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School District Makes Offer for Westminster

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On the same day last March that Rider University announced it was putting Westminster Choir College and its Walnut Avenue campus up for sale, the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) made known its interest in acquiring the property. But a few weeks later, PPS appeared to put the idea on hold following protests from those intent on keeping the prestigious music college in place.

Last week, PPS made an official offer for the property. In an email, Superintendent Steve Cochrane confirmed the offer. “The process with Rider University is a confidential one at this stage, but I can share that we have officially expressed our interest in acquiring the Westminster Choir College property,” he said. “That expression of interest was due to Rider by June 7.КIf Rider chooses to talk with us further about our interest, that meeting would likely take place in July.”

Rider has owned Westminster Choir College since 1991. Suffering from financial difficulties and declining enrollment, the Lawrence-based University announced the decision to sell Westminster this past spring. At the time, Rider President Gregory Dell’Omo said the goal was to find another academic institution that would either keep Westminster in place or move the school to its own campus.

But in a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the Coalition to Save Westminster in Princeton, Inc., no such academic institutions are listed. The suit, which says Rider does not have the legal right to sell the choir college, cites several real estate developers as among those who have expressed interest in the sale.

Asked Monday about the prospect of PPS taking over the property, the Coalition’s attorney Bruce Afran said that it was unacceptable.

“It is, frankly, incredible to think that the board of education of Princeton, of all places, would participate in the destruction of such an institution of higher education,” he said. “It really is a shameful thing that our school district would seek to join in the dismemberment of a college, one that is actually older than our public school district.”

While plans for what the school district would do with the property are not public, it has been suggested that some buildings might be kept in place for Westminster’s continued use. “I don’t know what they’re planning, but you can’t just take a college and say we’ll give you two buildings and you can continue to operate there,” Mr. Afran said. “It would destroy Westminster Choir College. The district wants to get more buildings, but that can’t come about at the expense of this college. If it continues this way, the board of education will simply be drawn into litigation.”


Soaring Majesty

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This bald eagle was photographed at Lake Carnegie, one of Princeton’s most open and natural spaces. The lake’s fish, open water, and surrounding trees attract numerous bird species, both seasonally and year-round. Bald eagles have been sighted regularly at the lake in recent years. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Friends of the Princeton Public Library Sale Helped By PPL Staff, Volunteers, Community

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To the Editor:

The Friends of the Princeton Public Library held their Annual Book Sale June 23-24 and we were delighted to have so many book lovers from near and far join us on the first weekend of summer. The Book Sale is the culmination of months of work by dedicated volunteers, and depends on the generous donations of books from library supporters throughout the year.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Princeton Public Library, who guided and supported us at every turn with knowledge, commitment, and enthusiasm. We are especially grateful to our friends in the buildings, publicity, and development departments. In addition, the Library Summer Teen Volunteers were a tremendous asset and helped us set up for the sale in record time. We would also like to acknowledge the generous support of our friends at Witherspoon Grill.

The many volunteers who so graciously gave their time and shared their love of books made this event a pleasure for all, and we enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside such a devoted team. And last but not least, we are deeply appreciative of our generous Princeton community who once again came out to support our library.

Jane Nieman and Christa Smith

Co-Chairs of the Friends of the Princeton Public Library Annual Book Sale

Princeton Progressive Action Group Expresses Concern About Lack of Middle Income Housing

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To the Editor:

We, members of the Princeton Progressive Action Group, in common with many other local residents, are alarmed at the increasingly pressing lack of housing that is available at middle income levels at Princeton. The municipality has begun taking steps to change zoning to reduce the size and control the look of new houses/additions. Making more stringent setbacks, height and coverage requirements could possibly make houses smaller and better-fitting into the streetscape, but these changes alone have not and will not make them more affordable.

We encourage the municipality to concentrate the next round of zoning changes on allowing and encouraging the “missing middle homes” described in the Progress Report of the Neighborhood Character Initiative and thus fulfilling the goal of our Master Plan to encourage diversity in our housing stock. Below are three specific suggestions for short-term actions that are easy to implement, have low or no impact, and will make a substantial difference:

1. Allow “flats” or secondary units that could be rented out by the primary homeowner in the former Borough, similarly to the former Township. The income from these flats can help residents stay in their homes longer by offsetting rising taxes or providing money for property maintenance and improvement.

2. Allow residents to convert existing houses with “flats” to two-family dwellings/duplexes or to build new duplexes. This will not increase the size of houses over what is currently allowed, or increase density since two families are already allowed to occupy these properties. The only difference is that instead of a $1.3 million house with a potential rental unit, there could be two separate units. Since the flat ordinance for larger lots requires one unit to be larger and one to be smaller, there will likely be a unit for sale at $950k and a smaller unit for $350k. We could finally get our desperately-needed homes for middle-income families and empty-nesters.

3. Reduce parking requirements: Current zoning requires 1.5 cars per dwelling unit. This means 2 cars for a single-family residence and 3 cars for a house with a flat. Often flats are not feasible because the property cannot accommodate the additional parking. Eliminating the parking requirement for a unit that is designed to accommodate aging-in-place could be a win-win for all.

In summary, we affirm that the neighborhood character we should protect comprises not just the buildings but the people who live in those buildings. We can start with these simple changes in the short term, while working on the long-term items of form-based zoning and neighborhood character guidelines.

