March 8, 2023

Drama by A.A. Milne On Stage in Morrisville

PRE-POOH PLAY: Before “Winnie the Pooh,” A.A. Milne wrote the play “The Dover Road.” In this scene from the production by ActorsNET, Latimer (G. Anthony Williams) and his guest, Anne (Charlotte Kirkby), discuss the realities of marriage with their morning tea.

Creative partners Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski and Charlotte Kirkby have been unearthing the forgotten plays of the past, and breathing new life into them. Their current project is the rare revival of a 1922 comedy The Dover Road by A. A. Milne, being presented by ActorsNET of Bucks County at the Heritage Center Theater, 635 North Delmorr Avenue in Morrisville, Pa., March 10-26.  more

“Meditative Imagery” Joint Photo Exhibit at Gallery 14

“THE EYE OF DOUBLE O”: This work by Phillip “Dutch” Bagley is part of “Meditative Imagery,” his dual exhibit with John Stritzinger, on view March 11 through April 2 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell presents “Meditative Imagery,” featuring the work of Phillip “Dutch” Bagley and John Stritzinger, March 11 through April 2. Both artists are known for their explorations of shape and form, both natural and man-made. For this exhibit they have taken a meditative approach to their images. more

Works by Paquet-Morante Now at David Scott Gallery

“WATERSHED SWAMP, SPRING”: This acrylic on canvas painting by Léni Paquet-Morante is featured in “Within View: Paintings and Drawings,” her solo exhibition on view at David Scott Gallery for BHHS Fox & Roach, Realtors on Nassau Street through April 15. An opening reception is on Sunday, March 19, from 2 to 5 p.m.

The latest installment at David Scott Gallery for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Realtors is “Within View: Paintings and Drawings,” a solo exhibition of works by Léni Paquet-Morante, an accomplished painter and sculptor with the Johnson Atelier Studio Program in Hamilton. An opening reception is on Sunday, March 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.

“In my previous exhibition, ‘Intersection,’ I attempted to relate the connections between the visual language of four unique abstract artists,” said Scott. “With Léni’s show, I invite the viewer to seek out the intersecting elements within a single artist’s vocabulary.” more

Johnson Honored in Year-Long Art Project

“THE AWAKENING”: The late J. Seward Johnson’s 70-foot-wide sculpture will be installed at D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell Township in May as part of the year-long project “Seward Johnson | Celebrating the Everyday.” (Photo by Ken Ek)

Something really big is coming to Hopewell Valley thanks to the Hopewell Valley Arts Council and the Seward Johnson Atelier. Together, they are partnering on an ambitious year-long art project, “Seward Johnson | Celebrating the Everyday,” to honor the late J. Seward Johnson II’s life and the things that he loved. The project runs from now through January 2024, and will incorporate sculpture installations, events, and community engagement.

An internationally renowned sculptor, Johnson was one of Hopewell Valley’s most beloved and well-known artists. Seward Johnson embodied the Johnson family’s long tradition of philanthropy along with his own interest, the arts. Serving as an influential mentor to many local artists, he was the founder of Grounds For Sculpture and the Seward Johnson Atelier in Hamilton. more

Onome Olotu Named ACP Artist-In-Residence

Onome Olotu
(Photo by Emezie Asogwa)

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has announced painter Onome Olotu as its Spring 2023 Anne Reeves Artist-in-Residence (AIR).

Olotu was born in 1993 in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied art as a painting major at the University of Benin. After graduation, she worked as a curatorial assistant at the National Gallery of Art, Abuja, and later as an art teacher before taking on full time studio practice at the Universal Studios of Art, Lagos in 2018. Working predominantly in charcoal and acrylics, her work engages personal family and institutional archives to respond to social and political events. Olotu’s work has been exhibited across Nigeria and recently at the exhibition “Sankofa: African Routes, Canadian Roots” at the Museum of Anthropology, The University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada. She currently lives and works between Lagos and Princeton. more

Rafa Nadal Academy and Athena Programs Offer Tennis Camp at The Lawrenceville School

TOP-NOTCH TENNIS: “There have been various local tennis camps, including Nike, in the past, but to bring the Rafa Nadal Academy Camp from Mallorca is truly something unique and special. We thought there was a need for a specialized tennis camp with proven methodology both on and off the court.” Marta Ramos is president of Athena Programs, which is partnered with the Rafa Nadal Academy in bringing the Academy’s special training program to The Lawrenceville School this summer. She is shown with a number of coaches from the Rafa Nadal Academy.

