February 8, 2023

Princeton Folk Music Society Presents Singer/Instrumentalist

VERSATILE VOCALIZING: Moira Smiley brings her music to Christ Congregation Church in a concert presented by the Princeton Folk Music Society on February 17.

On Friday, February 17 at 8 p.m., singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Moira Smiley will perform at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. The concert is presented by the Princeton Folk Music Society.

Smiley draws on many different song traditions including Appalachian, Celtic, early music, eastern European, shape-note singing, classical song, and jazz. She plays banjo, accordion, piano, and body percussion. Smiley has toured globally and is known for composing and performing with vocal ensembles, but her solo performances have a character of their own.

Tickets are $5-$25. Visit princetonfolk.org.

Musical Pair

The indie-folk duo Damsel comes to Princeton Makes in Princeton Shopping Center on Sunday, February 19 at 4 p.m., for the “Java Jam” coffeehouse. Beth Meyers, left, combines her vocalizing with playing viola and ukulele, while Monica Mugan, right, sings and plays guitar and ukulele. The two integrate their background as classical chamber musicians with folk music leanings to create an intricate instrumental sound around tight vocal harmonies. Admission is free.

“Classics in Color” Chamber Music Concert

Trio Brillante will perform music for flute, oboe, and piano by composers of Black and Hispanic heritage on Sunday, February 12, 3 p.m., at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church, 1746 South Clinton Avenue in Trenton.

Katherine McClure, flute; Melissa Bohl, oboe; and Esma Pasic-Filipovic, piano, met teaching at Westminster Conservatory, where they performed as a faculty ensemble for many years. McClure and Bohl are members of the Capital Philharmonic New Jersey, which is sponsoring the event.

McClure began her career in Paris and is now an active chamber and orchestral player in the tri-state area. As principal flutist she performs with the Strauss Symphony of America, the Riverside Symphonia, and New York-based Lyons Chamber Players. In addition, she plays flute and piccolo with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, the American Repertory Ballet Orchestra, Bay Atlantic Symphony, and Vox Amadeus of Philadelphia, among other regional groups. McClure teaches flute at Westminster Conservatory and the Lawrenceville School and maintains a private studio in Kingston. On the lighter side, she has toured with the Irish Tenors, Patti Lupone, Lee Ann Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, and, most recently, with Marie Osmond in Atlantic City. more

Award-Winning “Boyz” at State Theatre New Jersey

R&B TRIO: Boyz II Men, the best-selling rhythm and blues group of all time, comes to the State Theatre New Jersey on Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m.

State Theatre New Jersey presents Boyz II Men on Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $59-$234.

Boyz II Men redefined popular R&B, winning four Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Awards, a 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Casino Entertainment Award for their residency at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which launched in 2013.

The trio has sold 64 million albums and continues to craft new albums. Past hits include: “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day,” “Motownphilly,” and many others.

In 2011, Boyz II Men marked their 20th anniversary by releasing a landmark album, fittingly titled Twenty. The album contains the group’s first original material in nearly a decade as well as a dozen remastered classic hits.

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue. Visit stnj.org for tickets.

Works by Leroy Johnson at The Gallery at MCCC

“STORM COMING”: This painting is part of “Paintings and Sculptures by Leroy Johnson,” on view at The Gallery at Mercer County Community College through March 24. The public is invited to an opening reception on February 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Communications Building on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus.

The Gallery at Mercer County Community College now presents “Paintings and Sculptures by Leroy Johnson.”  The exhibition is on view through March 24, with an opening reception on February 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Gallery is located on the College’s West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in the Communications Building. It is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 12 to 7 p.m.

