Volume LXXIX, Number 18
Actor Peter Bisgaier Takes Multiple Roles in McCarter’s Final Play of the Season, “Primary Trust”. . . . . . . . 5 Westminster Conservatory Showcase Concert Focuses On Local Talent. . . . . . . . 9 Guggenheim Fellowships Go to Several With Princeton Ties . . . . . . 10 Ending Poetry Month With Three TV Series Antiheroes. . . . . . . . . 15 Senior Bath Helps Key Superb Defensive Performance As PU Men’s Lax Tops Yale in Tune-up for Ivy Tourney. . . . . . 24 PHS Boys’ Tennis Takes 2nd in CVC Tournament, Falling Just Short of Toppling Powerhouse WW/P-South. . . . . . . 27
Former PU Football Star Jalen Travis Selected by Colts in NFL Draft. . . . . 25 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . 33 Mailbox. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mother's Day . . . . . 18, 19 New To Us . . . . . . . . . . 23 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . 32 Performing Arts. . . . . 16, 17 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . . . 9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 33 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Topics of the Town . . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Board of Ed. Agenda: New Business Chief, JP Principal Resigns Two major personnel changes for Princeton Public Schools (PPS) were on the Board of Education (BOE) agenda for last night’s April 29 meeting, which took place after Town Topics’ press time. The BOE was expected to approve the appointment of J. Andrew Harris as business administrator/board secretary and to accept the resignation of Johnson Park (JP) Principal Christopher Sheridan, effective June 30. Harris, who is currently business administrator/board secretary for the South Hunterdon Regional School District (SHRSD), will take over from Matt Bouldin, who is resigning effective June 30 to become the new business administrator at Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District. “Andrew brings valuable experience as both a business administrator and a teacher, making him an excellent fit for our district,” said PPS Board President Dafna Kendal. “His background in budget management and financial operations is complemented by his experience working with students in the classroom.” She continued, “This unique perspective will ensure that his decisions are always student-centered, balancing fiscal responsibility with a commitment to supporting teaching and learning. We are excited to welcome Andrew to the Princeton Public Schools.” Harris, who received a masters degree in educational leadership from Rider University and a B.S. in mathematics from Muhlenberg College, will earn a salary of $190,000, according to the BOE website. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Mercer County Executive Superintendent of Schools. Before taking his current post as business administrator at SHRSD, Harris served as supervisor of STEM and district projects and as supervisor of mathematics at South Hunterdon. Before that he worked for five years as instructional mathematics coach in the Ewing Township School District. Also noted on the PPS BOE agenda for last night was Sheridan’s resignation as JP principal. He was appointed to the post just one year ago, when he took over from Angela Siso Stentz, who became PPS assistant superintendent for human resources, a job she continues to hold. Continued on Page 12
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Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Day of Action Planned For This Sunday A May Day National Day of Action rally, sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), Indivisible Cranbury, and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, will take place at Hinds Plaza on Sunday, May 4 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Held in conjunction with more than 800 gatherings throughout the country from May 1 to 4, the rally, in protesting policies and actions of the Trump Administration, will demand that government prioritize families over billionaires. At the same location in Hinds Plaza next to the Princeton Public Library as a “Hands Off!” rally on April 5 that drew more than 1,000 demonstrators, the May 4 event will feature a number of speakers, including CFPA Executive Director the Rev. Robert Moore, Indivisible Cranbury founder and leader Laura Zurfluh, Communication Workers of America District 1 Political and Field Director Anna-Marta Visky, New Jersey Education Association Vice-President Steven Beatty, and Make the Road New Jersey Executive Director Nedia Morsey. “The April 5 Hands Off rallies were a huge success, and demonstrated that Americans across the country are horrified with the lawless, unconstitutional, dangerous behavior of Trump and
Elon Musk,” said Moore. “We are proud that our actions have already led Musk to curtail his work in DC to two days a week, and we are continuing our organizing so that goes down to zero.” Zurfluh emphasized that although May Day is traditionally International Workers’ Day, celebrating all workers, “Mayday” is also a distress call or signal used by aviators and mariners in dire circumstances. Distress calls of “mayday” are necessary in our country’s current situation, Zurfluh noted.
“Just like a pilot or the captain of a ship that’s going down, this ship is going down and we need all hands on deck right now,” she said. “It’s a distress call because our democracy is at dire risk of dying.” She continued, “Another part of this event is ensuring that everyone knows we’re in dire distress and that they’re all needed at this time. Every day we’re a day closer to no return. We’re a day closer to fascism. We’re watching our democracy sinking.” Continued on Page 8
Princeton University Junior Found Following Search Of Lake Carnegie and Surrounding Area
The body of missing Princeton University student Lauren Blackburn was found last Friday at Lake Carnegie following a multi-day search. Blackburn, 23, had battled bipolar disorder, according to an obituary on matherhodge.com, the website of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home. A member of the class of 2026, Blackburn was reported missing on Tuesday, April 22 by the University’s Department of Public Safety. He had last been seen on Saturday, April 19 near Firestone Library. A search of Lake Carnegie began around 12 a.m. Tuesday morning after a missing
person’s phone — presumed to be Blackburn’s — was heard pinging near the lake. A resident of Corydon, Indiana, Blackburn was a National Merit Scholar and a Gates Scholar at Corydon Central High School. He participated in cross-country, track, the National Honors Society, and Academic Bowl, according to his obituary. At Princeton, he first studied math before settling on English with a minor in creative writing. He was a former features writer for The Daily Princetonian. “Lauren loved learning and reading,” Continued on Page 11
BRICK BY BRICK: Teams of all ages took up a Lego challenge at the Historical Society of Princeton’s annual “Building Princeton” event this past Sunday. Many iconic town structures were recreated, including the historic Joseph Henry House, located on the University campus. Participants share more about their builds in this week’s Town Talk on Page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo) • Located in Point Pleasant Beach — your coastal adventure awaits in our boutique motel just 3 blocks from the beach. • Enjoy our brand new Courtyard Rooms or for longer stays, our larger Efficiency Suites with fully stocked kitchens, patio sets and grills. • We are a short walk to 8 local eateries. • Unwind with a refreshing swim in our pool with complimentary towels, umbrellas, and WiFi. • We are a five minute drive to the boardwalk and Arnold Avenue, with shopping and dining. SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION