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Local teen dances to the top Jonathan Ronen adds Dancer of the Year to his list of awards By Bill SaNserViNO
Robbinsville resident Jonathan Ronen—a dancer since he was five years old—was recently named teen dancer of the year by the Artistic Dance Exchange. Ronen, 14, received the award at ADE’s national event in Orlando, Florida, at the beginning of July. ADE is the only dance convention and competition in the United States to offer international exchange scholarship programs.
The organization is a platform for established, upcoming, and novice dancers to explore their artistic voice. As part of his award, Ronen gets to train with elite faculty for a year, and he will attend ADE conventions and competition events around the country in 2022 and 2023. He will receive two-night hotel stays in each tour city for the entire tour season. Ronen, who is a rising freshman at Robbinsville High School, said he feels “incredible blessed” to have won the award. His mother, Pamela, speaking for her son, said that “It is a dream come true (for Jonathan) to travel to cities for ADE’s 3-day
convention.” During the tour, he will assist the faculty by demonstrating choreography to the hundreds of dancers in attendance. “For him, this is the best way to spend his weekends—traveling, training in an array of genres with top notch faculty, and being part of a dance community that supports and guides his growth,” Pamela said. She added: “During non-dancing hours, he gets to learn the ins and outs of what goes on in dance conventions as he helps facilitate dance studios competition line up back stage, assists during award ceremonies and be part of welcomSee RONEN, Page 8
$25.7 million municipal budget includes small tax increase EdiTed By Bill SaNserViNO
Robbinsville rising senior Pat Kapp says the Ravens participation in Jersey City’s Hamilton Park League can only help when the regular season begins. For more on Kapp and the team, turn to page 12.
Robbinsville Township Council recently adopted the $25.7 million 2022 municipal budget. After nine consecutive years of either flat or reduced municipal taxes, this year’s spending plan contains a proposed municipal increase to 53.9 cents per every $100 of assessed value—up from 51.8 cents. That translates to an approxi-
mately $79 municipal increase per household in 2022. The average assessed home value in Robbinsville is $378,600. A penny in the Robbinsville tax rate is worth $265,905.75. Municipal taxes make up only 20 percent of a township resident’s overall tax bill. Schools accounted for 56 percent, Mercer County absorbed 21 percent, and the Mercer County Library and Mercer County Open Space taxes com-
bined for 3 percent in 2021. “This was probably the most difficult budget we’ve ever had, following an unprecedented two years dealing with the pandemic and all the challenges that came along with it,” said Mayor David Fried. “No one likes paying more taxes, and we did everything we possibly could to minimize it. Robbinsville has been a Mercer County leader in tax stabilizaSee AROUND TOWN, Page 3
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