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Local cadet earns Naval honors By JULia MaRnin Jessica Murray was prepared for the physical challenges that came with training in Navy boot camp. The 18-year-old Robbinsville resident played varsity soccer at the High School and holds a third degree blackbelt—she was previously employed as a karate instructor. It was the mental challenges during Recruit Training Command in Illinois, where all U.S. Navy enlistees must begin their career, that revealed themselves to be the toughest hurdles for her. “They would get in your face, yell a lot, and mess with your mind,” she says. “I had moments where I wanted to give up, but that's where your shipmates come in. They come back and help put you back in the right mindset.” Despite the challenges, Murray prevailed throughout the eight weeks. Not only did she make it through boot camp, she graduated as top Sailor from Division 399, which had a total of around 830 other recruits. Her accomplishment earned her the Military Excellence Award on Oct. 25. “The MEA is awarded to the recruit that best exemplifies the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork. The award placed Murray at the pinnacle of today’s newest sailors,” says a press release issued by Recruit Training Command’s public affairs. Murray’s honor did not come See MURRAY, Page 9
By saMantha sciaRRotta
ssciarrotta@communitynews.org
Jack Pallitto (center), with teammates Joe Pontrelli, Liam Hartmann, Tyler Guttormsen and Ryan Van Duren, recently switched from defense to right wing and has found success for the Ravens. For more hockey coverage, turn to Page 14. (Photo by Paul Van Duren.)
‘Keeping his spirits high’ After fire, Robbinsville family faces recovery By JenniFeR GoetZ This was an especially difficult holiday season for the Cino family. Tragedy struck on Thanksgiving Day, when the patriarch of the family, Tony Cino, attempted to repair the furnace at his Robbinsville home. A devastating fire broke out, with the flames engulfing Tony. Tony was badly injured,
and only saved after his son Giovanni stepped in to pull his father to safety. Giovanni didn’t think twice about rushing in, but the moments afterward were traumatic. “My little brother, Giovanni, is who found my dad with his clothes on fire, helped tear them off, and call 911 so he was rather shaken up and not speaking much,” Tony’s son Giuseppe said. Giuseppe and his older brother Michael, who live in North Carolina, came as quickly as they could after hearing the news. The brothers got
in the car and drove all through the night and were able to arrive at the hospital around 8 a.m. the next day. The trip, of course, was tense. “We got the news with so much uncertainty of how badly he had been burned,” Giuseppe said. “It was a very somber car ride.” The brothers walked into the hospital room and saw their father completely covered in bandages with only his face exposed. They would soon learn that he had suffered from second- and third-degree burns that would require a number See CINO, Page 10
The Shoppes at Foxmoor has finally found its anchor tenants. Planet Fitness signed on to open a Robbinsville franchise last month—it will be one of 1,800 Planet Fitness gyms across the country. STEM Academy, a school and childcare facility, will also anchor the 126,000-sq.ft. plaza. Planet Fitness joins Fit Body Boot Camp as Foxmoor’s second fitness tenant. The fortunes of the shoppping center have declined since Thriftway, its original anchor, closed in 2011. Many residents had hoped that another grocery store would take over. Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried acknowledged their disappointment in this month’s column in the Robbinsville Advance, saying that they attempted to draw in a food store but were unsuccessful. Built in 1986, Foxmoor has seen a host of tenants come and go over the last decade and, at one point, had a 41 percent occupancy rate. Penmark Management Company bought the shopping center in August of 2018 for $7.5 million. Since then, a number of tenants have opened up shop in the plaza, including Thai Ginger, Justin’s Barber Shop, ATA Hamilton Karate, Code Ninjas, The Healthy Animal and Mathnasium. Officials hope Foxmoor’s occupancy rate will reach 85 percent within the next two months.
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