Sent on behalf of the Princeton Progressive Action Group, co-signed by these group members:

Samuel F Bunting, Tineke Thio

Dempsey Ave

Jane Manners, 

Wheatsheaf Lane

Omar Wasow, 

Cherry Hill Road

Valerie Haynes, 

Mt Lucas Road

Jenny Ludmer, 

Caldwell Drive

Yael Niv, Suzanne Lehrer,

Franklin Avenue

Andras Ferencz, 

Green Street

Marina Rubina, 

Quarry Street

Melissa Lane, 

Princeton Avenue

Jeffrey Oakman, 

Valley Road

Carolyn Jones, 

Western Way

Andrew Thomas, 

Edgerstoune Road

Nat Bottigheimer, 

White Pine Lane

Kirsten Thoft, Ted Nadeau,

Linden Lane

Abel Smith, 

Leigh Avenue

Mia Sacks, 

Terhune Road 

Leah Boustan, 

Broadmead 

PHS Star Hawes Ends Football Career With a Bang, Helping West Squad to 24-7 Win In Sunshine Game

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BLOCK PARTY: Matt Hawes, right, delivers a block in the Sunshine Football Classic last Thursday evening at The College of New Jersey. Recently graduated Princeton High standout Hawes helped the West to a 24-7 win over the East in the 21st edition of the all-star game. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Matt Hawes will never forget the last play of his high school football career.

Playing for the West squad in the Sunshine Football Classic last Thursday evening at The College of New Jersey, recently graduated Princeton High star Hawes carried the ball in the waning seconds of the contest.

Having done the dirty work of blocking from his fullback position as the West team rolled to a 24-7 win, Hawes lobbied PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher, the West offensive coordinator, for the chance to get the ball in his hands.

“It was getting toward the end of the game and since I am a fullback, I was making a lot of blocks,” said Hawes.

“I went up to coach Gallagher and said I haven’t carried the ball once yet so he gave me the ball and I had a nice little run.”

With that, Hawes went off into the sunset. “It was kind of surreal,” recalled Hawes. “We shook hands and walked to the end zone. I knew this was the end of my high school career so it was different.”

Ending his football career by playing in the all-star contest was special for Hawes.

“I was really grateful to be able to play in this game,” said Hawes.

“I had two of my teammates [Ethan Guerra and Alex Solopenkov] here. I had coach Gallagher, who was my head coach and he was the offensive coordinator. I was working closely with him and also the running backs coach at PHS, coach [Dave] Filson, was the running back coach here.”

The West squad methodically wore down the East, marching 80 yards in 16 plays on its first possession of the game, taking a 7-0 lead on a four-yard run by Mitchell Finnegan of North Hunterdon. Adding a field goal in the second quarter, the West led 10-0 at halftime. In the third quarter the West outscored the East 14-7, with nether team scoring in the final period.

“The defense was set off pretty well from the beginning but the offense took a little while to get going,” said Hawes. “Once the offense got going, we put up some points.”

While Hawes did double duty during his career for PHS, playing both defensive end and running back, he enjoyed focusing on one side of the ball for the Sunshine game.

“I was very happy to play fullback, getting to make blocks, carry the ball, and play offense,” said Hawes.

Having injured both of his knees and enduring four surgeries over his high school years, Hawes savored the chance to end his football career with a bang.

“I wasn’t able to play sophomore year and then I came back and played junior and senior year,” said Hawes.

“It was nice being able to be captain my senior year and come back and do a lot.”

In a few months, Hawes will be heading into a very nice situation as he starts his studies at Harvard.

“It came down to the best fit for me,” said Hawes, who is looking into playing club sports in college and is considering taking up rugby.

“It was Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. Princeton is pretty much in my back yard and Stanford was the opposite. It was really far away. I like the feel at Harvard, they made me feel like I was at home.”

Sparked by Coolahan’s Offensive Outburst, PA Blue Devils Top King’s in Summer Hoops

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Last winter, Jack Coolahan assumed a supporting role for the Babson College men’s basketball team when it won the NCAA Division III national championship.

As a freshman guard for the Beavers, the 6’4, 185-pound Coolahan, a native of Newtown, Pa., averaged 1.8 points a game in nine appearances.

This past Friday in the Princeton Men’s Summer Hoops League, Coolahan stepped into a leading role for the PA Blue Devils, scoring a team-high 21 points to help them pull away to a 70-60 win over King’s Pizzarama at the Community Park courts.

With the Blue Devils coming off a tough 62-60 loss to Majeski Foundation a night earlier, Coolahan and his teammates were primed to get back into the winning column.

“Last night was a hard-fought game, they are obviously the defending champions,” said Coolahan, reflecting on the setback.

“We were motivated tonight to definitely not go 1-3. We started out a little slow but eventually started shooting better.”

Coolahan’s hot shooting from the perimeter was a major factor as the Blue Devils went on a 25-11 run midway through the second half to break open a tight contest that saw King’s trailing just 42-38 at one point.

“I didn’t shoot as well in the first couple of games,” said Coolahan. “I started to really find it tonight. That was a good development for me.”

With the Blue Devils featuring a number of Division III performers, Coolahan believes he must bring intensity every night to make an impact.

“There are a lot of good college players here,” said Coolahan, who started playing with the squad last summer. “I try to be as aggressive as I can and play hard defense.”

In Coolahan’s view, the aggressiveness displayed by the Blue Devils down the stretch Friday night will make it hard to beat when the playoffs start later this month.

“We are better than 2-2, we could definitely string together some wins and get a good playoff seed,” said Coolahan.

“It definitely helps to get stops, get rebounds, and start pushing in transition. I think we can get a lot of points off of that.”

Girouard Provides Aggressive Play As Post 218 Baseball Falls to Trenton

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LOCKED IN: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player John Girouard waits for a pitch in recent action. Last Wednesday, Girouard, a rising Princeton High senior, went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs in a losing cause as Princeton fell 10-9 to Trenton Post 93/182. Princeton, which moved to 2-13 with a 10-1 loss to Hightstown Post 148 last Friday, plays at Ewing Post 314 on July 5, hosts Hopewell Post 339 on July 6, South Brunswick on July 7, plays at Hamilton Post 31 on July 9 and at Hopewell on July 10, and then hosts Allentown on July 11.

