From the Publisher, Fall 2026

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Fall 2026 issue of Princeton Magazine.

Many of you know that I have an architectural firm in Princeton. In reading the drafts of the articles for this issue, I was stunned that almost all of them are about interior or exterior architecture and the mission of the occupants, from education to markets, a special town, gardens, a wildlife center, and even lighting.

I became excited about this because the mission of architecture is to create an environment wherein one’s goals in life can be better met.

Carolyn Jones writes about a very interesting designer, Brady Hill, who has spent his career creating thoughtfully lit interiors for his clients. He is also with DarkSky Hopewell, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to reducing light pollution in Hopewell Valley and beyond.

The impact on education by new architecture is extremely gratifying.

Anne Levin writes about Trenton’s Foundation Academies, a charter school founded in 2007. It has converted a former Trenton doll factory building into a new 91,000-square-foot high school.

CEO Sheria McRae raves about Farewell Architects of Princeton as the right firm for the job.

Sarah Teo tells us about the Princeton Learning Cooperative, a facility for self-directed learning of homeschooled students, ages 12 to 19, where the focus is on learning for learning’s sake. Paul Scutt and Joel Hammon are the founders of the center which operates on a regular school schedule. Many students take courses at Mercer County Community College.

My own son, “JB,” had a similar experience at a “Farm School” in New England, and we were gratified with the self-taught environment that helped him develop into an amazing carpenter/contractor.

Writer Matthew Hersh looks at farmers markets. In 1994 there were 1,755 markets in the U.S., and today that number is around 8,700. I would guess we have at least 20 markets within a 30-minute drive from Hinds Plaza, the location of our own Farmers Market, which occurs every Thursday.

The attraction of these markets, some which operate year-round, is that the produce is direct from the farm to your table, and many shoppers find comfort in the answers to their questions about planting, fertilizers (if any), and harvesting. With some products, like blueberries, you can buy them in August when they are plentiful and inexpensive and freeze them for the winter when they are much more expensive. You should see the vast supply in my own freezer!

Ever since I purchased the Roebling Estate in Lawrence Township and converted the entire property into a condominium, I have been fascinated by the life of John A. Roebling and his family, especially the fact that, after John died in 1869 during construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, his son Washington took over — but when he became disabled his wife stepped up to complete the project. Until I read the draft of Wendy Greenberg’s article, I had no idea that Roebling provided 750 houses for his employees and their families in a company town named Roebling. The town still has 3,500 occupants, some of whom are descendants of the original workers.

The exciting news is that a house at 101 Second Avenue is being transformed as part of the Roebling Museum by Executive Director Lynne Calamia, who details the history of this truly amazing town. Princeton preservationist and historian Clifford Zink has also written a book on The Roebling Legacy.

In your time in the surrounds of Princeton, I hope you have visited the late Seward Johnson Jr.’s Atelier and Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton Township and even enjoyed a dinner at the property’s Rat’s Restaurant.

Ilene Dube writes about a labyrinth of nature and art that has been forged by two artists, a married couple who met and worked together for years at the Johnson Atelier.

Ayami Aoyama from Japan and Rory Mahon have created their own “grounds of sculpture” on five acres in the Harbourton section of Hopewell. They offer a Zen garden, an arboretum, a foundry, studios, and an indoor gallery.

For this issue, Donald H. Sandborn III writes about a very special and inspiring place, the Mercer County Wildlife Center, which focuses on animal rehabilitation and educational outreach. The center’s director, Jane Rakos-Yates, explains that the center is owned and operated by Mercer County’s Park Commission and supported by the nonprofit Wildlife Center Friends.

It treats more than 3,000 injured or sick native animals in a year, and the staff responds to over 12,000 phone calls per year with wildlife questions and concerns.

In closing, please read Stuart Mitchner’s “Book Scene,” and enjoy the curated selections in Sarah Teo’s “A Well-Designed Life” pages. Also, you must admire Art Director Jeff Tryon’s work on the graphics of each page.

All of us at Princeton Magazine wish you a wonderful fall and do remember to “shop local,” especially with our advertisers.

Respectfully yours,