By Jean Stratton

Young tennis players are excited about a new upcoming opportunity this summer. The Rafa Nadal Academy Camp, in partnership with Athena Programs, will be on-site at The Lawrenceville School July 24 through July 29. The chance to improve their game and maximize their potential is awaiting them.

Headquartered in Mallorca, Spain, the Rafa Nadal Academy Camp now offers six locations at private schools in the U.S., including in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and now New Jersey. more

Princeton Men’s Basketball Rallies to Edge Penn in OT, Earning Ivy Title, Priming for League Postseason Tourney 

TITLE PUSH: Princeton University men’s basketball player Tosan Evbuomwan pushes past a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, senior star Evbuomwan tallied 15 points with seven rebounds and six assists to help Princeton rally from a 17-point second half deficit to defeat Penn 77-69 in overtime. The win clinched a second straight Ivy League regular season championship for Princeton, which shared this year’s title with Yale. This weekend, the Tigers, now 19-8 overall and 10-4 Ivy, will be hosting the Ivy postseason tournament which will decide the league’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament. Princeton is seeded second and will face third-seeded Penn in a semifinal on March 11 with the victor advancing to the final a day later to take in the winner of the Yale-Cornell semi. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There were smiles and hugs as the Princeton University men’s basketball team held its annual Senior Day celebration last Saturday afternoon before playing Penn.

For Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson, this year’s senior group has carved out a special place in his heart.

“We took a break for a year and all of the guys stayed in school, so I only had three years with them,” said Henderson, whose Class of 2023 includes Tosan Evbuomwan, Konrad Kiszka, Jacob O’Connell, Ryan Langborg, and Keeshawn Kellman.

“From the top down, Tosan through to Konrad, Jacob, Ryan, and Keeshawn, there is humility and grace. Everything that I have asked them to do over the course of their time here they have done it and now they are passing it along to the next group. That is what you want and the only way a program works.”

Evbuomwan, a native of Newcastle, England, savored the pregame ceremony. more

Showing Resilience by Topping Union in ECAH Playoff, PU Men’s Hockey Heading to Harvard for Quarters Series

COMING THROUGH: Princeton University men’s hockey player Spencer Kersten, left, controls the puck in a game this season. Last Saturday, Kersten scored the final two goals for ninth-seeded Princeton as it defeated eighth-seeded Union 6-4 in an ECAC Hockey one-game first round playoff contest. The Tigers, now 13-17 overall, will be playing in a best-of-three ECACH quarterfinal series at second-seeded Harvard (21-6-2) starting on March 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Unable to get its offense going, the Princeton University men’s hockey fell 3-1 at Union College in its regular season finale on February 25.

Last Saturday, Princeton got another shot at Union in Schenectady, N.Y., as the teams met in an ECAC Hockey one-game first round playoff contest and the Tigers were clicking from the start. more

Coming Up Big in Run to 2nd Straight Girls’ State Title, Rose Finishes Her PHS Wrestling Career on a High Note

ROSE IN BLOOM: Princeton High senior Ava Rose is all smiles last Saturday at Atlantic City as she shows off her path to victory at 114 pounds at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ State Wrestling Championships. It marked the second straight state title for Rose, who is headed to the University of Iowa where she will be competing for its women’s wrestling program. (Photo provided by Bruce Rose)

By Justin Feil

Ava Rose completed a dominant run to her second straight New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ State Wrestling Championship.

It’s another achievement for the Princeton High School senior, who has far bigger aspirations, including an Olympic gold medal.

“It was a lot cooler,” said Rose of capturing back-to-back crowns at 114 pounds. “It was really awesome. I didn’t really take it all in until I was on the podium, and then I was looking around.” more

Capping Superb Season Which Saw it Win MCT Title, PHS Boys’ Hockey Advanced to Public A State Quarters

NO FEAR: Princeton High boys’ hockey goalie Noah Vitulli makes a save in action this winter. Sophomore Vitulli emerged as a key performer for the Tigers in his first season of varsity action. PHS won the Mercer County Tournament and advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state tournament quarterfinals this winter on the way to posting a 15-7-1 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Heading into its first-round contest of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state tournament at Passaic Tech, the Princeton High boys’ hockey team didn’t know exactly what it was getting into.