John Girouard and his teammates on the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team didn’t hang their heads when they fell behind visiting Trenton Post 93/182 in the top of the first inning last Wednesday evening.

Despite having won only two of its first 12 games this summer, Post 218 wasn’t fazed by the slow start.

“It has been a long season for us but one thing I would say about this team is that we keep fighting no matter what,” said Girouard.

Girouard helped Post 218 fight back against Trenton, drawing a walk and scoring a run in the bottom of the first and then grounding a two-run single into right field an inning later to give Post 218 a 4-3 lead. He added two more singles and a run scored as Princeton built a 9-7 lead.

“The way the game was going, I thought I had to be aggressive as possible and really push it to them,” said Girouard.

“That is how we want to play, it is OK we have nothing to lose out here.”

Post 218, though, squandered that lead as Trenton pushed across three runs in the top of the sixth and final inning to pull out a 10-9 win.

“At the end of the day, a lot of us were playing out of position,” said Girouard. “I was playing third base for the first time out of position. It was our first game for a while so maybe we were a little cold. It was a one run game and that is what cost us.”

Playing in his second year with Post 218, Girouard has emerged as a team leader.

“I have started both years,” said Girouard, a rising senior at Princeton High who was a key reserve this spring for the Little Tigers. “I love the coaches, I love the team. It is a great atmosphere.”

For Girouard, playing for Post 218 gives him the chance to build on the progress he made in his junior season with PHS.

“It is almost an extension of the high school season in a way, the teams we play are pretty much the exact teams we play during the season,” said Girouard.

“It is good baseball out here. As a player it just helps improvement. The only way to get better is game experience. You can do all you want in a cage and getting reps in the outfield but the best thing to get better is just playing the game.”

While Princeton didn’t get the win against Trenton, Girouard savored the experience.

“It was fun, it was a beautiful night,” said Girouard. “The result wasn’t what we wanted but it was a great day of baseball.”

Post 218 manager Tommy Parker had fun watching Girouard compete against Trenton.

“John was in the action all night,” said Parker. “He was playing out of position, he is usually in left field. Just the fact that he was able to adjust and do that defensively and then be on base four times isn’t bad.”

Although Parker is proud that Post 218 forced the action in making its comeback, he acknowledged that the team needs to play sharper.

“They do battle, where we get beat a lot of time, we beat ourselves,” noted Parker.

“They have got to stop making mental mistakes, that is really what it is. It is tough to always have to fight back and battle back. It is good instinct but you have got to stop putting yourself in that position too.”

In addition to Girouard, several other players on Post 218 are enjoying good seasons.

“Aidan Duffy is hitting the ball, Chris Sumners had a streak going on,” said Parker.

“He is playing first base primarily but was the first left-handed catcher I have seen in years. He has stepped up as a team leader. Zach Yoelson is another one who has stepped up.”

With Princeton dropping to 2-13 with a 10-1 loss to Hightstown Post 148 last Friday, Parker is looking for his players to step up over the homestretch of the season.

“It is a matter of getting it all to mesh at the same time,” said Parker, whose team plays at Ewing Post 314 on July 5, hosts Hopewell Post 339 on July 6 and South Brunswick on July 7, plays at Hamilton Post 31 on July 9 and at Hopewell on July 10, and then hosts Allentown on July 11 in its regular season finale.

“I am always optimistic; there is always tomorrow. We have a lot of games left.”

Girouard, for his part, is confident that Princeton will keep giving its all to the final out of the season.

“We are not going to give up, this team is a fighter,” asserted Girouard. “No matter what happens, we will fight to the end, to the last strike. We are just going to keep on going.”

Potluck

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The annual summer picnic in the Cuyler/Dempsey Avenue section of Princeton is just one of the regular events that have been bringing neighbors together for decades. This year’s party, held last month, was an unofficial sendoff for Judy Koubek and Luke Hilgendorff, longtime residents who are moving to Chicago. See page 7 for more about the neighborhood and its residents. (Photo Courtesy of Rekha Arapurakal)


Obituaries 7/12/17

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Jane Delaney Coda

Jane Delaney Coda, 92, passed away peacefully on July 3 in St Petersburg, Florida where she spent the last four years of her life. Mrs. Coda was a long time resident of Princeton, where she settled in 1955 with her husband, Edward, then a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. There they raised two children, Deborah and Michael, and commuted to New York City. Mrs. Coda worked for three decades as a translator and interpreter, attending four United Nations’ World Conferences. The president of Brazil, in recognition of her liaison work with diplomats and visiting dignitaries, inducted her into the Order of Rio Braco.

Upon retirement in 1987, Mrs. Coda volunteered with the same combination of commitment, organization, and wit that defined her (along with her jaunty hats!). She joined the Present Day Club (club president 2002-4), the Women’s College Club, the Dogwood Garden Club, and the Learners Investment Club. Mrs. Coda believed in setting a high bar and encouraged others to follow suit. Once her high school valedictorian, later an honor student at Douglass College and member of Mensa, Mrs. Coda proved that intelligence and glamour can go hand in hand!

Predeceased by her dear husband, Edward Thomas Coda and her beloved son, Michael John Coda, she is survived by her daughter, Deborah Jane Abraham (husband Robert); her daughter-in-law, Karen Coda; and six grandchildren Owen Thomas Milbury (wife Rebecca), Luke Francis Milbury (wife Laurel), Alison Milbury Stone (husband Craig), Caitlin Milbury Young (husband Ryan), Emily Perkins Coda, and Matthew Delaney Coda. She will also be remembered with affection by her five great grandchildren and all who appreciated her love of fine jewelry and a well-made martini.

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Carol Taraschi Mayfield

Carol Taraschi Mayfield passed away on June 29, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. She is preceded in death by her late husband, Murry E. Mayfield; her husband Pasquale J. Taraschi of Princeton; her mother, Gertrude Lewis; and father Alpehus Lewis of Somerville, New Jersey.

