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APRIL 4-10,2012
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Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Editorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Thinking college?
Mercer college will host an
open house. PAGE 3
P r e - s o r t e d
S t a n d a r d
U S P o s t a g e
P A I D
B e l l m a w r N J
P e r m i t 1 5 0 1
P o s t a l C u s t o m e r
Mayor
holds
township
address
BY JULIE STIPE
The Robbinsville Sun
At his State of the Township
address on March 22, Rob-
binsville Mayor Dave Fried
discussed a number of accom-
plishments made over the past
year as well as plans for the fu-
ture of the township.
The mayor began the speech
by discussing the townships
goal to reduce its debt, saying
the township has had an
overdependence on debt and
spending. However, he said,
this year, the township was
able to reduce its debt by $1.8
million, significantly more
than the $300,000 reduction
made last year.
We hope its a trend, he
said.
By reducing debt, the mayor
declared, the township will be
able to save for projects going
forward.
The mayor also stressed
breaking free of debt would
enable the township to provide
more programs for residents.
Fried also discussed the
townships taxes, admitting
New Jersey has a heavy re-
liance on property taxes. Rob-
binsville, he said, has had one
of the most stable tax rates in
Mercer County, though this
wasnt always the case. When
Residents turn out for parade
BY JULIE STIPE
The Robbinsville Sun
Cloudy skies and a slight driz-
zle did not seem to dampen spirits
at the third-annual Robbinsville
St. Patricks Day Parade on Satur-
day, March 24.
Along the parade route, Rob-
binsville residents turned out de-
spite the rain (some taking refuge
on their porches) to see marching
bands, Irish pipe bands, local
businesses, parade floats, and a
number of Robbinsville commu-
nity organizations.
Parade organizer Dave Doran
said the parade has grown from
30 organizations and individuals
in its first year to about 80 groups.
The parade is planned and run
by the Robbinsville Irish Heritage
Association (RIHA), founded four
JULIE STIPE Photos/The Robbinsville Sun
ABOVE: Pipes and Drums of Barnegat Bay marched in the third
annual Robbinsville St. Patricks Day Parade on Saturday, March
24. LEFT: Robbinsville Girl Scouts represent their troop at the
third annual Robbinsville St. Patricks Day Parade on Saturday,
March 24.
At the parade, at a party, parade award
winners were announced. This year, awards
were given out in eight different categories:
u Most Creative Adult Group Mer-
cer County Sunshine Foundation
u Best Musical Expression Rob-
binsville High School Marching Band
u Best Civic Group Mercer County
Sheriffs Office Honor Guard
u Most Creative Youth Group Girl
Scout Troop No. 72026
u Best Banner Robbinsville Boy
Scout Troop No. 79
u Best Attire Rince OChroi
u Best Theme In The Field Irish
Dancers
u Best Pipe Band Trenton AOH Divi-
sion 1 Pipe Band
RIHAs purpose is to foster an under-
standing and appreciation of Irish cultural
values and heritage, and to be the nexus
for cultural events and activities for Rob-
binsville Township. The organization also
promotes and brings together all good
things about Ireland. In addition, it sup-
ports and promotes local charitable activi-
ties within the community, county and
state.
MORE INFORMATION
please see POST, page 7
please see MAYOR, page 4
2 THE ROBBINSVILLE SUN APRIL 4-10,2012
Send us your Robbinsville news
Have a news tip? Want to send us a press release or photos? Shoot an interesting video? Drop us an email at news@robbinsvillesun.com. Fax us at
(856) 427-0934. Call the editor at (609) 751-0245.
Mercer
college to
host an
open house
Now is the time to think about
college for fall 2012.
Prospective students of all ages
are invited to explore Mercer at
an open house on Wednesday,
April 11, at 6 p.m. at Mercer Coun-
ty Community Colleges West
Windsor campus student center
cafeteria.
The event is designed for high
school students and parents, as
well as adults who are seeking to
change or enhance their careers.
Participants will learn from
current students and college fac-
ulty members about Mercers 70
associate degree programs of-
fered in diverse areas, including
the health professions, computer
technology, business, horticul-
ture, engineering, entertainment
technology, liberal arts and sci-
ences, and the fine and perform-
ing arts.
New at Mercer are associates
degree programs in fashion de-
sign and fashion merchandizing
offered at the downtown Trenton
campus.
Representatives from both the
credit and noncredit divisions
will be available to speak to
prospective students.
Counselors will be on hand to
discuss how students can save
money by beginning their educa-
tion at Mercer and transferring to
earn a bachelors degree.
Now, MCCC graduates can en-
roll in bachelors degree pro-
grams offered right at the West
Windsor Campus by three col-
leges: William Paterson Universi-
ty, Fairleigh Dickinson University
and Felician College.