Johnson, who passed away in 2022, was born in 1937 in the Eastwick community of Southwest Philadelphia. He was a self-proclaimed “urban expressionist” whose work was shaped by African American history and life in the inner city. Largely self-taught, Johnson sought to create mixed media through painting, collage, and assemblage sculpture within the “Arte Povera” movement — an Italian art movement from the late 1960s to 1970s whose artists explored a range of unconventional processes and non-traditional “everyday” materials. more

“Where Color Meets Memory” On View at Arts Council

“15/38/27”: This work by Katie Truck is featured in “Where Color Meets Memory,” an exhibition of pantyhose and wire sculpture by Truk and collaged paintings by Dolores Poacelli, on view February 11 through March 11 at the Arts Council of Princeton. An opening reception is on Saturday, February 11 from 3-5 p.m.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will show “Where Color Meets Memory,” an exhibition of collaged paintings and atmospheric sculpture by artists Dolores Poacelli and Katie Truk, February 11 through March 11 in the Arts Council’s Taplin Gallery. The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, February 11 from 3-5 p.m.

Poacelli and Truk have an intuitive relationship to color and form while applying metaphors of human emotions. Brilliant colors cascade through their pieces, charging their compositions and rejecting static confines of interior space.

Poacelli’s collaged paintings are pools of energetic colors and anthropomorphic shapes that rhythmically dance from foreground to background in rich textured atmospheres.  more

“New Year, New Art” at Gallery 14 in Hopewell

“OPALESCENT WATERS”: This work by Charles Miller is part of “New Year, New Art,” on view February 11 through March 5 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell. A Meet the Artists reception is on February 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell kicks off its spring season of exhibits with a members exhibition of new works and favorite pieces on view February 11 through March 5.  In “New Year, New Art,” each member will be showing a selection of work in an eclectic show that highlights the diversity of photography and styles.

A Meet the Artists event is on Sunday, February 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Midway through the season we want to show off what the members have to offer,”  said Philip “Dutch” Bagley, gallery president. “With both longtime members and new members, we look forward to bringing the community an exciting array of photographic fine art.”  more

“Our His-story Month” at Dupree Gallery

“UNTITLED PORTRAIT #16”: This 2020 work by Barbara Bullock is part of “Our His-story Month,” on view through February 26 at the Dupree Gallery in Lambertville. A reception is on February 11 from 5 to 8 p.m.

For Black History Month, the Dupree Gallery in Lambertville presents “Our His-story Month,” is on view through February 26. A reception is on February 11 from 5 to 8 p.m.

This exhibition showcases the importance of Black voices in the art world, institutions, and society as a whole. The artwork on display is from a range of Black artists from local and national communities. Dupree Gallery is a Black-owned business founded by artist James E. Dupree, a native of Philadelphia. It has locations in both Philadelphia and Lambertville.

“There is an excellent quality, diversity, and range of artists exhibiting in this show,” said Dupree. “They are all a variety of emerging, established, and master artists. I want the legacy I established in my 50 years in Philadelphia to resonate here in Lambertville, and to continue building upon my legacy in the fourth quarter of my life.”  more

Works by Alia Bensliman Now at Lawrenceville School

“RESTING GODDESS”: This work by Alia Bensliman is featured in “From North Africa to North America,” on view in the Hutchins Galleries at The Lawrenceville School through April 8. An opening reception is on February 16 at 6:30 p.m.

“From North Africa to North America,” a solo exhibition of works by Alia Bensliman, is on view in the Hutchins Galleries at The Lawrenceville School through April 8. An opening reception is on Thursday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m.

In the exhibition, Bensliman shares with viewers her journey as a Tunisian artist who moved from “a fairly homogenous culture to the very diverse and heterogenous melting pot that is the U.S.” She said this move opened her eyes to new cultures, to different philosophies and views. It also allowed her to learn new techniques and methods. It gave her a feeling of freedom to spread her wings as an artist, to develop her skills, and have a deeper understanding of herself and others.

The Lawrenceville School is located at 2500 Main Street in Lawrenceville. Visit lawrenceville.org for gallery hours. For more information about Bensliman, visit aliabenslimanart.com.

Art at Labyrinth

Paintings by artist Cliff Tisdell honoring Southern writer Carson McCullers are on exhibit at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, through February 28. Labyrinth owner Dorothea von Moltke and Tisdell, shown here, hope to stir interest in McCullers’ work with young readers who may not be familiar with her.

