News | Town Topics

May 17, 2023

Local and International Films on Bill at Nassau Film Festival This Weekend

“THE WITHERSPOON-JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD”: Welcome Weekend in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood was the impetus for a film being shown at this year’s Nassau Film Festival, to be held May 20 and 21 at the Princeton Garden Theatre, or virtually May 22 through June 15. The festival, run by Lew Goldstein, is one of a handful for short films. (Film still courtesy of Nick Kochmann and Patrick McDonald)

By Wendy Greenberg

Having grown up in Trenton and Princeton, Rebecca Pack Burr returned to Princeton from the South to attend to her mother. That’s when she met a Trenton High School student — a caregiver’s daughter — who described the deteriorating physical conditions at the old high school.

Dismayed at the high school’s conditions, and the political process, Burr, who has been a filmmaker, video producer, and journalist, decided to document the sometimes contentious process that resulted in a new high school. The film, We Deserve Better; The Kids are Alright, takes the audience through the political process and closes at opening day of the new Trenton Central High School.

The documentary film is an entrant in the Nassau Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21.

COMPASSION CONQUERS: Martha’s Vineyard residents Rachel Self, an immigration lawyer, and Larkin Starlings, a tavern and restaurant owner, told a gathering of Latin American Legal Defense and Education (LALDEF) supporters how they and their fellow islanders welcomed an unanticipated planeload of Venezuelan immigrants.

By Donald Gilpin

Rachel Self, an immigration lawyer who lives on Martha’s Vineyard, got the call on September 14, 2022. “There were 49 people who had just been dropped off on the island, and none of them spoke English and nobody knew where they came from, and nobody knew what to do,” she told a gathering of Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) supporters at the Nassau Presbyterian Church earlier this month.

Self and Larkin Stallings, also a Martha’s Vineyard resident, told the story of how the island welcomed a planeload of Venezuelan immigrants, who had been transported from Texas by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

LALDEF Board Chair Pete Taft of Princeton noted in introducing the speakers, “We have a home in Martha’s Vineyard, and my two worlds collided last August when the governor of Florida, in a breathtaking act of cruelty, shipped 49 Venezuelans to the Vineyard, but my summer community embraced them with open arms and it was breathtaking compassion that I saw.”

Larkin, a tavern and restaurant owner and vice president of the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services organization, got involved soon after the immigrants’ arrival. He was sitting with his wife, a Mexican American from south Texas, at their restaurant when he got the call that the 49 had arrived and translators were needed. They left their food and drinks on the table and met the immigrants a few minutes later at St. Andrews Church in Edgartown on the island.
more

“Morven Moves” Brings Dance to Morven Museum & Garden

DANCE AT MORVEN: Morven Museum & Garden presents “Morven Moves,” its first concert devoted solely to dance, on Sunday, May 21 at 2 p.m. Luminarium Dance, shown here, performed in the garden at last year’s Morven Fourth of July Jubilee. (Photo by Chroma Studios)

By Wendy Greenberg

Morven has been a bastion of music, art, and culture since it opened as a museum and garden in 2004, and before then as a governor’s mansion and historic home. But it was not a showcase just for dance — until now.

The beautiful Morven backyard will be the scene of the first concert devoted solely to dance, “Morven Moves,” on Sunday, May 21 at 2 p.m.

Although there have been what he called “bread crumbs” of dance at Morven, such as a Fourth of July Jubilee last year, said Marketing Manager Grant Jacoby, a full dance concert is a first. The idea germinated when Jacoby started working at Morven in January 2022, and saw the site. A dancer and choreographer himself, “the idea has been percolating since my interview,” he said.

The dance performance aligns with Morven’s mission, he said, which is “preserving and celebrating authentic stories.”
more

Author Maloof Talks at Library; Sessions Holds Virtual Discussion

Princeton Public Library is hosting two upcoming events, one virtual and one in-person.

Author Joan Maloof will be in the Princeton Public Library Community Room on Monday, May 22, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

The author of Nature’s Temples: A Natural History of Old-Growth Forests explores the science and alchemy of old-growth forests and makes a compelling case for their protection.

Maloof is professor emerita of biological sciences at Salisbury University in Maryland. She is also the author of Treepedia and Teaching the Trees.

