The Junior League of Greater Princeton, known for its biannual house tours, brings a musical day to West Windsor on Saturday, May 23, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Mercer County Park ice skating center.##M:[more]##
Musical performers include the Nerds, the VooDUDES, Selkow, Kim Yarson, SpeakEasy, and children’s entertainer YOSI. Children’s activities include Donna Winters, a comedian and magician with Parties with Petals, sand art, face painting, and airbrush tattoos. Triumph and Harvest Moon breweries will sell their popular ales. Stewart’s Root Beer, Heavenly Ham, Howard’s Place, and Dip-A-Dee-Doo will offer an assortment of foods, drinks, snacks, and desserts. Tickets are $15 at www.jlgp.org, or $20 at the door. Free admission for children under 12.
Barbara DiCostanzo of West Windsor, pictured at right, the incoming president of the organization, has been instrumental in seeing this event to fruition. “We worked very hard to develop an off year fundraiser,” she says. “This was a new idea and it has great potential to be better and better.”
The Junior League’s Designer Showcase Home has been in existence for more than 30 years and the group already has it etched in their minds how to run the event with designers, permits, and events. This is a big departure for them. “We are so excited to develop a new family-friendly event with beer and food,” DiCostanzo says. “It’s something I would like to go to.”
DiCostanzo, raised in Garden City, Long Island, is the daughter of an anesthesiologist and a stay-at-home mother. She has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Adelphia University. She met her husband, Christopher, during her college days. When he was offered a job at Johnson & Johnson in Skillman, the couple moved to Avalon Watch in West Windsor.
Two years later they moved to the Charter Club development in West Windsor where their three children, Hannah, 8; Christopher (CJ), 7; and Jack, 20 months, were born. The two older children are students at Hawk School. “We now have a fabulous nanny and I work from home two days a week,” DiCostanzo says. “The cul de sac is a wonderful place and I have called on neighbors to bridge the gap in a pinch.”
Barbara founded Penbrook Management, an investment advisory firm in New York City, in 2004. Christopher is president and CEO of Songbird Hearing, a leading developer of disposable hearing devices.
DiConstanzo, who joined the league in September, 2001, was raised by a a mother who was very philanthropic and involved in volunteer organizations. “I joined knowing that they did community projects,” she says. “I didn’t understand the full extent of their mission of training women to work in the community.”
“We are a diverse organization and admission is open to any woman over 21 who has an interest in volunteerism and improving their communities,” she says. “We are always looking for new members.”
Rhythm and Brews Festival, Junior League of Greater Princeton, Mercer County Park, Ice Skating Center, West Windsor, 609-771-0525, www.jlgp.org. Saturday, May 23, Noon to 8 p.m.