“It was a game where we didn’t have much intel about them and I don’t know what they knew about us,” said PHS first-year head coach Rik Johnson as he looked ahead to the February 23 contest.

Coming off a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against Hopewell Valley in the Mercer County Tournament final a week earlier, the Tigers were determined to stick their winning formula. more

Sticking Together Through Frustrating Campaign, PHS Girls’ Hockey Laid Groundwork for the Future

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Princeton High girls’ hockey head coach Christian Herzog addresses his players during a stoppage of play in a game at Hobey Baker Rink this season. The Tigers stuck together as they posted a 0-15 record this winter. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Princeton High girls’ hockey team didn’t taste victory this winter, Christian Herzog had a positive message for his players at their year-end banquet.

“I was, ‘Look ladies, I appreciate you sticking with it — the season is what it is,’” said PHS head coach Herzog, whose squad ended up with a final record of 0-15. “‘You could tell that your hockey skills got better from the first practice to the last game; 99 percent of the girls on this team are still new to ice hockey. We have a lot of sophomores and freshmen.’” more

Staying Positive as it Dealt with Ups and Downs, Hun Boys’ Hoops Advanced to MAPL, Prep A Semis

INSIDE JOB: Hun School boys’ basketball player Anthony Aririguzoh heads to the basket in a game this season. Senior star Aririguzoh provided leadership and production this winter to help Hun go 14-13 and advance to the semis of both the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and Prep A state tournaments. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Hun School boys’ basketball team, its two games against the Lawrenceville School this winter proved to be a microcosm of a season filled with highs and lows.

In a regular season meeting between the local rivals on January 31, Hun sputtered in a disappointing 85-65 loss. But when the foes met in the first round of the Prep A state tournament two weeks later, the Raiders turned the tables on the Big Red, rallying from a late deficit to pull out a dramatic 68-66 win as Anthony Aririguzoh drained a half-court buzzer beater. more

March 1, 2023

Soaking in Success

Members of the Princeton High girls’ swim team celebrate in the pool last Saturday after PHS defeated Chatham 91-79 in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state final at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology. The Tigers ended the season with a 14-0 record as they earned the program’s first girls’ state title since 1993. For details on the meet, see page 27. (Photo provided by Carly Misiewicz)

Trash Cart Rollout Causes Some Confusion

By Anne Levin

Between a delay in delivery of new trash carts and a flyer with the wrong date for pickup of the old ones, the mid-February debut of Princeton’s new trash collection system did not go as smoothly as planned. Several complaints were lodged on the app NextDoor from residents who claimed they were not aware of the new program, despite information in the town’s newsletter, stories in the local press, on flyers, and on social media.

Princeton Councilwoman Eve Niedergang, who serves on the Infrastructure and Operations Committee and is liaison to the Princeton Environmental Commission, has been busy posting information to explain the program and correct some misperceptions about its purposes.

“I’ve been very active on NextDoor in the past few days, to repeat the facts about the program,” she said Tuesday morning. “It was significant to me that no one came onto the Council meeting last night to complain. So hopefully, the information is getting out there.”

The new system is “part of a larger effort to make more fiscally and environmentally responsible changes to how the town approaches waste management,” reads a press release compiled by Taft Communications, the town’s communications consultant, and issued by the municipality after the rollout. more

Eisgruber Visits Council For Annual Dialogue About Town and Gown

By Anne Levin

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber delivered his annual update on the University to Princeton Council at its meeting Monday evening, marking the 10th year of what has become something of a tradition.

Echoing some of the issues put forth in his recent State of the University letter to faculty, students, and staff, Eisgruber spoke briefly about the campus since returning to full, post-pandemic enrollment. A continued commitment to diversity, increases in stipends and financial aid, engagement with the town, and the value of a liberal arts education were among the topics he spoke about before listening to comments and concerns from members of Council.

Eisgruber expressed his gratitude to the town for its work with the University during the pandemic. “Obviously, we’re not completely out of it yet,” he said. “On the other hand, I’ve been very happy over the last week to watch the numbers dropping in Mercer County and New Jersey, and it’s great to be able to collaborate in the way we did. So thank you for that.”

