Advance Robbinsville
MARCH 2022 FREE
Ninja warrior
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
The state of the town in 2022
Hardwood hero
RHS sophomore James Sannella to compete on NBC obstacle course racing show
Mayor Dave Fried talks to the Advance about issues confronting Robbinsville
EDiTeD By BiLL SanserVino
Sophomore James Sannella has been invited to participate in the new season of American Ninja Warrior, which will air on NBC this summer. Typically only adults are allowed to compete on the show, but last year they began inviting teens they believed could be competitive. According to Sannella, getting onto the show was his main focus after winning his age division in the National Ninja League World Championship on June 28 last year. Sannella began training for American Ninja Warrior, also known as Obstacle Course Racing, in the fall of 2018 and immediately qualified for the National Ninja League World Championships in Hartford Connecticut, held in February 2019. He has qualified for each world championship since then, getting fourth place for his age division in 2020 at Greensboro, North Carolina, and most recently grabbing first-place for his age division in 2021 in Lawrence Township. The date for Sannella’s appearance has yet to be announced. American Ninja Warrior features some of the most See AROUND TOWN, Page 3
InTerVieW By BiLL SanserVino
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on municipalities over the past two years, and Robbinsville Township is no exception. Local quality of life, supply chain issues, public safety, revenues and expenditures, Allie Neumann is one of six seniors who led the RHS girls’ basketball team to a winning record and township operations this season. It was the first time in program history that the team posted three straight winning are all areas that have been affected by the pandemic. seasons. For more on Neumann and the team, turn to Page 19. (Photo by Rich Fisher.) The Advance recently sat down with Mayor Dave Fried to talk about these issues and a number of other things going on in Robbinsville Township as One morning, a message written in chalk appeared we enter the new year. in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words Below is the first part of a couldn’t have beenQ&A simpler, or on more stirring, based the soul interview or more accurate. with Fried. It has been edited binsville High School that initiative between both the for length and clarity. The By BiLL SanserVino second part will run in next could be used for all of those town and the school.” issue. Betze said the district month’s Extra room for gym classes, activities. “Heroes The project would be build administration and school indoor sports tournaments work here.” * * * Robbinsville Advance: and even dance competitions by the township and located board are in favor of the projcould be coming to town in on land owned by the school ect. “We’re all for it here at my The New York Times district, Mayor David Fried level,” Betze Three said. “The board recently ran an article talkthe near future. words of gratitude and encouragement that Robbinsville Township and and Superintendent Brian has not seen final drawings, ing about the town (“Robthe courage and compassion of health but we have capture spoken with the binsville, N.J.: A diverse the Robbinsville Public School Betze told The Advance. workers and community across America. To center share your at the of “I’m fairly confident that finance committee andhere they’re District are close to an agreethanks or to supportitour Emergency ResponsetalkFund, all”), and basically ment for the construction of we’re going to be able to do all for it as well.” The township originally ing about what the coman almost 20,000-square-foot this,” Fried said. “I’m really visithad rwjbh.org/heroes recreation center next to Rob- excited about it. It’s a great See REC CENTER, Page 4 See FRIED, Page 11
Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
Town and school district near deal for new recreation center
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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