The program is presented in-person and via livestream, in partnership with the Friends of Herrontown Woods, Friends of the Drew Forest and Princeton University Press.

150 Variations On a Theme of Rachmaninoff

By Stuart Mitchner

If I had any plan in composing this theme, I was thinking only of sound. I wanted to ‘sing’ the melody on the piano, as a singer would sing it.

—Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) on Piano Concerto No. 3

Because Rachmaninoff was born on April 1, NPR.org ran a 2016 April Fool’s jeu d’esprit on the composer’s “secret career” as a “performer of amazing feats of strength” in various English music halls. The most amusingly convincing of three doctored photographs of “Rock Mannenough” shows him riding a bicycle carrying three leggy, scantily clad females, one with her thighs locked around his neck, the other two hanging on either side waving to the crowd. The composer’s deadpan face has been photoshopped onto the bike rider’s body.

The painting on the cover of Max Harrison’s book Rachmaninoff: Life, Works, Recordings (Continuum 2006) reminds me of poker-faced Hoagy Carmichael, composer of “Stardust” and “Georgia On my Mind.” Although he’s in shirt and tie, Rachmaninoff looks a long way from the concert hall. He could be playing in a bar or a nightclub or at home. Put a trench coat and a fedora on him, give him a gun, and he’s a Russian Bogart with the existential charisma of Albert Camus.

Smiling with Rach 3

My guess is that one of the rare times Rachmaninoff smiled a full all-out smile was upon finishing the Piano Concerto No. 3, or Rach 3, a fiendishly difficult piece. According to Steinway-Piano.com, Rachmaninoff had been told by violinist Fritz Kreisler that “some young Russian” plays No. 3 “like nothing I ever heard, and you have to meet him.” Soon Vladimir Horowitz and Rachmaninoff got together at Steinway Hall, where the composer played the orchestra part on one piano while Horowitz played the solo part on the other. Rachmaninoff was amazed: “He swallowed it whole. He had the courage, the intensity, and daring that make for greatness.”

By Nancy Plum

One does not often hear concertos for viola — an instrument often hidden within the orchestra. However, Hector Berlioz’s Harold in Italy is much more than a concerto; its form is that of a programmatic symphony, with each of the four movements describing scenes of the southern region of Italy. Princeton Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Rossen Milanov, brought Berlioz’s symphonic work to Richardson Auditorium this past weekend to close the 2022-23 orchestral season. Joining the Orchestra for this season finale was guest violist Roberto Díaz, a veteran performer and noted educator.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra preceded the Berlioz work with two pieces just as descriptive. Julia Perry was one of a cadre of internationally-known 20th-century American composers whose works have been underperformed but are now receiving new attention. Perry’s Study for Orchestra was premiered in 1952 under the name Short Piece for Orchestra and has become popular for its appeal and innovative approach to orchestration. In Sunday afternoon’s performance, Princeton Symphony Orchestra presented this short and concise work emphasizing its jazz style, which was consistent with American music of the time. A number of instrumental soloists were showcased, including flutist Anthony Trionfo and concertmaster Claire Bourg. Milanov kept the orchestral sound lean, aided by very clean trumpets.

“BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY”: Performances are underway for “Blues for an Alabama Sky.” Written by Pearl Cleage, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Nicole A. Watson, the play runs through May 28 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre. Above, from left, close friends Sam (Stephen Conrad Moore), Guy (Kevin R. Free), Delia (Maya Jackson), and Angel (Crystal A. Dickinson) face a major disruption when a conservative Southerner falls for Angel. (Photo by Matt Pilsner)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

McCarter is presenting Blues for an Alabama Sky. Deftly written by Pearl Cleage, the 1995 drama depicts a tight-knit circle of friends living in a Harlem apartment building in 1930.

The title reflects an unlikely relationship between two of the protagonists. The bohemian neighbors’ lives are upended when a free-spirited blues singer and nightclub performer, Angel (portrayed by Crystal A. Dickinson) is pursued by Leland (Brandon St. Clair), a conservative, religious widower from Tuskegee — who only has been in Harlem for a few weeks.

In a program note, Dramaturg Faye M. Price notes that the time setting captures a period of “great transition for African Americans, from the creative exhilaration of the Harlem Renaissance to the despair of the Great Depression to the migration from the Jim Crow South to cities in the North.”