She is survived by her sister, Marion L. Cardinal of San Francisco; her two daughters, Caroline L. Taraschi of Ringoes, New Jersey and Lisa A. Taraschi of Telluride, Colorado; and stepson Frank Mayfield and his wife, Julie Mayfield of Tucson, Arizona.

She leaves behind many wonderful friends who will miss her dearly. Carol is a proud retiree of Johnson and Johnson.

At her request there will be no service, but a gathering of friends and family members at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to People for Animals at 401 Hillside Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 or The Princeton YMCA.

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Memorial Service

John Winterbottom

A memorial service to celebrate the life of John Winterbottom, who died on January 15, 2017, will be held on Tuesday, August 1 at 4 p.m. in the auditorium at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman. Cellist Jordan Enzinger will perform, and there will be a reception afterwards. John’s complete obituary was published in the January 25, 2017 issue of Town Topics.

In Honor of National Summer Learning Day Some Words on Summer Learning Loss

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To the Editor:

July 13 is National Summer Learning Day, sponsored by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) to raise awareness about the importance of summer learning experiences. The NSLA notes that summer learning loss, the phenomenon where young people lose academic skills over the summer, is “one of the most significant causes of the achievement gap between lower and higher income youth and one of the strongest contributors to the high school dropout rate.”

Many of us with sufficient means prevent summer learning loss in various ways: we enroll our children in summer enrichment programs or camps; take them on trips to new places where they learn history, geography, and civics; and supervise their school-assigned summer reading. Unfortunately, many young people lack these options. Economic inequality, communities with limited resources, parents who work multiple jobs to make ends meet with little free time — these are just a few of the reasons that low-income young people do not enjoy the same opportunities.

At the Princeton-Blairstown Center, we are working with young people to combat summer learning loss. Each summer, 500 students — primarily from Trenton and Newark — come to our 264-acre campus in Blairstown, New Jersey for our week-long Summer Bridge Program, free of charge. They spend three hours a day engaged in hands-on literacy; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and project-based learning; an hour and a half in waterfront activities (swimming/canoeing/kayaking); and three hours a day working on their social-emotional skills through ropes and challenge course activities that focus on leadership, team-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.

To ensure that the learning continues back home, each student is sent home with a book of his or her choice from titles such as The Boy in the Black Suit, Bird, Seedfolks, The Lion Who Stole My Arm, The Color of My Words, Return to Sender, Thaw, Do Not Pass Go, Tall Story, and many more. Research indicates that the best predictor of summer loss or gain is if a child reads during the summer. Additionally, public library use among low-income children drops off when a library is more than six blocks from their home, compared with more than two miles for middle-class children. Most of the young people we serve in Trenton and Newark live more than six blocks from a library.

All young people deserve opportunities for enriching and stimulating summer experiences so that they start the school year ready to learn and compete on an even playing field. In honor of National Summer Learning Day, I urge everyone in our community to support evidenced-based, high-quality summer programs like ours that help to reduce summer learning loss. Our children’s futures depend on it, and so do ours.

Sarah Tantillo, EdD

Board Chair Princeton-Blairstown Center

Increased Wages for Direct Support Professionals A Reality Thanks to Hard Work of N.J. Senate President

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To the Editor:

The state budget battle took many twists and turns this year, but we would be remiss not to acknowledge the final funding bill and the members of the legislature who fought tirelessly on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Specifically, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Senate President Steve Sweeney, who fought to increase wages for direct support professionals (DSPs) in the FY18 Budget. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on DSPs for the hands-on supports and services in the community, but without a wage increase for the last ten years, it has become increasingly difficult to find and retain employees. This, compounded with starting wages of only $10.50 an hour, makes staffing programs a real challenge and starts to jeopardize the availability of services. Senate President Sweeney made this matter a priority and fought to ensure $20 million remained when the dust settled and the final budget document was signed. On behalf of individuals with I/DD and their families in the state, we would like to thank the Senate president and the members of the New Jersey Legislature who helped make this increase a reality.

Thomas Baffuto

Executive Director of The Arc of New Jersey 

and Chair of the Coalition for a DSP Living Wage.

Recognizing McCaffrey’s for Ongoing Support Of the DOORS Golf Challenge Charity Event

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To the Editor:

I’m just writing to recognize McCaffrey’s for their ongoing support of the DOORS Golf Challenge, a charity golf event that was held at Cherry Valley Country club on July 10. For the third year, McCaffrey’s signed on as a sponsor to this event. Jay’s Cycles also contributed with a donation for our silent auction. These gifts will help this parent-run organization provide after school and summer services to children and adults with autism. DOORS supports the programs of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in New Brunswick (www.doorsnj.org).

As a parent of a child with autism in Princeton, it means so much for local businesses to support our causes. Many thanks to McCaffrey’s and Jay’s.

Jim Christy

Leigh Avenue

Baby Driver: Mob Wheelman Puts Pedal to the Metal in Blockbuster

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All you really need to know about Baby Driver is that so far it’s simply the best film of the year. The picture was written and directed by Edgar Wright, who is best known for three British comedies that starred Simon Pegg: Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World’s End (2013).

Mr. Wright shot this movie in Atlanta and it is a labor of love that took several decades to complete. The movie has its beginnings in “Bellbottoms,” a discordant punk anthem that he visualized as “a song in search of a car chase” from the moment he first heard it in 1995.

That cult classic isn’t the only obscure tune in Baby Driver’s eclectic soundtrack that features rarities ranging from T. Rex’s “Debora,” to Blur’s “Intermission,” to The Damned’s “Neat Neat Neat.” However, the blockbuster also has its share of recognizable hits too, such as the Commodores’ “Easy,” Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ “Nowhere to Run,” and “Hocus Pocus” by Focus.

