Advance Robbinsville
JUNE 2021 FREE
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Wargo leads ND baseball
FBI raids BAPS temple
Robbinsville resident’s “high baseball IQ” an asset for the Irish
Labor trafficking lawsuit at center of probe
BY RICH FISHER
BY SAM SCIARROTTA
As a Robbinsville resident, the nearest Parochial high school for Jackson Wargo to attend is Notre Dame. Wargo could live on the moon, however, and he would still be playing baseball for the Lawrenceville institution. His blood type could easily be ND-positive.
FBI agents descended on the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Hindu temple in Robbinsville last month, on the heels of a lawsuit that claims 200 Indian nationals were trafficked to the United States under false pretenses and forced to live and work on temple grounds for $1.20 an hour. The class action lawsuit names six plaintiffs—Mukesh Kumar, Keshav Kumar, Devi Laal, Niranjan, Pappu and Brajendra—and alleges wage theft and “shocking abuses” by BAPS. The workers often exceeded 80 hours a week with few days off for what amounted to $450 a month. The lawsuit seeks the workers’ unpaid wages, an award of money for other damages, and a court order against BAPS. According to the complaint, 200 Indian nationals were recruited and brought to the United States under R-1 religious visas to do stonework and other construction on the temple. Under federal immigration law, R-1 visas are available to those who minister or work in religious occupations—BAPS told the United States government that the workers were coming to New Jersey as reliSee BAPS, Page 10
Wargo’s dad, Chris, won state championships in football and baseball with the Irish. His grandfather, Jerry, a former minor league ballplayer, was coach Joe Drulis’ assistant coach from 2001-08. His uncle Jerry won a baseball title at ND while his uncle Mike claimed a football championship. His aunt Dianne was the Irish’s long-time cheerleader coach. Grandmother Lorraine MiMom has long supported the school’s sports programs and various other activities, while mom, Michelle, has been general manager in getting things organized with summer sports. Closer to his own age group, Wargo’s older sister Hope was an All-County track & field performer and is now on scholarship at Rider. See WARGO, Page 8
Robbinsville councilman Mike Cipriano (left) and Mayor Dave Fried were the callers at the RHS Class of 2022 Red Carpet and Post Prom Drive-In Designer Handbag Bingo Fundraiser, held at the RHS parking lot on May 16. For more news, turn to Page 4.
Their courage and compassion Goodbye,inspire classus ofall. 2021
National Honor Society, future plans, written experi-in chalk morning, a message appeared Seniors to graduateOnetheir ences at RHS and how they World Language Honor Sociin front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words June 15 felt about wrapping up their ety, ONE Project and Scicouldn’t have been simpler, or more soul stirring,
high school careers in such a ence Olympiad, as well as playing on the tennis, track This year's graduating and field and cross countr y Robbinsville High School class will go on to attend teams. This generation of seniors will say farewell to the schools like Georgia “HeroesTech, Purdue, Ravens features future district when they graduate Cornell, Rutgers, work here.” this month, and this issue of Johns Hopkins, Carnegie engineers, doctors, neuthe Advance once again fea- Mellon and Pitt. They'll rologists, researchers, softstudy aerospace engineer- ware developers and projtures profiles of the 10 ExcepThree words of gratitude and encouragement that ing, computer science, indus- ect designers. tional Ravens. capture the courage and compassion of health Graduation is set for June trial design, medicine and With the help of Robbinsworkers here and across America. 15 To from share6 p.m. your to 9 p.m. A rain physics. ville High School staff, the thanksAt or to support our Emergency Fund, for June 22. date is scheduled Robbinsville, the stu- Response Advance sent questionnaires For more coverage, turn to participated in FIRST to each of the 10 students. visit dents rwjbh.org/heroes They were asked about Robotics, Model UN, debate, Page 16. BY SAM SCIARROTTA
or more accurate. unique way.
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