Cleage probes a confluence of social issues: homophobia, racism, sexism, and reproductive rights. The compelling script — by turns funny and poignant — accomplishes this by letting events unfold as the characters, with vastly divergent worldviews and priorities, interact and collide.

SUCCESS STORY: “I think about who we are and what we offer. We are a place where people can come to be together, find special records and CDs, and talk about music.” Jon Lambert, owner of the popular Princeton Record Exchange, is proud of the store’s extraordinary selection of thousands of CDs, LPs, and DVDs, and of its long history and reputation.

By Jean Stratton

When you come to the Princeton Record Exchange, don’t be in a hurry. Plan to spend some time. It is totally intriguing!

Filled with thousands of CDs, LPs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and more, it offers every category of music, from rock and jazz to classical and country to blues and soul, rap and hip-hop, movie soundtracks, shows, and more. More than 100,000 titles in stock!

This is a special place. It has been rated a top record store in the U.S. by BuzzFeed, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, CNN, USA Today, GQ, and the Wall Street Journal, and featured in many other publications. The New York Times is quoted as saying, “Customers come from as far away as Scotland and Japan or as close as around the corner.”

In this age of online shopping and digital messaging in every way, Princeton Record Exchange (known informally as PREX) is a bricks and mortar, walk-in store. Customers can browse, find something special for their collection, and share information with each other.

As it reports in its mission statement: “Princeton Record Exchange is dedicated to providing an alternative to the streaming services and online stores that have come to dominate the music and movie retailing world. We take pride in our low pricing, the high quality of our merchandise, and the depth of our selection.”

MASON AT STATE THEATRE: Dave Mason brings his “Endangered Species Tour” to the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Opening for Mason is Southern rock group The Georgia Thunderbolts.

The State Theatre New Jersey presents “Dave Mason: Endangered Species Tour 2023” on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Opening for Mason is Southern rock group The Georgia Thunderbolts. Tickets range from $29-$79.

Mason left Traffic in 1969 to pursue a solo career in the U.S. Mason has penned over 100 songs and has three gold albums: Alone Together, Dave Mason, and Mariposa De Oro, and one platinum album Let It Flow, which contained the Top 10 single “We Just Disagree.”

DARK COMEDY AT KELSEY: Susan Schwirck, on couch, and Parker Madison rehearse for the upcoming Theatre-To-Go production of “Other Desert Cities” May 26 through June 4 at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor. (Photo courtesy of Theatre-To-Go)

Theatre-To-Go will present the dark comedy Other Desert Cities May 26 through June 4 at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor.

Other Desert Cities, which won a Tony Award nomination for Best New Play in 2011, takes place in Palm Springs, Calif., during a holiday gathering. When a family member reveals she is going to publish a memoir about a painful chapter in the family’s history, turmoil ensues, and political views collide revealing a dysfunctional family situation that is full of surprise and touching moments.

“THE AWAKENING”: An opening ceremony for the late J. Seward Johnson’s monumental sculpture will be held on Sunday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell Township.

The Hopewell Valley Arts Council and The Johnson Atelier are hosting a community-wide sculptural celebration this year, “Seward Johnson | Celebrating the Everyday.” This year-long public art project highlights the life and work of J. Seward Johnson II (1930-2020), a renowned sculptor known for his lifelike sculptures of everyday people. One of the major highlights of this project is Johnson’s monumental sculpture, The Awakening, at D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell Township.
more

“Three Artists, Three Viewpoints” at Gallery 14

“A PLACE FOR WORSHIP”: This photograph by Alina Marin-Bliach is featured in “Three Artists, Three Viewpoints,” her exhibition with Scott R. Hoerl and Samuel Vovsi, on view May 20 through June 18 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell. A Meet the Artists event is on Sunday, May 21 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The new exhibit at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell will feature the works of gallery members Alina Marin-Bliach and Scott R. Hoerl, as well as guest artist Samuel Vovsi. They each have traveled extensively, and are presenting shots from their travels and in their own unique styles. The exhibit opens on May 20 and will be on view through June 18. A Meet the Artists event is on May 21 from 1 to 3 p.m.