The film has an A-list cast that includes Oscar-winners Jamie Foxx (Ray) and Kevin Spacey (American Beauty and The Usual Suspects), Emmy-winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and two-time, Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Lily James (Downton Abbey). However, the film is carried by the up-and-coming actor Ansel Elgort.

He plays Baby, a deaf getaway driver who is extraordinarily adept at eluding the authorities. He is reluctantly controlled by the mob because of a debt that he owes to Doc (Kevin Spacey) the manipulative crime boss. Baby wants to be free of the mob so he can start a new life with Deborah (James), the waitress he fell in love with in an empty diner.

Of course Doc insists that he first serve as wheelman for the “last big heist” that is being staged by Bats (Foxx), Buddy (Hamm), and Darling (Eiza Gonzalez). When the robbery goes wrong, Baby’s survival instincts kick-in in a primal urge for self-preservation.

Excellent (****). Rated R for violence and pervasive profanity. Running time: 113 minutes. Production Studio: Working Title Films. Distributor: TriStar Pictures.

Capping Off Superb 2016-17 Campaign, PHS Athletics Makes NJ.Com Top 50

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LEADING THE WAY: Members of the Princeton High boys’ cross country team take off at the start of the Mercer County Championships last fall. The PHS cross county squad produced a season for the ages last fall, winning the state Group 4 title and the Meet of Champions, finishing the campaign as the top-ranked team in the state. The heroics of the Little Tiger distance runners helped PHS get ranked 50th in a list of the Top 50 programs for 2016-17 compiled by NJ.com. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Capping off a superb year for Princeton High athletics, the school has been included in a ranking of the Top 50 programs for 2016-17 compiled by NJ.com.

The rankings were created by analyzing the accomplishments of each athletic program — individual team rankings, championships, individual awards and accolades, etc. — during the recently completed school year.

PHS ended up being ranked 50th, with its key highlight being the boys’ cross country team that won the state Group 4 title and the Meet of Champions, finishing the fall as the top-ranked team in the state.

Other ranked teams for PHS in 2016-17 included: girls’ cross country (No. 12); girls’ tennis (No. 14); boys’ soccer (No. 17); boys’ ice hockey (No. 19); and boys’ lacrosse (No. 27).

In addition, the Little Tigers enjoyed some great moments on the county level during the 2016-17 school year. In the fall, the boys’ cross country team won the county crown while the boys’ soccer team shared the MCT title with Pennington. The boys’ track team finished second at the indoor county meet while the boys’ hockey team was the runner up in the MCT.  In the spring, boys’ lacrosse and boys’ track both took second in their county competitions.

With PHS Alum Black Assuming Lead Role, LoyalTees Making Impact in Summer Hoops

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LOYALTY POINTS: Davon Black puts up a shot for LoyalTees in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, former Princeton High boy’s hoops star Black scored 18 points to help LoyalTees top King’s Pizzarama 58-52 to improve to 5-2. In other games on Monday, Majeski Foundation defeated the PA Blue Devils 72-53 to improve to 7-0 and Princeton Special Sports/Liquid Outdoor Advertising edged PEAC Performance 66-63. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although the LoyalTees team was put together just weeks before the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League started action this June, the squad has come together quickly.

The team jumped out to a 2-0 start in the first week of league play and is battling for second place in the eight-team league.

Former Princeton High boys’ hoops star Davon Black, who helped form the team, isn’t surprised by LoyalTees’ success.

“Everybody knows how to play basketball, everybody is unselfish,” said Black, noting that the squad features former Trenton High standout Terry Taylor, former PHS and The College of New Jersey star Skye Ettin, PHS teammate Jamyl Williams, along with Nathaniel Wyatte and Darrin Elam-Council.

“Nobody cares about who scores, it is easy. Everybody is just happy passing the ball and making the extra pass and smiling. We are winning.”

Last Monday, the LoyalTees players had some anxious moments before ending the night with smiles as they topped King’s Pizzarama 58-52 in improving to 5-2. After leading 36-25 at halftime, LoyalTees saw its advantage whittled to 56-52 with two minutes left in regulation.

“We are usually a second half team but they hit a couple of shots,” said Black. “We kept it together.”

Black hit some big shots to help LoyalTees prevail, tallying a team-high 18 points.

“Some nights I need to score and some nights I just need to pass,” said Black, who drained six free throws on the evening.

With LoyalTees coming off a tough 67-58 loss to the PA Blue Devils last Friday, it was looking to get back on the winning track in its clash with King’s, last season’s playoff runner-up.

“King’s doesn’t have a win so I didn’t want them to sneak up,” said Black.

“Coming off a loss, I didn’t want to get too far behind Majeski (the TCNJ entry in the league). I want to close out that two seed for the playoffs.”

For Black, helping LoyalTees do well in the playoffs is a matter of personal pride.

“We want to make a run and finish, I have been there twice to the finals and haven’t won one,” said Black.

“This is my time to be the guy and be the leader. It is fun having my own team.”


Boasting Varied Experience in Princeton Schools, Dzbenski Hitting the Ground Running as New AD

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IN CHARGE: Having been involved in athletics administration in the Princeton Public Schools for nearly 20 years, Brian Dzbenski is well suited for his new role as the district’s Supervisor of Physical Education and Athletic Director (AD). After serving as interim Athletic Director in the wake of the passing of former AD John Miranda last August, Dzbenski was named to the position this spring.

Princeton High held graduation in late June and the 4th of July holiday has come and gone but that doesn’t mean it is time for Brian Dzbenski to take a summer break.

As the recently hired Supervisor of Physical Education and Athletic Director for the Princeton district, Dzbenski has a lot on his plate even though school is out.

“We just launched a new middle school athletics website, which took us a long time to build,” said Dzbenski, 45, who had been serving as interim athletic director (AD) in the wake of the passing of former AD John Miranda last August.

