Instead, PDS saved its best for its last, going 5-1 down the stretch to end the spring with a 9-9 record. more

Overcoming Hurdles in Two Years of Planning, 1st Annual Princeton Triathlon Makes a Splash

GOOD TRI: Dana Palumbo handles her bike in the transition area at the first annual Princeton Triathlon last Saturday. Palumbo, 43, of Marlton, N.J. placed first overall in the SuperSprint Triathlon division at the event. She posted a winning chip time of 28:23.88 over the course which included a 300-meter swim in the Community Park Pool allowed by a 5-mile bike ride around Moore Street and a 1.5 mile run in and around the CP area. (Photo by Allison Brooks)

By Bill Alden

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again is a classic proverb meant to inspire persistence.

Those words could serve as an appropriate motto for Shawn Elwood and the Princeton High Triathlon Club.

In 2023, Elwood, now a PHS junior, and the student members and adult advisors of the club decided they wanted to stage a triathlon in Princeton. more

Princeton Summer Hoops League Tipping Off 36th Year, Boasting Plenty of Talent as Princeton Supply Chases 3-Peat

SUPPLY SIDE: Princeton Supply’s Troy Jones looks to pass the ball last August in the championship series of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Jones helped top-seeded Princeton Supply sweep third-seeded Lob City in the best-of-three series to earn its second straight league title. Jones is back this summer as Princeton Supply looks to earn a title three-peat. The league is tipping off its 36th year on June 11 with a doubleheader. As of press time, with the Community Park outdoor courts currently being repaired, the league was hoping to play the games at the Princeton Middle School gym. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League tips off its 36th year this Wednesday night, it boasts the talent across its eight squads to produce another competitive campaign.

“It is a solid group; from one to eight, there are no duds in there,” said Princeton Recreation Department Executive Director and League Commissioner Evan Moorhead. “These are all teams that, on paper, should be able to compete.” more

June 4, 2025

Strawberries Galore

The Arena family of Brooklyn, N.Y., were among the visitors last weekend at the Strawberry Festival at Terhune Orchards. Attendees share their favorite ways to enjoy strawberries in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Angela Lorenz)