“VETCH”: This oil on canvas work by Susan Mania is part of “Botanica: An Unlikely Garden,” a group exhibition on view through June 24 at David Scott Gallery at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors, 253 Nassau Street. An opening reception is on Saturday, May 20 from 2-5 p.m.

David Scott Gallery in Princeton is presenting “Botanica: An Unlikely Garden,” a group exhibition of seven artists from Central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pa., through June 24. An opening reception is on Saturday, May 20 from 2-5 p.m.

“ON THE DELAWARE RIVER”: This work by Daniel Garber is featured in a special “Highlights Exhibition” featuring impressionist paintings by Pennsylvania artists, on view May 22-24 at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa.

In celebration of its upcoming American art spring sales, which feature a number of Pennsylvania Impressionists gems, Freeman’s of Philadelphia “is pleased to present a special ‘Highlights Exhibition’ at the celebrated Phillips’ Mill, the birthplace of the New Hope School of the Pennsylvania impressionist movement, from May 22 to May 24,” said Raphaël Chatroux, fine art specialist at Freeman’s. The exhibition, which brings a selection of works by some of the Mill’s founding members back home, is a collaboration of Freeman’s, Phillips’ Mill Community Association, and the New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts.

FOR THE RECORD: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy looks to elude a foe in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday night, sophomore attacker Mackesy tallied six goals but it wasn’t enough as Princeton fell 13-12 at fifth-seeded Penn State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Mackesy’s six-goal outburst tied Jesse Hubbard and Chris Massey for the most goals in an NCAA tournament game by a Tiger. In addition, the performance left him at 55 goals this spring, breaking the program’s single-season goals record, one better than Gavin McBride’s 54 in 2017. The Tigers ended the spring with an 8-7 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

The Princeton University men’s lacrosse team saw a bit of everything that encompassed their season in their first-round NCAA tournament game at fifth-seeded Penn State last Sunday night.

There was the Tigers quick-strike offense highlighted by Coulter Mackesy that enabled them to bolt out to a 7-1 lead. The sophomore finished with six goals to set a new Princeton single-season record with 55 goals.

There were contributions from young players like Andrew McMeekin, who likely wouldn’t have played much this season if it weren’t for a season-ending ACL tear to potential All-American Tyler Sandoval. McMeekin, a freshman, went 18 for 28 at the X against Penn State.

And there were plenty of players like Sandoval and another All-American talent, Sam English, along with standouts like Luc Anderson and Christian Ronda, who were sidelined due to injuries for a team that has been plagued by the injury bug.

CONTACT HITTER: Princeton University softball player Serena Starks makes contact in action last week at the Ivy League postseason tournament. Senior standout Starks performed well from the leadoff spot as the Tigers made the final round of the double-elimination tourney. Princeton topped Harvard 6-0 on Saturday to stay alive in the competition but then fell 3-2 to the Crimson in a winner-take-all finale for the league’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament. Outfielder Starks made the All-Tournament team as the Tigers finished the spring with a 29-20 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Serena Starks prides herself on being a catalyst for the Princeton University softball team in her role as its leadoff hitter.

“I understand that I am batting first and I have to set the tone,” said senior outfielder Starks, a 5’8 native of Huntington Beach, Calif. “Last year, I don’t grasp it as much but this year, I really know what it means to be the leadoff hitter and set the tone.”

This spring, Starks performed that role with aplomb, getting named as the Ivy League Player of the Year. Over the course of the regular season, she led the league in batting average (.411), runs scored (36), and hits (65), hitting 40 points better than the next-best eligible player and with 22 more hits than any other Ivy League player.

Last Friday, as Princeton’s season was on the line, Starks was determined to set the tone. With the Tigers hosting the Ivy postseason tournament and having lost 3-1 to Columbia on Thursday to open the double-elimination event, Princeton faced Yale with the loser to be eliminated.

Starks got a single to lead off the game and came around to score to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

OPEN SEASON: Members of the Princeton University women’s open crew varsity 8 celebrate after they placed first in their grand final at the Ivy League Championships in Worcester, Mass., last Sunday. By virtue of its performance in the Ivy regatta, the Tiger open crew earned an automatic bid the NCAA Championships, which will be taking place from May 26-28 in Camden. (Photo by Ed Hewitt/Row2k, provided by Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Displaying the form that has catapulted it into being ranked No. 1 nationally, the Princeton University women’s open crew varsity 8 placed first in its grand final at the Ivy League Championships in Worcester, Mass., last Sunday.