Wide Array of Arrangements, Bouquets, and More are Available at Wildflowers of Princeton Junction

FABULOUS FLORALS: “My arrangements are very personalized, truly one-of-a-kind. Everything is made in-house, and I always try to create something special for the customer.” Michael Piccioni, co-owner of Wildflowers of Princeton Junction, is pleased to create imaginative arrangements, such as those shown here, and he is proud of the firm’s exceptional and long-standing reputation.

By Jean Stratton

“To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wildflower.”

—William Blake

Flowers are a gift on so many levels. Whether carefully planned as part of a backyard landscape, or blooming free and unrestrained in a meadow, or as artfully designed arrangements and bouquets created by professional florists, they are a continuing miracle of beauty and enjoyment

Especially appreciating this wonder of nature is expert horticulturalist Michael Piccioni. Co-owner with Ed Getty of Wildflowers of Princeton Junction, he has a long history in the floral industry.

Originally from Pottsville, Pa., he grew up in a family steeped in the natural world. “My grandfather, who emigrated from Italy, was a farmer, and I grew up surrounded by gardens, From the age of 10, I also helped out in my aunt’s flower shop, and it was all very natural to me.”

He went on to study horticulture at Penn State, and then worked in a flower shop in Philadelphia before he and Getty opened Wildflowers in 1985. Getty specializes in the administrative end of the business, as well as providing technical and lighting services at events. more

Austin Helps PU Men’s Basketball Overcome Cornell, Giving Henderson 200th Win on Historic Night for Tigers

GETTING IN RHYTHM: Princeton University men’s basketball player Deven Austin dribbles upcourt last Saturday against Columbia. Freshman guard Austin scored 10 points to help Princeton defeat the Lions 88-66. A night earlier, Austin scored 13 points and had eight rebounds as Princeton rallied to edge Cornell 89-82 and give head coach Mitch Henderson his 200th career victory. Princeton, now 16-6 overall and 7-2 Ivy League, plays at Dartmouth on February 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

History was both celebrated and made as the Princeton University men’s basketball team hosted Cornell last Friday night.

Before the contest, which matched teams tied atop the Ivy League standings, Princeton held a ceremony honoring the 25th anniversary of the storied 1996-1998 Tiger teams that posted a 73-13 overall record and a 40-2 league mark.

A large contingent of players and coaches from those squads was on hand and introduced to the cheers of the Jadwin Gym crowd. The last two players recognized were the head coaches facing off in the Ivy showdown, Princeton’s Mitch Henderson ’98 and Cornell’s Brian Earl ’99.

“We were so lucky to be influenced by such great mentors and such great coaches,” said Henderson, noting that former coaches Bill Carmody, John Thomson III, and Howard Levy were all present for the event.

“It is a really rare thing. What you want as a head coach for your team is to experience what we got to experience, which is a really special group of guys with great players and  great people. When you come here, you want to make your mark because there have been so many teams before you that have done so. It was just amazing to see so many people — 25 years is a long time ago.”

That experience has greatly impacted Henderson’s coaching approach.

“There are pieces of Brian, Sydney [Johnson], Steve Goodrich, Bill, Joe [Scott], John and Howie in what I do; almost everything I say is regurgitated from somebody else,” said Henderson, noting that Tiger coach Pete Carril, who passed away this past August, was also a huge influence on his coaching.

“Everything should be cited, and then you have put your own stamp on it. It has never been lost on me, how lucky you get to come here. I felt that today. It was very emotional after those teams walked off the floor. It really hit me hard.”

The clash against Cornell turned into an emotional contest as Princeton found itself trailing 45-35 at halftime before rallying for a hard-earned 89-82 win before a crown of 2,241.  more

Plagued by Inconsistency in Frustrating Campaign, Princeton Wrestling Determined to Produce Big Finish

HEAVY LIFTING: Princeton University wrestler Travis Stefanik, top, controls a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, senior Stefanik, ranked No. 33 at 285 pounds, earned a 5-3 sudden victory win over No. 18 Cory Day of Binghamton as the Tigers won the dual 28-10 over the Bearcats. Princeton, now 3-9 overall, has a dual at Penn on February 10 and then hosts Lehigh on February 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Chris Ayres went through slumps during his college wrestling career at Lehigh, and he’s expecting that his Princeton University team will come out of its slump soon.

The Tigers as individuals and as a team have shown their potential, it just hasn’t been as consistently displayed as they would like. Last weekend was more of the same as Princeton split its matches, losing 32-7 to No. 5 Cornell before topping Binghamton, 28-10.

“This year we’ve been in a little bit of a slump and I think it’s been reflected among some guys too,” said Princeton head coach Ayres. “For whatever reason, we are not finding the consistency we’ve had in the past.”

The Tigers have been steadily trending upwards as a program over the last 17 years with Ayres. Whether it’s been individuals making breakthroughs at the national level or the team competing better in the Ivy League or the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) tournament, Princeton has found something to build on each year. This year, the highlights may have to come at the end of the season when the tournaments are biggest. more

Sophomore Star Beatty Comes Through in the Clutch As PHS Boys’ Hockey Rallies to 6-5 Win Over Paul VI

KILLER B: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Brendan Beatty looks for the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, sophomore forward Beatty scored two goals to help PHS rally from a 4-0 deficit to edge Paul VI 6-5. The Tigers, who defeated Central Bucks South (Pa.) 7-5 last Friday to improve to 11-6-1, start play in the Mercer County Tournament this week. The Tigers are seeded sixth in the MCT and will face seventh-seeded WWP Hockey Co-op in a quarterfinal contest on February 8 at the Mercer County Skating Center. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton High boys’ hockey team trailed Paul VI 4-0 late in the second period last Wednesday, Brendan Beatty and his PHS teammates weren’t fazed.

“We just had to play as one team,” said Tiger sophomore forward Beatty. “We just had to stay positive, nobody had their heads down.”

Beatty produced a positive moment for PHS, scoring a goal with 1:38 left in the second period to get the Tigers on the board.

“I just saw the shot and took the shot and TT Zhao was in front of the net screening the goalie,” said Beatty. “I just took the shot and the goalie didn’t see the puck.”

In the third period, the Tigers buried shots, putting together a furious rally which saw them outscore the Eagles 5-1 over the last 10 minutes of the contest.

“Gabe’s goal to make it 4-2, we got a little energy on the bench,” said Beatty referring to a tally by senior Gabe Silverstein which started the outburst. “We stated making some hits and we started making some plays. That is how we bounced back. We were passing the puck. We did not move the puck in the first and second period.” more

Inspired to Come Up Big for Luo on Senior Day, Devlin Stars as PHS Girls’ Hoops Tops Spotswood

RILED UP: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Riley Devlin looks to pass the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard Devlin scored 14 points to help PHS defeat Spotswood 54-26 and improve to 10-9. The Tigers host Medford Tech on February 8 before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Coming off a tough 36-28 defeat to Trenton Central last Friday, the Princeton High girls’ basketball team was determined to get back on the winning track when it hosted Spotswood a day later.

“We lost yesterday, it was tight,” said PHS junior guard Riley Devlin. “We really knew that this game was important.”

The Tigers had additional motivation when they hit the court as the program was holding its annual Senior Day celebration with the star guard Rachel Luo as the sole honoree for the varsity.

“We were so excited, all we wanted to do was to make sure that it was memorable for Rachel,” added Devlin. “We knew we had to play really tough for Rachel.”

The Tigers played tough from the opening tip-off, jumping out to a 28-12 halftime lead.

“We worked really hard,” said Devlin. “I think we played as a team and we shared the ball.” more

PDS Boys’ Hockey Loses at Lawrenceville But Displays Competitive Fire to the End

LOW RIDER: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Brady Logue, right, goes after the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday, freshman standout Logue scored a goal in a losing cause as PDS fell 8-2 at Lawrenceville. The Panthers, who lost 4-1 to Delbarton last Monday to move to 6-8-3, will be starting action in the Gordon Conference tournament on February 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was a new venue but the same excitement as the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team faced local rival Lawrenceville School last Thursday evening.

