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Heavyweight’s route to top of UFC goes through Robbinsville
By kevin kUnZmann As recently as 2016, Mercer County was among the three New Jersey counties with the greatest rate of suicide attempts and self-inflicted injuries among people aged 10 to 24 years old, according to the state Suicide Report from the Department of Children and Family. In just under a two-year span from early 2016 to later 2017, seven suicides were confirmed to be teenagers that either lived or attended school in the county. These troubling numbers— just as much as the stories behind them—drove school district administrators in Mercer County to action. More specifically, they created a novel call to action. Legislation was proposed and passed last year that connected 10 Mercer County school district superintendents to a Call to Action to prevent youth suicides. Since then, the conglomerate has hosted a series of events: a presentation at Rider University intended to kick off a countywide focus on student mental health last January, a discussion on support at the College of New Jersey last May, and now, an effort to learn how to apply best practices through a program next month. On April 24, the call-to-action team, in collaboration with the See PARENTING, Page 9
By JUstin FeiL
Robbinsville Township hydroponic farm coordinator Kyle Clement stands in front of the township’s Leafy Green Machine March 20, 2019. (Photo by Erin Kamel.)
Sprouting partnership Mayor to fete bond between food bank and hydroponic farm April 30 By eRin kameL The 320-square-foot upcycled shipping container sitting outside the senior center in Robbinsville’s municipal complex doesn’t look like much from the street. But inside is a state of the art vertical hydroponic farming system that feeds families in need every week. Since its introduction just 15 months ago, the hydroponic
farm, alongside Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, has aided in feeding hundreds of children in Mercer County through its Send Hunger Packing program. Right now, the farm is running a trial period to test the potential to grow herbs like basil and cilantro in order to expand its variety of crops. The Leafy Green Machine already houses over 3,000 crops including lettuce, kale, Swiss chard and collard greens—and requires just 10 gallons of water per day to do so. The farm uses 90 percent less water than conventional agriculture methods because of its closed recirculating system, according to
Robbinsville hydroponic farm coordinator Kyle Clement. With modern plant science and plant nutrition, hydroponic farmers like Clement know exactly what their crops need to grow. They provide the nutrients, light, temperature and humidity the plants require to thrive using modern technology and limited space. Elements like light and air quality are controlled through a computer sensor and timer to maintain an optimal habitat for growth. A nutrient-rich solution is fed to the plants through water emitters. “We can create an environment that provides all of the See FARM, Page 15
Corey Anderson might stop in Yummy Sushi for some tom yum soup, but that’s never his main priority when he comes into Robbinsville. “I’m here for one reason,” Anderson said. “If I’m in Robbinsville, I’m in the gym.” “Overtime” Anderson is one of the highly ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship contenders who trains at the Ricardo Almeida Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Robbinsville. Anderson is the heaviest of those training under the jiu jitsu expert. He is ranked sixth in the light heavyweight division following a win by unanimous decision over Ilir Latifi of Sweden at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 29, 2018. “I’m not here just to be here,” Anderson said. “I’m here for one reason—that’s the belt. Anything else doesn’t make sense for me.” It’s been quite a winding trip that’s brought Anderson to Robbinsville. He wrestled in high school in his native Illinois before wrestling in junior college at Lincoln College, also in Illinois. He placed as high as sixth in the Junior College nationals. He finished his colSee ANDERSON, Page 10
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