“We are piloting a new online registration system at the high school. Over the summer, we take a look at the turf field and see what needs to be repaired and order items for fall sports. We have professional development going over the summer where coaches will come and learn to build their team website. This is 100 mph.”

Dzbenski enjoys going full speed ahead. “I love it,” said Dzbenski. “If it is your passion, there is no other place you would rather be.”

Hamilton native Dzbenski, who graduated from Notre Dame High, developed a passion for sports as a youngster.

“When I was growing up my father encouraged me to be a three-season athlete and play three sports,” said Dzbenski.

“Originally it was soccer all year round and then basketball and baseball.”

On the field, Dzbenski experienced his greatest success in soccer, playing for a high-level German American Kicker club program in Hamilton and then competing for both the Mercer County Community College and Seton Hall soccer programs.

While at Seton Hall, Dzbenski was initially pursuing a career in physical therapy but he ended up deciding that teaching was a better fit.

“I was trying to play soccer, I had organic chemistry and genetics and I am thinking this is a little too demanding here, I wasn’t really enjoying what I was doing,” said Dzbenski.

“I wanted to be more with kids, I have always done soccer all of my life. I ran camps over the summer and I did that all summer long. I worked with a lot of the ADs at the time.”

Returning to Mercer County area to begin his career in education, Dzbenski worked as a substitute teacher at Steinert High and later took a position with the South Brunswick schools. He then came to Princeton to take a job as a health and physical education teacher at John Witherspoon Middle School in 1997-98. During the summers, he worked at PHS, teaching driver’s ed and phys ed. With his background in sports, he got into coaching, both at PHS and Witherspoon.

“I have so much fun whenever I get the chance to work with the kids,” said Dzbenski.

“In my first four years at Witherspoon, I coached soccer in the fall at PHS with Wayne [Sutcliffe]. I was the middle school basketball coach and I was also the middle school baseball coach.”

While Dzebneski enjoyed teaching, he was encouraged by legendary John Witherspoon principal Bill Johnson to move into administration.

“Bill Johnson said you can’t do phys ed like you are doing it now the rest of your life, you got to move on and become a coach to coaches and a teacher to teachers,” said Dzbenski, who went back to school and got his masters.

Armed with his masters, Dzbenski moved into a role as middle school athletic coordinator. When Athletic Director Miranda started experiencing some health issues, Dzbenski moved over to PHS in the fall of 2015 to help run its program.

“I went six months and then John got sick and Kathy [athletics secretary Kathy Herzog] got sick too,” recalled Dzbenski.

“They were both out and I was by myself for four months. I knew the inline scheduler. I had the accounts set up for the assignors. I had a rapport with the bus company. I did the whole middle school program without a secretary and teaching six classes a day so the only challenge was I had the middle school and now high school on top of that.”

Heading into the 2016-17 school year, Miranda was planning to resume full-time duty but then he unexpectedly passed away in August and Dzbenski became the interim AD. While running both the middle school and high school programs, Dzbenski went through the interview process for the permanent AD position. This spring, the interim tag got lifted and Dzbenski was hired as AD.

“It was a huge weight off of my shoulders,” said Dzbenski, reflecting on getting the job.

“I am starting all of these things and going in a different direction and coaches are starting to buy into things. Then it is having to go through that whole interview process where you have 180 applicants apply and just not knowing the direction the district is going to go. It was rewarding.”

As he takes the helm, Dzbenski is looking to help students and parents enjoy a more rewarding sports experience in the Princeton school system.

“I was fortunate enough to sit on the athletics 2.0 committee that [School Superintendent] Steve Cochrane formed that really defined the goals and values of the physical education and athletics,” said Dzbenski.

“We have joy of sports; we want the kids to be engaged in the activities. You want to put the kids first and give them every opportunity for success. You also want to embrace the parents and make sure that they know that their position is to support their athletes through their high school years. We are trying to be effective in our communication with parents.”

In order to be effective in his new role, Dzbenski knows he needs to lean on others.

“We have great coaches, we have great support staff; I don’t do this by any means by myself,” said Dzbenski, citing Cochrane, Herzog, assistant superintendent Lew Goldstein, and business administrator Steph Kennedy, among others, as providing key assistance.

“It is important that people realize it is a collective effort with everything we do here. I have been fortunate to have that kind of support to grow as a teacher and a coach in Princeton.”

Having Thrived in Move to U.S. Hockey Program, Former Hun Star Barratt Picked in NHL Draft

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MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: Evan Barratt controls the puck during his career with the Hun School boys’ hockey team. Barratt, who played at Hun from 2013-15, moved on to the U.S.A. Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Last month, Barratt, who has committed to play his college hockey at Penn State, was chosen in the third round of the NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 90th pick overall. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For Evan Barratt, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

After helping the Hun School boys’ hockey team win the state Prep title and its second straight Mercer County Tournament crown during his sophomore season in 2014-15, star forward Barratt was asked by U.S.A. Hockey to try out for its National Team Development Program.
“As soon as I got to tryouts and started playing pretty well, I was thinking this could be it, this could change my life dramatically,” said Barratt.

Barratt made the program and has enjoyed a dramatic rise up the hockey ladder. Last winter, he was a member of the U.S. National U18 Team, which captured the Gold Medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships. He also committed to attend Penn State and play for its men’s hockey team. To cap things off, last month he was chosen in the third round of the NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 90th pick overall.

Barratt readily acknowledges that joining the development program helped him grow on and off the ice. The daily schedule involved school from 7:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then it was off to the rink for training and skating until dinner time.

That immersion in the game paid dividends when the U.S. squad hit the ice for a challenging slate of games. During the 2016-17 campaign, Barratt appeared in 63 contests for the U.S. program, scoring 56 points on 18 goals and 38 assists.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it wasn’t for that,” said the 5’11, 170-pound Barratt, who lived in Ann Arbor, Mich. near the USA Hockey facility in Plymouth.