Playing in Lawrenceville’s gleaming new rink, the stands were packed with some fans overflowing to the balcony and others lining the glass. Both student sections were in full voice, chanting at each other.

Fueled by the electric atmosphere, the foes produced a rollicking first period, filled with end-to-end rushes, bone-crunching hits, scraps, penalties, and goals.

“It is tremendous, this is why so many people come out to this game,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli. “It is an event for both schools, for both communities. The kids get excited to play in the this game. You don’t get this in any other hockey environment at the high school level, you are not replicating that at the club level. For our kids to have that experience, it is so important.”

Lawrenceville jumped out to a 2-0 lead but PDS answered back with a goal by freshman standout Brady Logue. After the Big Red added another goal to go up 3-1, the Panthers responded with a tally by senior star Rosh Nissangaratchie. Lawrenceville tacked on two goals in the last 3:42 of the period to extend its advantage to 5-2. more

Bouncing Back with 2 Wins After Loss to Lawrenceville, Hun Boys’ Basketball Primed for Big Postseason Run

TURNING A CORNER: Hun School boys’ basketball player Anthony Loscalzo dribbles past a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard Loscalzo scored 21 points to help Hun defeat Solebury School (Pa.) 71-48. The Raiders, who improved to 12-9 with the win, will play the Peddie School on February 10 in the opening round of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After starting last week by sinking to a low point with a discouraging loss to rival Lawrenceville, the Hun School boys’ basketball team found itself at a crossroads.

Hun head coach Jon Stone was hoping that the 85-65 defeat to Lawrenceville on January 31 would be a wake-up call as Hun finished the week by playing at Academy of New Church (Pa.) last Thursday and Solebury School (Pa.) two days later.

Bouncing back, the Raiders rallied to edge ANC 61-60 and then cruised to a 71-48 triumph over Solebury as they improved to 12-9.

“We had a really gritty, gutty win against ANC,” said Stone. “We trailed the whole game and we were down 15 twice, so for us to come back and win that game on the road was a really good sign.” more

Stuart Basketball Shows Improvement, Resilience, Battling Hard in Loss to Pennington in Prep B Tourney

MAKING A STATEMENT: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Taylor States heads to the hoops in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman star States scored 18 points in a losing cause as seventh-seeded Stuart fell 61-34 to second-seeded Pennington in the Prep B state quarterfinals. The Tartans, now 3-5, host Peddie on February 8 and Solebury School (Pa.) on February 10 before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Stuart Country Day School basketball team’s 61-34 loss to Pennington in the Prep B state quarterfinals last Saturday was disappointing on one level, the performance actually represented progress for the Tartans.

Having been routed 71-26 by Pennington its season opener on December 5, Stuart displayed reliance and grit in the postseason rematch.

“The light is really shining right now,” said Stuart head coach Tony Bowman, whose team moved to 3-5 with the defeat. “The loss to Pennington was a loss only in the record because it was a win for leadership, for mobility, for our effort, and for our conversation and just being together as a team. It was big for us.”

Seventh-seeded Stuart battled to the final whistle against second-seeded Pennington, getting outscored just 29-27 in the second half.

“We really did well in the third and fourth quarter, it was much closer,” said Bowman. “The girls said, ‘We want more.’ In the beginning of the season, we were kind of distraught. We weren’t wanting to play more games against talented teams. Now they are wanting to play anybody. They want to get on the floor and test their wits. I appreciate that.” more

February 1, 2023

Wassailing the Apple Trees

The Kingsessing Morris Men dancers were part of the annual celebration Sunday afternoon at Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road. The event follows an ancient tradition of protecting the apple trees to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. Attendees share their favorite winter activities in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)

Court Clubhouse Almost Ready for Move

READY TO ROLL: The former Court Clubhouse, hoisted onto steel beams, will be rotated 180 degrees and rolled across Prospect Avenue the week of February 13 to be set on its new foundation. A section of Prospect Avenue between Olden Street and Murray Place will be closed to traffic for about four weeks starting February 1.  (Photo courtesy of Clifford Zink)

By Donald Gilpin

The former Court Clubhouse has been hoisted from its current location at 91 Prospect Avenue, with steel beams and hydraulic jacks inserted below the first floor. Dollies are ready to be placed below the steel beams so the building can rotate 180 degrees and roll across Prospect Avenue to its new location.

