Landscape Motion Tabled at Board Meeting

At Tuesday night's board meeting, a motion was made to award a $3400 landscape project to Forever In Bloom. Residents at the well-attended meeting questioned the wisdom of using Forever In Bloom again after the unguaranteed plants in two previous projects by that vendor died shortly after planting.

The first project was the planting around the red walkway at the front entrance. The second project was the June planting around The Smith House and pool that was so poorly executed that many plants died.

During the discussion of the motion, both the Landscape Liaison and Landscape Committee Chair denied knowing where the plantings were located, what the outcome was, who did the job, who approved the expenditure (5/25/10 board meeting, minutes on official website) and whether the plants were guaranteed.

After hearing the audience's response, the board tabled the motion.

New PSO Series at the Princeton Public Library

This Wednesday, September 29, the Princeton Public Library will host a new Princeton Symphony Orchestra series, PSO Soundtracks. PSO Music Director Rossen Milanov (right) will talk about what inspired him to choose the music and themes for his first full season in Princeton, a season he has dedicated to building partnerships with the many local cultural treasures that make Princeton extraordinary.

Future PSO Soundtracks will include topics such as music criticism, buying an instrument, the role of the concertmaster and more. Join PSO in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library from 7:30 until 9:00 pm. This lecture is free and open to the public.

Photo: Princeton Symphony Orchestra

Goodnight Moon

Another Vandalized Stop Sign

We're sorry to report another vandalized Stop sign. This one, pictured above, is in Parcel 3. The first one was in Parcel 6. As we said before, things like graffiti and littering were not common in Princeton Landing in the past. It's very disappointing. Let's all be aware and report problems to the Police Department when necessary.

Autumn Begins

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Opens Season

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra opens its 2010-2011 season on Sunday, October 3, with "Power, Passion and Grace," the first concert in its Classical Series. Music Director and Conductor Rossen Milanov (right) has chosen to showcase Princeton University professor and composer Steven Mackey and feature the East Coast premiere of his violin concerto Beautiful Passing.

Violinist Leila Josefowicz (left), who was soloist in the work's 2008 world premiere in London with the BBC Philharmonic, reprises her role performing the Mackey concerto, which was composed especially for her. Ms. Josefowicz has performed with many of the world's most prestigious orchestras.

In addtion, the program will open with Mozart's Overture to The Magic Flute and close with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.

The concert begins at 4 pm at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, on the Princeton University campus. There is a pre-concert lecture at 3 pm. The lecture is free and is open to ticket holders. It will be led by Steven Mackey (right) and Rossen Milanov. Tickets can be purchased as a five-concert subscription or for individual concerts. For ticket information, visit the PSO website or call their offices at 609-497-0020.

Photos: Princeton Symphony Orchestra

Stop Litter

Sunday's photo—not a pretty picture—a soda cup on one of the community's monuments. Vandalism and littering were not a problem in Princeton Landing in the past.

All we can say is: Please Stop!

Apple Day Festival at Terhune Orchards

This weekend, September 18 and 19, Terhune Orchards will celebrate the 34th annual Apple Day festival from 10 am to 5 pm. The fall harvest event will include farm wagon rides and horse-drawn wagon rides, pony rides, pumpkin and apple picking, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and a cornstalk maze. There will a book signing at 1 pm on both days by Herman Parish, the children's book author of the Amelia Bedelia stories, and there will be music throughout the weekend by the Daisy Jug Band. Food will be available at Pam's cafe, including an "Everything Apple" buffet of pies, donuts, muffins and salad, as well as hot dogs, soup, chicken and fresh pork sandwiches from the outdoor pig roast.

Parking for Apple Day is at the farm. Terhune Orchards is located at 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton. Apple Day is held rain or shine. Admission is $5 per person. Children under 3 are admitted for free.

Photos: Apples by Scott Bauer, USDA ARS

Scarecrows at Terhune Orchards by Karen Stray Nolting

Parcel Projects: Parcel 9

L.N. Rothberg & Son is back in the community doing much-needed paving in Parcel 9. This is the third major paving project in Princeton Landing in the last two years. In addition, extensive repairs have been made to the Loop Road catch basins and curbs.

Nature Guide: Differential Grasshopper

It's always fun when an animal or insect visits the garden and is bold enough to stay for a while. One of the beastly hot days of summer brought a striking grasshopper that kept me company while I watered. Our Nature Guide Jon Latimer gives us a few facts about this beautiful, feisty insect.

The Differential Grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis, can be easily identified by the black chevrons on its hind legs. Although this grasshopper is commonly found on the Great Plains, they are seen less often in our area.

Adult Differential Grasshoppers usually crawl or hop, but they are also good fliers. When the temperature rises above 86°, they try to cool off by seeking shade on plants or by taking to the air. On hot days airplane pilots have reported seeing grasshoppers flying as high as 1,400 feet above the ground. In their home territory, Differential Grasshoppers are considered pests. They eat crops such as corn, alfalfa and cotton, and broad-leafed flowering plants such as sunflowers.

I measure every Grief I meet

by Emily Dickinson

I measure every Grief I meet

With narrow, probing, eyes –

I wonder if It weighs like Mine –

Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long –

Or did it just begin –

I could not tell the Date of Mine –

It feels so old a pain –

I wonder if it hurts to live –

And if They have to try –

And whether – could They choose between –

It would not be – to die –

I note that Some – gone patient long –

At length, renew their smile –

An imitation of a Light

That has so little Oil –

I wonder if when Years have piled –

Some Thousands – on the Harm –

That hurt them Early – such a lapse

Could give them any Balm –

Or would They go on aching still

Through Centuries of Nerve –

Enlightened to a larger Pain –

In Contrast with the Love –

The Grieved – are many – I am told –

There is the various Cause –

Death – is but one – and comes but once –

And only nails the Eyes –

There's Grief of Want – and Grief of Cold –

A sort they call "Despair" –

There's Banishment from native Eyes –

In sight of Native Air –

And though I may not guess the kind –

Correctly – yet to me

A piercing Comfort it affords

In passing Calvary –

To note the fashions – of the Cross –

And how they're mostly worn –

Still fascinated to presume

That Some – are like my own –

L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu

Wishing our Princeton Landing neighbors celebrating

Rosh Hashanah good health, happiness, peace,

prosperity and a sweet year ahead

Last Days of Summer

Parcel 6 Evening Sky — 7:38 pm