Advance Robbinsville
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Township voters face quiet ballot on Nov. 4
BY BILL SANSERVINO
For the first time in decades, Robbinsville’s ballot will not feature retiring Mayor Dave Fried. This year, both the municipal and school board contests are uncontested. In the municipal election, Councilman Mike Todd is running unopposed for mayor. It’s the four-year seat being vacated by Fried, who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t be running for reelection. Two four-year council seats are also on the ballot. Running for reelection are incumbents Deborah Blakely and
Robbinsville’s Lynsey Parrott is a standout field hockey goalie at The Hun School.
How one start sparked Parrott’s career in goal BY RICH FISHER
Lynsey Parrott called her first opportunity to play goalie for Pond Road’s field hockey team “one unforgettable game.” It’s easy to see why, because the Hun School junior is reminded of it every time she takes the field now as one of the top netminders in Mercer County and beyond. All because of one unforgettable game.
“I joined my local rec team, the Allentown Scarlets, and rotated through different positions until one day they needed a goalie,” Parrott said. “I volunteered, stepped into the cage, and instantly fell in love. That moment changed everything— and I haven’t looked back since. “I had so much fun in the cage that I switched positions for the rest of the seaSee PARROTT, Page 18
Hal English. On the school board ballot, three candidates are running unopposed for three three-year seats. They are incumbents Raghu Nandan, Peter J. Oehlberg, and Jeffrey Pierro. Below are biographical summaries and candidate responses to questions posed by the Robbinsville Advance for mayor and council. Similar coverage is set to appear in next month’s issue for the school candidates. The Q&A begins with Todd and follows with Blakely and English. See ELECTION, Page 8
DOJ ends probe of BAPS Robbinsville temple BY BILL SANSERVINO
A federal investigation into labor trafficking allegations at the BAPS Akshardham temple in Robbinsville has been closed, attorneys for the Hindu spiritual organization told a judge. The decision clears the way for a civil lawsuit to move forward in court after nearly four years on hold. The BAPS temple, which celebrated its grand dedication opening ceremony in 2023, is the largest Hindu mandir in the Western Hemisphere, and the
third-largest in the world. In a letter dated Sept.18, Paul J. Fishman, an attorney for BAPS, said the U.S. Department of Justice recently informed them it has ended its probe into the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and its affiliates. With the DOJ investigation now closed, the civil case will resume in federal court. BAPS attorneys said they will confer with opposing counsel to propose a schedule for the next phase of litigation, including a forSee BAPS, Page 4
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