“Playing with the best kids in the country in your age group, going through adversity while you are there, playing older guys, three, four, and even five years older, and playing college teams, makes you a better player on the ice. It makes you mature much quicker than a normal 18-year-old would when you are playing against these guys and living away from home and doing things on your own. The national program is the best thing that could have happened to me.”
One of the best things that has happened to Barratt in his hockey career came when he helped the U.S. U18 team win gold at the 2017 World Junior Championships it topped host Canada in the final on a shootout after the teams tied a 4-4 through regulation and overtime.

“We knew we had a great group of guys, we were all so close,” said Barratt.

“It was funny because all of the teams in the past that won, all won with a very top guy. We were just a group of a bunch of good, steady players that knew how to win together. We needed every piece and every guy on our team to win every game.”

When the U.S took to the ice to play Canada in the gold medal final, Barratt sensed that the team wasn’t going to be denied.

“As soon as we got to that championship game, there was no way we were going to lose it after coming that far,” said Barratt, who tallied a goal and five assists in the tournament.

“We had been through so much in the past two years together. It was icing on the cake.”

For Barratt, being able to help the U.S. win an international competition is something he will never forget.

“Any time you get to represent your country on the biggest stage, it is so humbling for everyone that takes part in it,” said Barratt, who hopes to play for the U.S. in the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship which is being held in Buffalo from December 26 to January 5.

“To be able to come out with a gold for your country, you can’t put it into words.”

As Barratt considered his college options, he quickly concluded that he wanted to be part of the Penn State program, which is guided by former Princeton University men’s hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky.

“For me, Penn State was a no-brainer, the coaches have built such a good program in just five years,” said Barratt, a native of Bristol. Pa.

“Guy is awesome. They called me once a week and it seemed like they cared about me as a person and wanted to help me get through school. I give it to them for helping me with all of that. I was looking at many schools but when I came here, it felt right. It is three hours from home.”

Before starting at Penn State, Barratt went through the NHL draft process in early June, looking to convince pro teams that he was worthy of consideration.

“I was lucky enough to be invited to the NHL scouting combine,” said Barratt.

“I talked to 15 teams there, trying to tell them why they should pick me. It was the most stressful week of my life.”

Dealing with the stress, Barratt believed he made a good impression. “Talking to teams and having conversations with them, I felt very confident that this could actually happen,” said Barratt. “It wasn’t just a dream any more.”

Barratt had confidence that Chicago would make his dream come true.

“I talked to Chicago multiple times during the year and we had a great relationship,” said Barrett.

“I knew if anyone was going to take me, it would be Chicago. I thank them every day. I can’t believe it. They are such a stored franchise, an original six team, and that makes it that much more special. They want you and they want what is best for you. It is fantastic.”

Having recently taken part in the Blackhawks development camp, Barratt believes he is ready to excel on the college level.

“I was lucky enough to play some college teams while playing for the national team with the schedule that we have; I know what it’s like,” said Barratt, who is taking two courses at Penn State this summer.

“Now I am playing in the Big 10 against good teams every night. It is going to be a lot harder than it has been. I am excited to get things started.”

It appears that Barratt will be a good fit for Penn State’s exciting brand of run-and-gun hockey, which helped propel the Nittany Lions to the NCAA quarterfinals this past winter.

“For a guy who likes to score, there is nothing wrong with that,” said Barratt with a chuckle.

“It is going to be a lot of fun this year, learning a new system and how everything is going to work out. I am very excited; it is going be a good year.”

Iran Sentences PU Grad Student to Prison

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XIYUE WANG AND FAMILY: Shown here with his wife Hua Qu and their son, Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University graduate student in the history department, was arrested in Iran last summer while doing research for his doctoral dissertation and has been sentenced by Iranian authorities to 10 years in prison for espionage. (Family Photo Via Princeton University)

An Iranian court announced Sunday that it has sentenced Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University graduate student in the history department, to 10 years in prison for spying. A Chinese-born U.S. citizen, Mr. Wang, 37, was arrested last summer in Iran while conducting research on the administrative and cultural history of the late Qajar dynasty for his PhD dissertation.

“Xiyue Wang is a fantastic scholar,” said Stephen Kotkin, Princeton history and international affairs professor and Mr. Wang’s advisor. “He chose as his PhD thesis topic an incredibly difficult, ambitious project, which required field work at multiple sites in a complex region.”

Stating that Mr. Wang is innocent of all charges in his work, which is involved with 100-year-old documents, Mr. Kotkin continued, “He is a man of boundless intellectual curiosity, the kind of person who reads and reads and reads, then asks you for more suggestions. He is also uncommonly sincere, with impeccable manner, a person who is a joy to be around.”

In a statement issued Sunday, Princeton University reported that since Mr. Wang’s arrest last summer it “has worked with Mr. Wang’s family, the U.S. government, private counsel, and others to facilitate his release.”

The statement continued, “We were very distressed by the charges brought against him in connection with his scholarly activities, and by his subsequent conviction and sentence. His family and the University are distressed at his continued imprisonment and are hopeful that he will be released after his case is heard by the appellate authorities in Tehran. In the interim, the University will continue to do everything it can to be supportive of Mr. Wang and his family.”

Although the University had known about the arrest during the past year, “the University and his family kept the matter confidential on the recommendation of multiple advisers inside and outside of government who counseled us that publicity might be harmful to our student’s interests,” according to a statement issued yesterday by Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber.