The addition of two new residential colleges and the largest incoming freshman class in University history are among the achievements of the past year, Eisgruber said. More students from low- and middle-income backgrounds are enrolled. Students who use the University’s Pay with Points program, which allows those with unlimited meal plans to use some dining points at selected off-campus locations, have brought “fresh enthusiasm for interacting with the town,” he said. “I think they’re also very interested in engaging with the town in other ways, including volunteer efforts.” more

University Grad Students Take Steps To Form Union; Administration is Silent

By Donald Gilpin

On February 24, just nine days after a rally calling for fair wages, more affordable housing from the University, and the right to form a union, the Princeton Graduate Students United (PGSU) announced that a majority of Princeton University’s more than 3,000 graduate students had signed union cards.

The University’s graduate student workers can now file for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board since more than 30 percent of graduate students have signed a union card, but PGSU leaders are going for larger percentages before taking the next steps.

“Right now we’re at a majority,” said union representative Aditi Rao, a graduate student in classics. “We’d love to be at a super majority, which is to say we would love to have 67 percent of the graduate body sign their union card. At that point it would be very clear to us and to the University that the grounds are clear for a win.”

The next step in the process towards unionization is likely to be petitioning the University for voluntary recognition. “It’s rare that an employer will voluntarily recognize its workers and allow them to form a union,” said Tim Alberdingk, a University graduate student in computer science and member of the PGSU communications committee. “So you go to the National Labor Relations Board to organize a date for an election. If 50 percent plus one vote yes, you have a legally recognized union and you can create a bargaining committee to bargain with your employer. We would then have a direct say over conditions and any kind of changes we want to see at Princeton we could propose in a contract.” more

University’s Toni Morrison Exhibitions Put the Creative Process on Display

CREATIVITY AND MEMORY: A series of exhibitions, performances, and events celebrating and exploring the life and creative process of Toni Morrison, Nobel laureate and former Princeton University professor, kicked off last week. (Photo by Princeton University, Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy)

By Donald Gilpin

Toni Morrison, Nobel laureate and a former Princeton University professor who died in 2019, is making her presence felt in multiple powerful exhibitions and events honoring her work and her memory in Princeton over the coming months.

“Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory,” an exhibition of more than 100 items from the University’s archives, opened last Wednesday in the Princeton University Library’s Milberg Gallery, and last Saturday saw the opening of “Cycle of Creativity: Alison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers,” an art exhibit at the Princeton Art Museum’s Art@Bainbridge on Nassau Street.

“In all, the ambitious initiative suggests the enormous influence that Morrison had not only on Princeton — where she taught for 17 years beginning in 1989, later lending her name to Morrison Hall, home to the school’s Department of African American Studies — but also on the culture of American life,” states a University press release. more

Tiger Park Vigil and Chapel Remembrance Commemorate Anniversary of Ukraine War

By Donald Gilpin

On Friday, February 24, one year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gatherings in Ukraine and around the world took note of the somber anniversary. In Princeton a vigil and rally for a “diplomatic surge,” led by the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), took place in Tiger Park at Palmer Square in the afternoon, and an evening event in the University Chapel, led by Ukrainian students, commemorated “365 Days of War” with student speeches and music.

“It was somber and there was a feeling of reflection, but also hope,” said Princeton University first-year student Sofiia Shapovalova, one of the organizers of the University Chapel event. “The students finished their speeches by saying ‘Slava Ukraini,’ which means ‘Glory to Ukraine,’ and the audience would respond with ‘Heroyam Slava,’ which means ‘Glory to the heroes.’ That was very beautiful.”

Shapovalova, who was born in Ukraine, immigrated to the United States in 2008 with her parents, but the rest of her family is still in Ukraine. She reflected on the past year in a speech at the chapel event and also in an article published last week in the Daily Princetonian.  more

Updates to Environmental Resource Inventory Are Presented at General Information Session

By Anne Levin

At a February 22 meeting of the Princeton Environmental Commission, details of the town’s Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI), which is currently being updated, were presented to the public.

The general information session was designed to encourage feedback from the public.

While only a few people offered comments at the end of the session, Princeton’s Open Space Manager Cindy Taylor said anyone who has suggestions, special knowledge, or data they want to contribute can do so by emailing her at ctaylor@princetonnj.gov.