The Princeton top boat covered the 2,000-meter course on Lake Quinsigamond in a time of 6:01.806, 1.57 seconds ahead of second-place Penn to remain undefeated on the spring.

The varsity 8’s win helped Princeton win the team title as it scored 85 points, edging runner-up Yale by one point. Penn was third with 66 points while Brown was fourth with 64.

The third varsity 8 also placed first while the 2V8 took second and the varsity 4 took third.

Princeton University women’s water polo player Kayla Yelensky unloads the ball in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore Yelensky tallied two fourth quarter goals to help No. 10 Princeton edge No. 3 California 11-9 in the NCAA quarterfinals at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center in Stockton, Calif. It marked the first time the Tigers advanced to the NCAA semis in program history and they became the first non-West Coast team to get to the Final Four since 2016. The Tigers went on to fall 18-8 to Southern Cal in the semis on Saturday to end the season with a final record of 30-4. It was just third time in the program that the Tigers recorded at least 30 victories (2014, 2015). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With Freshman Pitcher Pilicer Making a Big Difference, PHS Softball Laying the Foundation for Future Success

IN RHYTHM: Princeton High softball pitcher Erin Pilicer fires a pitch in a game earlier this spring. Last Wednesday, freshman Pilicer fired a five-hit shutout to help 12th-seeded PHS defeated 13th-seeded Princeton Day School 9-0 in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Invitational, the ‘B’ bracket of the Mercer County Tournament. The Tigers went on to fall 4-0 to ninth-seeded Hamilton/Nottingham in the MCI semis on Saturday. PHS, now 5-12, plays at Rutgers Prep on May 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton High softball team has gone through some ups and downs this spring as it has worked a number of young players into the lineup, Erin Pilicer has been a constant.

Freshman Pilicer has pitched every inning for PHS in her debut campaign, enduring some lopsided defeats along with hurling some mound gems.

As the Tigers lost eight of its first nine games, Pilicer kept her perspective, focusing on the long-term.

“Sometimes it is hard but I have to remember that there is going to be more games in the future when I am older,” said Pilicer. “I am just a freshman.”

FRONT PAIGE: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Paige Gardner races upfield in recent action. Last Friday, senior star Gardner tallied a goal and three assists as top-seeded PDS got edged 10-9 by second-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Prep B state final. On Monday, Gardner tallied eight goals and four assists to help the Panthers defeat Hopewell Valley 17-6 and improve to 10-6. In upcoming action, PDS plays at Princeton High on May 18 and at Haddonfield at May 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was the final sequence of the fourth playoff game in five days for the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team but Paige Gardner was still pressing forward.

With PDS trailing Montclair Kimberley Academy 10-9 in the Prep B state final last Friday afternoon, Gardner took a draw control with 7.7 seconds left and raced toward goal but couldn’t get a shot off before the horn sounded.

“We have all been working so hard this week,” said Gardner, who tallied one goal and three assists in the loss. “I feel like each game, we have slowly started to run out of gas. It is so tough on everyone on the team. They have had a busy schedule too, I think it was a good game.”

Having rallied to edge MKA 13-12 in the Prep B final last year, the Panthers put up a good fight as they looked to thwart the Cougars for a second straight year.

SENIOR MOMENT: Hun School senior pitcher Rohan Sheth fires a pitch in recent action. Last Saturday, Sheth had an eventful day as the Raiders held their annual Senior Day festivities when they hosted the Stony Brook School (N.Y.). Sheth started the game on the mound and pitched 2 1/3 no-hit innings with one unearned run before exiting the contest when struck in the leg by a line drive. Hun went on to lose the game 13-0. The Raiders, who moved to 14-6 with the defeat, will be competing in both the Mercer County Tournament and the Prep A state tourney this week. In the MCT, fourth-seeded Hun is slated to face top-seeded Notre Dame in the semis on May 16 with the victor advancing to the final on May 19 at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark. The Raiders are seeded first in the Prep A tournament and are slated to host an opening round game on May 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Rohan Sheth, last Saturday turned out to be a day to remember for a lot of reasons.

