Advance Robbinsville
JUNE 2025 FREE
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Fried reflects on final year as mayor InTervieW By Bill Sanservino
Mayor Dave Fried is preparing to close the chapter on more than two decades of public service as he finishes out final year in office. Fried, who announced in April that he will not seek reelection, recently sat down with the Robbinsville Advance for a wide-ranging interview to discuss the township’s future and his own next steps. Fried, Robbinsville’s first directly elected mayor, offered candid reflections on how the town has evolved, the challenges that remain, and what he hopes will come next. The Robbinsville Advance will RHS senior Tuleen Ali has increased her batting average over the course of the season from .091 on run the interview in two parts. April 17 to .394 as of May 16. (Photo by Julie Lawandy.) The first half, edited for grammar and clarity, appears below in Q&A format. Th esecond half will appear in next month’s issue.
Ali powers Ravens softball with confidence and grit By RiCH FisHer
In the previous two seasons, it was Tuleen Ali who would nurture and encourage Katie Ziliani in the circle during Robbinsville High softball games. Earlier this year, the graduated pitcher returned the favor.
Ali’s senior campaign started with her going 1-for-11 in the Ravens first four games. After an 0-for-3 against Immaculata, she reached out to her friend on the bus ride home. “I texted Katie and said ‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’” Ali said. “At the time I was going up there
without any confidence. I don’t know if it was because of all the girls graduating last year, or what. “I told Katie it’s my last year, I want to do good and I’m just not productive at the plate. She told me, ‘It’s your last year, you have to go up there with confidence.’ I feel See ALI, Page 12
Commercial development Robbinsville Advance: Robbinsville is getting pretty close to the point where there’s not a lot of developable residential space left—but how about commercial? What does the overall development picture look like? Mayor Dave Fried: The good news is—budget-wise—Robbinsville is in really good shape. We’ve
managed our budget well for quite some time. When we think about what’s new, one of the big things coming online is finally finishing Town Center South. That’s going to be a big financial win for the town. There are going to be a few hundred senior units coming into Town Center South. They’re going to be absolutely, positively gorgeous. They won’t put any pressure on the school system, and it’s going to be a great ratable for us—55 and older. That will also drive some additional retail growth along Route 33. So that’s one of our big moves. Secondly, we’re slowly trying to put together a plan to clean up Route 130. I’d really like to see Route 130 get a facelift—starting probably near where Russert’s Deli and the old banana factory used to be. We’d like to see something happen there and then work our way down the corridor. And you’re starting to see it happen already. A new car dealership is coming in. The Jeep dealership came in. Workout World came in. I think you’re slowly seeing Route 130 get where we’d like it to go. I’d very much like to do something about the hotels on Route 130. They account for a large portion of the crime in Robbinsville, so I’d like to see that See FRIED, Page 8
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