“We want to know if anyone has a specific question about Princeton’s environmental resources,” she said. “We don’t want to overlook something that is important, or perhaps specific to Princeton.” more

Greeting Susan Wolfson’s Keats in the Company of Chopin

By Stuart Mitchner

He is the most daring and the proudest poetic spirit of his time.

—Robert Schumann on Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

There is something of the innermost soul of poetry in everything he ever wrote.

—Alfred Tennyson on John Keats (1795-1821)

At this time last year I was matching the power and poignance of Chopin’s music with television images of  Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, mothers and children fleeing to Poland, gazing out from rain-streaked train windows. For the past week, I’ve been listening again to Chopin while reading Princeton Professor Susan Wolfson’s A Greeting of the Spirit: Selected Poetry of John Keats (Harvard University Press $35). So, no surprise, I’ve been finding Chopin in Keats and Keats in Chopin.

On Chopin’s seventh birthday, March 1, 1817, Keats published his first book, Poems, which contained “To Kosciusko,” a sonnet celebrating the leader of Poland’s 1794 rebellion against Prussian and Russian rule. It’s possible that one of Chopin’s British acquaintances called the poem to his attention during the U.K. visits of 1837 and 1848. Chopin played the last concert of his life on November 16, 1848, at the Guildhall in London, a benefit for Polish refugees (“my compatriots”). He died a year later in Paris. more

Princeton University Glee Club Presents Annual Nollner Memorial Concert

By Nancy Plum

Princeton University Glee Club paid tribute to former longtime Glee Club conductor Walter L. Nollner this past weekend with a concert linking the high Baroque to the 21st century. Saturday night’s performance at Richardson Auditorium featured a piece by composer and former Princeton student Caroline Shaw as well as three choral/orchestral works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Led by Glee Club conductor Gabriel Crouch, the concert was in partnership with “02.24.2022,” the Princeton student organization supporting victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  more

“Wuthering Heights” Uses Music, Puppetry to Retell Brontë’s Tale; Wise Children’s Contemporary, Stylized Adaptation Comes to McCarter

WISE CHILDREN’S “WUTHERING HEIGHTS”: Performances are underway for Wise Children’s “Wuthering Heights.” Based on the novel by Emily Brontë; and adapted and directed by Emma Rice, the play with songs runs through March 12 at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. Above, from left, are the Leader of the Moors (Jordan Laviniere), Heathcliff (Ricardo Castro), and Catherine (Eleanor Sutton) — with a band behind them. (Photo by Jimmy O’Shea)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

McCarter is presenting Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights. Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, which depicts the idiosyncratic bond between the free-spirited Catherine Earnshaw and her embittered foster brother Heathcliff, is interpreted via a unique, contemporary aesthetic.

Adapted and directed by Emma Rice, this version resolutely avoids the naturalism and textual fidelity typically expected of a Masterpiece episode in favor of a lively, unabashedly theatrical presentation that incorporates music, dance, and puppetry.

Rice is the artistic director of Wise Children, the Bristol (U.K.)-based company that she founded in 2017. McCarter is the final stop on the U.S. tour of Wuthering Heights. more

Live Concert Tribute To Aretha Franklin

QUEEN OF SOUL: The cast of “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, coming to State Theatre New Jersey March 11 and 12. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)

State Theatre New Jersey presents R.E.S.P.E.C.T., an electrifying tribute celebrating the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin on Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $40-$98. more

Tickets Now on Sale For Sourland Festival

MUSIC, WINE, AND MORE: The Sourland Mountain Festival returns July 15 with a wide range of activities for all ages. Proceeds benefit the Sourland Conservancy. (Photo by Richard Paul)

On Saturday, July 15 from 3 to 8:30 p.m., the Sourland Conservancy will be hosting its 18th Annual Sourland Mountain Festival at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes.

A VIP Experience will again be provided by The Ryland Inn, and will feature live music, local food, craft beer, wine and spirits, mountain history, and family activities. Proceeds will benefit the Sourland Conservancy, the local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the history and ecology of the Sourland Mountain region of Central New Jersey.  more

“Champions of Magic” Coming to State Theatre

MAGIC AND MYSTERY: “Champions of Magic” brings interactive wonders to the stage of State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on Saturday, March 4. (Pamela Raith Photography)

State Theatre New Jersey presents “Champions of Magic” on Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m. The “Champions of Magic” cast presents “incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that must be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage, and a finale beyond explanation,” according to a press release.

Tickets range from $29-$99.  more