Advance Robbinsville
MARCH 2023 FREE
Bunnell grows into a top scorer
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
The future of open space
Mayor Dave Fried talks about the town’s plans for open space following referendum failure
BY RICH FISHER
Evan Bunnell was never really a down-in-the-dirt guy until he got to Robbinsville High School and was coerced into joining the Agriculture Club with some of his basketball teammates. Bunnell lives on the east side of Route 130, where open space and farmland is prevalent. “I had no background in agriculture or anything like that,” Bunnell said. “Last year we had a senior captain, Jack Slaven, who had a background on a farm. He’d bring me to practice every day and we’d pass the farms and he really got me into it. “Some of the upperclassmen in the program and I started to think about the Agriculture Club. Recently we decided we wanted to pick things up. We’re considering a school garden, now we just have to get it by the administration.” One thing is certain. If Bunnell can get that garden to grow in the same way he has gotten his game to grow, the Agriculture Club will have a veritable Longwood Gardens on its hands. See BUNNELL, Page 17
BY BILL SANSERVINO
For the first time in the history Jordan Baker (left), Black Culture Club President Lebron Rose and Nana Appiah celebrate Black History of the township, Robbinsville residents rejected a request by the Month at Robbinsville High School. township to increase funds for open space acquisition. In the November elections, township voters rejected a referendum question asking to increase the township’s open space tax by 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation by a vote of 2,610 to 1,890 (58 %to 42%). The additional revenue could have been used to be acquire, High School senior, is one example. figures in the fields of education, improve, maintain and preserve EDITED BY BILL SANSERVINO Wright spoke about Berry dur- politics, art, music, business and open space. In the past, Robbinsville open Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry was ing a research presentation at the medicine. Wright said the school’s festival, space tax referendums have been a Black physician who pioneered school’s Black History Month Fesgastroenterology, the branch of tival, noting Berry’s significant con- held on Feb. 2, shined light on Black approved by a comfortable margin. By comparison, voters approved medicine concerned with the diges- tributions to public health and civil culture for the broader Robbinsville community. a 1.5-cent open space tax increase tive system, whose tireless work rights in the 20th century. “Black culture is excellence. by a vote of 4,609 to 2,457. The purThe 18-year-old was among has inspired generations of African numerous students who showcased Black culture is intelligence. Black pose of that referendum was help American students. Christian Wright, a Robbinsville their research on Black historical See AROUND TOWN, Page 4 See OPEN SPACE, Page 9
RHS holds annual Black History Month festival
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