Visitors will learn how to apply
for financial aid, special services
and much more.
Students can also learn if they
qualify for free tuition through
NJSTARS, a state program for
New Jersey high school gradu-
ates.
The open house will include
program videos, hands-on
demonstrations, performances by
the college jazz band and chorus,
as well as refreshments.
Reservations are preferred but
not required. RSVP at
www.mccc.edu/openhouse.
For more information about
MCCCs programs and services,
visit www.mccc.edu, or call en-
rollment services at (609) 570-3795,
or e-mail admiss@mccc.edu.
APRIL 4-10,2012 THE ROBBINSVILLE SUN 3
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Township makes several
immediate staff changes
Robbinsville Township Assis-
tant Business Administrator Joy
Tozzi has been appointed busi-
ness administrator, and Tim Mc-
Gough has been named director of
community development and di-
rector of economic development,
Mayor David Fried announced re-
cently.
The changes are effective im-
mediately.
Tozzis expertise in administra-
tion, legal and finance including
serving as the township negotia-
tor during successful contract ne-
gotiations with the fire and team-
sters unions, along with her ongo-
ing discussions with police repre-
sentatives helped drive the ap-
pointment.
We are extremely fortunate to
have someone of Joy Tozzis tal-
ent and experience working for
Robbinsville Township, Fried
said. Her versatility in a multi-
tude of areas allows this to be a
very natural progression for our
administration.
The burgeoning economic
growth in the township following
a two-year lull allowed Fried to as-
sign McGoughs considerable
strengths to current projects such
as the development of Kushner
Park, new building construction
in the vibrant warehouse district,
finding a permanent location for
the new municipal building, the
construction of a new court build-
ing to replace the current trailer,
taking the lead on challenging the
so-called Conversion Law, a new
hotel in the area of West Manor
Way, construction of a communi-
ty park and field house, trans-
forming the 6-acre Foxmoor site
on Washington Boulevard into a
park and the ongoing New Jersey
Turnpike Widening Project.
McGough will remain the town-
ships chief engineer.
My goal is to be as efficient as
possible, Fried said. Two years
ago, we made changes because de-
velopment had slowed. Now
things are moving in the right
direction. Development is back
and we felt this change was need-
ed to maximize each of their
individual strengths. This allows
us to be more productive with the
least amount of upheaval without
adding staff, which makes for a
leaner budget and helps keep
taxes down. There are many
great things happening in the
township, and we are extremely
comfortable with these changes in
our organizational structure at
this time.
he became mayor, Fried said, Rob-
binsvilles tax rates were among
the fastest-growing in the county.
Though there has been a slight
tax increase this year, the mayor
said, taxes increased significantly
below the mandated 2 percent
cap.
Regarding economic develop-
ment, the mayor said the town-
ship has been able to bring in a
number of new ratables, among
them, two new leases of the old
senior building, which he said
will create jobs the township des-
perately needs.
One of the townships biggest
challenges, Fried added, is how to
deal with the Foxmoor shopping
center, which is plagued with a
number of empty storefronts, in-
cluding that of the former Thrift-
way.
Fried said he admired Hamil-
ton Mayor John Bencivengos
leadership in reviving old devel-
opments, and said he hoped to
take a page out of Bencivengos
book, and do something amazing
with the shopping center.
The mayor also discussed the
recent Town Center North rede-
velopment, saying that it contin-
ues to be vibrant and strong. The
town center area, the mayor said,
was a real opportunity to create
something new, something walka-
ble.
I think its been an incredible
success, he added.
The mayor also said he was ex-
cited to see the south side take
shape as well. The council came
up with a redevelopment plan, he
said, that has been a blank canvas
for developers work on. Many de-
velopers have come up with many
different ideas for the southern
side of town center, Fried said,
and some of them have been
amazing ideas that we never
would have thought of.
Fried also announced his in-
tention to preserve part of the
township-owned Kushner proper-
ty as a park, stating that the town-
ship has a commitment to active
and passive recreation and
adding that the township will
continue to work hard on recre-
ation.
The mayor said he intends to
create a pool for residents, as well
as soccer fields with restrooms.
We want to make sure kids have
a place to play, he said.
The township has other proj-
ects in the works, the mayor said,
including finding a new munici-
pal building to replace the one de-
molished just a couple of weeks
ago.
Were looking for a new build-
ing, he said.
Another plan is to build a new
police station court in the area
where the old municipal building
stood. Again, Fried emphasized
he hoped to take a long-term ap-
proach to the project.
Were setting aside money so
we can save for it, he said.
An important issue for the
township lately, the mayor said,
has been the conversion of senior
housing into family housing. A
development project planned for
Gordon Road originally called for
senior housing, but the developer
now plans to build family housing
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