Advance Robbinsville
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Retiring Hughes reflects on 20 years as county executive
achievements are many, and they include the revitalization of the For the first time in two Trenton-Mercer (and the approval decades, long-time Mercer of a new terminal and parking County Executive Brian Hughes garage at the site), the preservawon’t be sitting behind the desk tion of thousands of acres of open of the county’s top administrative space, numerous recreational projects, multiple economic initiaelected official. Former Assemblyman Dan tives, and helping to shepherd the county through the Benson — a Democrat COVID-19 pandemic. who was overwhelmHughes, a resident ingly elected in Novemof Princeton, is the ber over Republican son of former goverLisa Richford — will be nor and N.J. Supreme sworn in at the county’s Court Chief Justice annual reorganization Richard J. Hughes. meeting, which was set to be held at the TrenBefore being ton War Memorial on elected county execuThursday, Jan. 4, at 6 tive in November Hughes p.m. 2003, he served two Hughes, who was terms on the Board of not chosen to run again Chosen Freeholders in favor of Benson during the Mer- (now the Board of County Comcer Democratic Party Conven- missioners), first being elected tion last March, will be looking to in 1997. Before that, he served as move on to greener pastures after deputy executive director of the many years in elected office. Governor’s Council on AlcoholWhen asked in a recent inter- ism and Drug Abuse. view with the Advance about what Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora Benson’s biggest challenge will lauded Hughes when he endorsed be, Hughes joked: “Removing all him at the Democratic Conventhe Hughes signs from across the tion: “He has kept County taxes county.” stable. He acquired over 5,000 Many of those signs highlight acres of open space, preserving Hughes’ accomplishments during and protecting fully a quarter, his years as county executive. His See HUGHES, Page 8 INTerVieW By BiLL SANserViNO
Children do a LEGO Engineering STEM activity at the Robbinsville Extended Day program.
RED Program is much more than childcare EDiTeD By BiLL SANserViNO
When Reina Albert — a seventh grader at Pond Road Middle School, was a pre-kindergartener attending the Robbinsville Extended Day program, she didn’t want to miss a day — especially when an older Rob-
binsville student was teaching sign language. “She loved the program,” her mother, Celeste Albert, said. “As does my son, Stuart, a third grader who attends now.” Being a working parent has so many challenges, Albert said. RED is there, she said,
helping working Robbinsville parents balance all their responsibilities. “It’s a win-win,” Albert said. “Our students get to learn new skills, meet new friends and get homework help. They are also are being cared for and watched See RED, Page 6
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