The rotation is expected to take three days, currently scheduled for the week of February 13, and it will then take one day to roll the clubhouse across the street and set it on its new foundation adjacent to 114 Prospect, according to a January 20 Princeton University press release.

Constructed in 1927 as the Court Club, one of the University’s eating clubs, the building had more recently served as the home of Princeton’s Office of the Dean for Research. A University plan to move it across the street to a location occupied by three Queen Anne Victorian houses, which were to be demolished, met with resistance from the community and many University alumni until, in October 2021, the University came up with a compromise plan to preserve all three houses. One of the houses, 110 Prospect, was moved last fall to make room for the clubhouse building.

Sandy Harrison, a 1974 Princeton University graduate and board chair of the Princeton Prospect Foundation, a leading force in negotiating the University-community compromise, expressed his gratification at seeing the completion of the 91 Prospect move.

“Princeton Prospect Foundation is very pleased that the moving of the former Court Clubhouse is about to come to fruition after months of public hearings and ultimately successful negotiations with the University in 2021 to preserve it in a manner which also keeps three Victorian-era houses across the street from being demolished.” more

Events Throughout Mercer County Mark Annual Black History Month

By Anne Levin

Ever since Carter G. Woodson inaugurated Negro History Week nearly a century ago, the annual observance has had a theme. Among the first in 1928 was “Civilization: A World Achievement,” followed a year later by “Possibility of Putting Negro History in the Curriculum,” and “Significant Achievements of the Negro” two years on.

Negro History Week became Black History Month in 1976 when it was officially expanded and renamed by Congress. This year’s theme, “Black Resistance,” marking the national community’s efforts to counter ongoing oppression and racial terrorism, seems especially pertinent.

As Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes wrote in a newsletter this week, “Every February, Mercer County joins the nation in celebrating Black History Month. This year, however, the celebration feels somber in the wake of yet another case of deadly over-policing, this time in the City of Memphis where Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father, became the latest Black man in a horrific line of abuse. Mr. Nichols’ death is a glaring reminder that efforts to reform policing have a long way to go. As we together peacefully protest this latest incident, let it spark broader conversations about the need for police reform, without losing sight of the important work done by police professionals in our communities.”

Numerous observances are planned throughout Mercer County and the surrounding area throughout the month. In Princeton, Morven Museum is offering an online exhibition, “Slavery at Morven,” highlighting the history of slavery at the historic house-turned-museum. “By not shying away from our story of enslaved people, we believe our visitors will have a better understanding of how our world evolved to where we are today,” reads a release. “Research into the men, women, and children enslaved by the Stocktons [original owners of the house] at Morven is ongoing, and this site will be updated as new information is discovered. Visit morven.org/slavery-at-morven to view the exhibition. more

Public Encouraged to Offer Feedback for New Resource Inventory

By Anne Levin

In the Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI), currently available on the Princeton Environmental Commission’s (PEC) website, there are more than 150 pages covering everything from flooding and groundwater contamination to rare animal species and soil limitations for development.

That exhaustive document was compiled in 2010. The PEC, in partnership with the town’s municipal staff and Ecotone, Inc., has recently announced plans for an update — not to replace the 2010 inventory, but to augment it. And they want input from the community, to be gathered at a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend, pose questions, and provide feedback.

“We want people to ask questions,” said Tammy Sands, PEC chair. “We are highly recommending that people first take a look at the old inventory — at least the introduction — which will give them a background.”