As the Hun School baseball team held its annual Senior Day celebration when it hosted the Stony Brook School (N.Y.), Sheth got the start on the mound.

Senior right-hander Sheth, who has primarily worked out of the bullpen this spring, was thrilled to get the nod.

“Being here with the program for four years, it is a special group of guys I have been with, it is a great moment to be out here,” said Sheth. “Coach (Tom Monfiletto) told me on Wednesday that I was getting the start so I have been looking forward to this for the rest of the week. It is a big honor against a great team. It was good to be out there and competing.”

Competing very well against a foe stocked with Division I commits, Sheth pitched 2 1/3 no-hit innings with one unearned run.

ON THE RISE: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Ryan Demato leaps to fire a shot in a game earlier this spring. Last Saturday, Demato scored four goals to help Hun defeat Lenape High 13-1 and post its fifth straight win. The Raiders, who improved to 9-4 with the victory, will be continuing play in the Mercer County Tournament this week. Top-seeded Hun, the defending county champion, was slated to face fifth-seeded Princeton High in the MCT semis on May 16 with the victor advancing to the final on May 18 at Hopewell Valley High. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last spring, Ryan Demato enjoyed a superb senior campaign for the St. Augustine boys’ lacrosse program.

Demato led the squad in scoring with 62 points on 35 goals and 27 assists and helped the Hermits go 16-2 and win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group A title.

But deciding that he needed to grow on and off the field, Demato opted to do a post-graduate year at the Hun School and play another high school season.

“I just wanted an extra year for recruiting, getting bigger, stronger, faster, and challenging myself with Hun’s curriculum,” said Demato. “It is definitely a difficult school. I think it will prepare me well for college.”

Last Saturday, Demato had a strong effort, scoring four goals as Hun jumped out to a 6-0 halftime lead over Lenape High on the way to a 13-1 victory as it improved to 9-4 and posted its fifth straight win.

May 10, 2023

Honoring the Paul Robeson Tomato

In celebration of Paul Robeson’s 125th birthday, the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) sought inspiration from the tomatoes for which our region is famous, with a special emphasis on the variety named in his honor. ACP artists Maria Evans and Melissa Kuscin designed and painted this mural — the ninth in this rotating spot on Spring Street that continues despite ongoing area construction — to highlight this milestone and an initiative by the Paul Robeson House of Princeton to distribute Paul Robeson Tomato seeds as part of their Robeson Freedom Garden Campaign. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)

Hearing for Dismissed Principal on May 15

By Donald Gilpin

Ousted Princeton High School (PHS) Principal Frank Chmiel will present his case for reinstatement at a public hearing, in person and livestreamed on YouTube, before the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) on Monday, May 15 in the Princeton Middle School cafeteria.

Chmiel wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon, “I am grateful and enthusiastic about the chance to meet with the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education and for the community to be present at my Donaldson hearing on Monday night. The Board has been provided with inaccurate, incomplete, and even false information regarding my work as the principal of Princeton High School. This is a vital opportunity for me to share evidence regarding the truth about my performance and to set the record straight.”

Starting at 7 p.m., following an hour-long period for public comment, the “Donaldson hearing” will provide Chmiel and his attorneys an opportunity “to convince the Board members that they have made an incorrect determination by not offering reemployment,” according to a New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) document on nonrenewals. more

Math Program at PPS, Always Controversial, Ready to Forge Ahead

MOTIVATED MATH MAVENS: Fourth and fifth grade students in all four district elementary schools (Community Park is shown here) participated in Continental Math League this year, solving complex math problems and winning recognition. A Math Program Review will be taking place in the Princeton Public Schools over the next six months. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

By Donald Gilpin

With two of the world’s great mathematics institutions in Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study, the home of Albert Einstein, and an abundance of other math experts in numerous professions and activities, Princeton is definitely a math hotspot.

“Math has always been a hot topic here,” said Princeton Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Tew, who has just launched a comprehensive Math Program Review, which will include surveys and focus groups of students, teachers, and the community, as well as classroom observations and review of professional development offerings, schedules, course sequence, and placement processes. Two Princeton University math professor volunteers are assisting with the professional development review. more