By RobbinsvilleWeb contributor Kevin Stawicki

The Robbinsville High School Gymnasium overflowed with emotion, excitement, purpose…and people; over 1000 guests attended Jonathan’s Shooting Stars Basketball Benefit Saturday evening. Tickets for the game sold out as of Thursday 13th.

Proceeds directly benefited the Sharon School Kindergartener who, for the past 18 months, has been battling pancreatoblastoma, a rare cancer. Jonathan Lee sat front row surrounded by his family and friends as the Harlem MagicMasters played a good old game of basketball against The Robbinsville Dream Team, which comprised of 28 Sharon School teachers. This night was Jonathan’s.

At 7:30 PM, the game began, with the first shot made by the MagicMasters. Putting on their game faces, The Robbinsville Dream Team swung into action. Windsor School nurse, Melissa Young and Sharon School kindergarten teacher, AnnMarie DelleGrotti, both found themselves either being fouled or fouling the MagicMasters; especially 7’3″ #33. Five minutes before halftime, the kids in the stands spilt onto the court to a familiar tune: the Cotton Eyed Joe.

Shawn 5’4″ #23, the shortest MagicMaster, triggered roars of laughter as he dribbled while practically lying on the ground and contorting his body, “It’s great. You know, sold out crowd, people being so supportive. It feels so good.”

I asked Sharon School principal, Janet Sinkewicz, what of the evening was most surprising to her, “I would say the community turnout. But I knew our community would come together. I would say the help we received tonight from all who volunteered. But I knew that they would do a great job. The enormous and overwhelming turnout both emotionally and financially was wonderful.”

Within the past ten days, two Robbinsville homes have been burglarized with losses estimated at $31,000. One of the homes hit  is in Town Center on Reed Lane and the other is on Old York Road. Both times the thief, or thieves, smashed a glass door to gain entry to the residence. If you have any information please call Robbinsville Police at 259-3900.

Source: nj.com

Commissioner Kris Kolluri today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will begin a $7.7 million project to improve traffic flow and safety on routes 33 and 130 in Robbinsville Township, Mercer County. The project is scheduled to be completed by November 2009.

“Improving capacity and safety at this intersection will enable motorists to access downtown Robbinsville more easily, which will stimulate the township’s economic growth,” noted Governor Jon S. Corzine.

On Friday, November 7, NJDOT will close the shoulders on Route 33 in both directions between milepost 7.6 and milepost 7.88. In addition, NJDOT will close the shoulders on Route 130 in both directions between milepost 62.5 and milepost 63. NJDOT will also place construction barriers along the Route 130 median.

NJDOT will reconstruct and improve the operation of the Route 33 and Route 130 intersection. In addition, NJDOT will build a new jug-handle to connect traffic to the recently completed County Route 526 Robbinsville bypass. Route 33 will be realigned in order to increase safety, and a new auxiliary lane will be added on Route 130 in each direction.

As part of the project, NJDOT will also demolish the existing Route 33 Bridge over the Conrail rail-line and replace it with an at-grade rail crossing. The railroad will be abandoned at this location.

NJDOT installed variable message signs on routes 33 and 130 to inform motorists of changes in traffic patterns during construction. Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.nj511.info.