The 2010 ERI was completed when Princeton was still divided into Borough and Township. “The town has changed,” said Councilwoman Eve Niedergang, who serves as liaison to the PEC. “The new ERI will look into similar aspects of the old one, like areas for natural vegetation, our animal communities, our little ecosystems, and our waterways. But this one will look at new priorities. What are they? Invasive plants, perhaps? It will be based on data we receive from the consultant.” more

Science on Saturday is Back In Person, Starting Feb. 4 at Plasma Physics Lab

SCIENCE ON SATURDAY: Sean Wu of Princeton Academy takes part in a magnet experiment with Arturo Dominguez, now head of science education, at a 2019 Science on Saturday talk. This year’s series begins on February 4 at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), in person for the first time in three years. (Photo by Elle Starkman/PPPL Office of Communications)

By Donald Gilpin

Featuring presentations on a genetic variant in dogs and humans that’s connected to friendliness, the impacts of climate change on the weather, the latest developments in technology, a 1905 version of voicemail, and a fusion energy power plan — Science on Saturday is back in person, and also online, February 4 through March 11 at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

In its 39th year, the PPPL Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday lecture series will present the first of five weekly lectures this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with Yasaman Ghasempour, Princeton University assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, discussing “The Race for 6G Wireless: The Challenges and Opportunities Ahead.”

“I guarantee you will be enthralled by the discoveries that are presented,” said Andrew Zwicker, head of strategic relationships at PPPL and the host of Science on Saturday. “Our speakers are presenting their cutting edge research — Where do black holes come from? How do we know they exist? How do bacteria communicate among themselves? How are we going to design a space ship to get human beings to Mars? These are questions that you think about all the time when you think about science and discovery.”

 more

Day to Lead Strategic Initiatives At Institute for Advanced Study

By Donald Gilpin

Alexandra Day
(Photo by Kevin Birch)

The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) has created a new administrative position to “enhance and expand collaborative activities” with “various intellectual communities and the broader public, including our Princeton neighbors,” according to IAS Communications and Public Relations Manager Lee Sandberg, and it has appointed Alexandra Day, who is currently deputy vice president for alumni engagement at Princeton University, to fill that position beginning February 15.

Taking charge as IAS’s first associate director for strategic initiatives, programming, and partnerships, “Day will seek to engage partners and audiences in programs that convene leaders from academia, industry, governments, and external communities to support the Institute’s core activities and new initiatives,” an IAS press release stated.

The release continued, “At a time when discussions around knowledge, science, and society are increasingly politicized, the Institute — an independent science and humanities organization with a 92-year tradition of fostering discovery, protecting intellectual freedom, and providing refuge for scholars at risk — has both the reputation and experience to provide a credible harbor for free and honest intellectual exchange.”

Day, a 2002 graduate of Princeton University, has been senior alumni affairs officer and a member of the president’s cabinet at the University over the past four years, leading alumni engagement activities as well as a range of public relations, events, and fundraising programs.  Before returning to Princeton in 2019 she was vice president for public affairs at the Juilliard School and previously served as director of public relations at Lyric Opera of Chicago, director of communications for soprano Renee Fleming, and special projects manager at the Metropolitan Opera. more

Touring Film Festival Will Present Animation, Documentaries, and More

AT THE SALON: This still is from the documentary “Inside the Beauty Bubble,” among the works to be screened at the 42nd Annual Thomas Edison Film Festival’s in-person premiere at Princeton University’s James Stewart Film Theater on February 17.

By Anne Levin

Back in person after the pandemic, the Thomas Edison Film Festival (TEFF) returns to Princeton University February 17-25 with a screening, a virtual live-streamed discussion with filmmakers, and seven Stellar Award-winning films that can be watched on demand.

Formerly known as the Black Maria Film Festival and originally named for Thomas Edison’s West Orange film studio (dubbed the “Black Maria” because of its resemblance to the black-box police paddy wagons of the time), the festival is an international juried competition that has been around for more than four decades. This is the fifth year that the Thomas Edison Media Arts Consortium has collaborated with Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts.

The Consortium also showcases the New Jersey Young Filmmakers Festival and the Global Insights Collection, an archive of films focusing on the environment, LGBTQ+ subjects, people with disabilities, international issues, race and class, and films with themes of social justice.  more