Advance Robbinsville
SEPTEMBER 2020 FREE
Group helps kids get ‘connectd’
Go Wildcats!
Interconnectd brings groups together during time of isolation By SAM SciArrOTTA
As quarantining due to coronavirus began to take effect, Pooja Yerneni and Shweta Raman started to think about loneliness. The two had frequent chats over FaceTime and Zoom, and they talked a lot about isolation. Specifically, how it affected young hospital patients. “During quarantine, we realized how lonely patients are during this time due to limited visiting hours and lack of contact with friends and family,” the pair said in an email. The Robbinsville High School students wanted to do something productive, so they put their heads together and came up with an idea: Interconnectd. The organization groups children together based on interests and arranges free Zoom calls. The aim is to provide patients with a sense of companionship during a time when they may not be getting much human interaction outside of doctors and nurses. “Our primary goal is to make sure that we can reach See CONNECT, Page 9
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Deadline latest hurdle to Census accuracy By MicheLe ALPeriN
As we approach the finish line for the 2020 Census, enumerators in New Jersey are facing serious obstacles to achieving a fair and complete count. A shortened deadline, fewer enumerators (formerly known as census takers) than planned due to the pandemic and fears of completing the census—parRobbinsville High School’s Carly Landow (seated, in gray) recently signed a letter of intent to ticularly in the Latino commupursue cheerleading at the University of Kentucky. She celebrated the occasion with her dad nity—sparked by actions and words of the Trump administraMarc, sister Caylee, mom Wendy and brother Chad. Turn to Page 12 for the story. tion, are just a few of the hurdles in the way of an accurate count. The U.S. Census, completed every 10 years, “is designed to count every resident,” to determine apportionment of seats in U.S. House of Representatives David Scheidler, Wallard V. and to distribute of biling 100 this year, she decided One morning, a message written inhundreds chalk appeared Resident researches to put her skills to the test. Applegate, James Reading, lions of dollars in federal funds in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words lineage of men on Last winter, Rinyu learned Fred Meeker, Grover Field, to local communities, according couldn’t have beentosimpler, or more soul stirring, Bastedo, Edward census.gov. that the Doughboy monu- Irving Doughboy statue or more accurate. Danser, “There’s a concern from ment located at Route 33 and Gundlach, Richard Main Street in Robbinsville Steven Marvel, William Lam- many, especially in the immiwould celebrate its centen- bert, Daniel Lyons, Herbert grant population, about privacy By SAM SciArrOTTA security, especially when nial in 2020. The monument Pullen, Max Levine and Harry and“Heroes current Terri Rinyu has always had lists local World War I vet- Nixon. The names of two men our work here.”administration had, a fondness for genealogy. Just erans, and Rinyu wanted to who died in World War II—J. in many of our minds, been ask the 16,000 members of honor them by compiling any Steven Scheidler and Chester undermining the process: first, added at a later by trying to include the citiinformation she could find S. Erbe—were her family tree. Three words of gratitude and encouragement that zenship question, and lately by “I’ve always been drawn to into mini biographies for each date. the courage and compassion of health Rinyu, whocapture is Robbinsville’s shortening the deadline,” says anything historical,” she said. man. here and Princeton across America. To shareLetiyour administrator, councilwoman The stone memorial was public worksworkers “It’s really interesting when to supportcia our Emergency Fund, to the or township Fraga, who is Response handling cenyou start to figure out where erected Oct. 16, 1920 in honor reached out thanks and was given sus activities in the town. of 15 then-Washington Town- about her plan you come from.” visit rwjbh.org/heroes The Trump administration, And when she realized a ship residents who fought in the go-ahead. Robbinsville Robbinsville staple was turn- World War I: E. Drew Silver, See MONUMENT,And Page 10 for them, See CENSUS, Page please, stay home and6safe.
Their courage and compassion The history of a monument inspire us all.
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