Hua Qu, Mr. Wang’s wife, also issued a statement. “My husband, Xiyue Wang, is one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and most loving men I have ever known,” she wrote. “He has been a devoted husband to me and a father to our 4-year-old son. Our son has missed his father for more than a year of his young life, as my husband has been unjustly imprisoned for espionage that I know he did not and never would commit. My husband has long been deeply interested in 19th and early 20th century Eurasian history, and he was in Iran last summer solely for purposes of learning Farsi and doing scholarly research for his PhD dissertation. We fervently hope that the Iranian authorities will release him soon so that he can return home to his young family.”

The Iranian media reported that Mr. Wang had been convicted for being “an infiltrating American agent.” In a weekly press briefing on state television in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian judiciary spokesman Ghollamhossein Mohseni Eje’i stated, “this person, who was gathering intelligence and was directly guided by the U.S., was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the sentence can be appealed.”

The Mizan Online news agency, affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, said that Mr. Wang had pursued espionage “through the cover of being a researcher” and had been gathering information for organizations such as the U.S. State Department, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the British Institute of Persian Studies.

The U.S. State Department has accused Iran of fabricating security-related charges to detain Americans and others. “We call for the immediate release of all U.S. citizens unjustly detained in Iran so they can return to their families,” a State Department official wrote in an email statement on Sunday. “All U.S. citizens, especially dual nationals, considering travel to Iran should carefully read our latest travel warning.”

The news of Mr. Wang’s arrest and sentencing came at a time of high tension in relations between Iran and the U.S. Sunday marked the second anniversary of the nuclear agreement between Iran and Western nations, at a point where President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized that deal, is considering whether Iran is honoring its side of the agreement.

In his statement discussing efforts to secure Mr. Wang’s release “from the unjust detention that has threatened his health, pained his family, and distressed all who learned of his plight,” Mr. Eisgruber further stated, “Xiyue’s well-being remains of paramount concern. We will continue our support for him and his family as well as our efforts to secure his release. We hope the appellate authorities will look mercifully on him when they review his case this summer, and that they will allow this genuine scholar, devoted husband, and caring father to return home to our University and to the wife and young child who miss him dearly.”

Striking A Magical Pose

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A fairy fashion show was just one of the fun activities at Saturday’s Fairy Festival at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Reserve in Pennington.  Children, who were encouraged to dress in fairy and gnome costumes, also created magical crafts, danced around a maypole, walked along the fairy trail, and played in the stream with water sprites. Participants share their favorite fairy stories and characters in this week’s Town Talk, and more photos are featured on page 16. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Obituaries 7/19/17

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Maria Carmen Cortes Bugena

Maria Carmen Cortes Bugena passed away at home in Princeton on June 24. She was 97.

Over the course of five decades, Maria devoted her life to the care and nurture of others. In this way, she truly became a member of each of the families with whom she worked. She set an unsurpassed example of dignity and humility noted by any who had the pleasure to meet her.

Born four months premature on a ship off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, to Liborio Cortes and Clara Bugena, her long life defied all odds. After contracting polio at the age of five, Maria was left unable to walk for over a year. It was during this time that she learned to sew as she helped her mother tailor uniforms for the Chilean navy.

The third of 12 children, Maria remained in Chile until she saw both of her parents through their respective battles with cancer. Working for the John M. Schmunk family as a housekeeper and nanny during their years in Santiago, Maria emigrated to the United States in June 1964 to continue working with the family in Titusville, N.J.

Maria’s final station was that of housekeeper and cook for Mr. and Mrs. Bertram F. Bonner in Princeton. Working for the couple and their family for over 25 years, Maria faithfully maintained her post for a year following the passing of Mrs. Corella C. Bonner in 2002. It was not until 2003 at the age of 83 that Maria officially stopped working. While her formal duties may have ended, Maria’s love for and devotion to those around her was undying.

Maria is survived by the five women whom she helped to raise and their families: Danner (Schmunk) and Andrew Reibe of Titusville and their children Brendan, Sian and Liela; Barbara (Schmunk) and David Burdick of Glenmoore, Pa., and their children Alli and Ryan; June (Schmunk) and Brian Cullen of Amherst, N.H., and their children Eliza, Alexandra and Isabella; Caitlin Hughes of New York City; and Johanna (Hughes) and John Hunsbedt of Princeton and their children Oliver and Audrey.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Paul’s Church in Princeton on Saturday, July 29 at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Maria wished that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Garlie A. Forehand

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Garlie A. Forehand will be held at 11 a.m. on July 29th at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton at 50 Cherry Hill Road, with a reception to follow.

A professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, researcher at Educational Testing Service (ETS), author, and avid lover of travel and opera, Garlie Forehand of Princeton passed away on May 14, 2017.

Born in Lexington, Va. in 1933, he was the son of Garlie A. and Edith B. Forehand and grew up in Richmond, Va. He met his wife Emma while at the University of Richmond for his undergraduate work. Moving to Chicago, he received his graduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana. For many years he was a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University until he moved to Princeton and started his work in research at ETS in 1973.

After retiring from the position of director of research program planning and development from ETS in 2000, he continued to consult in the areas of research design and workplace communication with an emphasis on curriculum innovation and evaluation. Garlie was dedicated to research and learning and as such, volunteered for Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County, Inc. for several years.

He will be remembered for trips to the Tanglewood Music Center, crossword puzzles, trying different foods with his dining club, his doodles, and a caring and inviting smile.

Father of the late Thomas A. Forehand, he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Emma (Costello) Forehand; two sons Michael W. and Joseph L. Forehand; daughter Karen E. Michael; daughters-in-law Lydia Harris and Elizabeth Connor; son-in law Jeff Michael; a brother John Forehand; his niece, Cathy McNutt; and two grandchildren, Jeremy Forehand and Miranda Bermejo.

Garlie and his wife Emma supported many local organizations such as the Universalist Unitarian Congregation, The Princeton Festival, and Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts. They also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and as such, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Garlie’s memory be made to any of the above volunteer organizations.

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