10-20 RA

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Advance Robbinsville

OCTOBER 2020 FREE

COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

‘Safe and secure’

District champs!

For the love of riding

New Jersey joins list of states conducting elections by mail

Bike drive nets over 60 cycles for Boys and Girls Club

By MicheLe ALPeriN

By SAM SciArrOTTA

Vivenne Halm felt a little stuck at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. So she ventured out on two wheels. Halm, a Robbinsville High School senior, kicked off the summer by teaching her 12-year-old sister how to ride a bike. “One day, she finally got up the courage to do it,” Halm said. “I took her outside and started the process.” It was love at first ride. “It was incredible to see someone who was once so timid about learning become so fulfilled with the freedom of riding a bike,” Halm said. Watching her sister’s experience inspired her to pass that freedom onto other kids. Last month, she hosted a bike drive for the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County Bike Exchange and collected 64 cycles for the organization. The Bike Exchange sells used, repaired and refurbished bicycles out of a Ewing storefront. Its aim is to promote “biking for transportation and pleasure among lowincome families.” Proceeds from all sales go directly to the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence and Trenton. The Bike Exchange has See HALM, Page 6

Despite having seven District 12 titles, Robbinsville Little League never won the 12-year-old tournament—until this year. Pictured are (front) Ben Landry, Danny Raftery, (center)Jack Landry, Gavin Hopkins, Johnny Fowler, Jack Pintimalli, Gavin Yablonowitz, Anthony Aldarelli, (back) coach Joe Hopkins, Alex Giordano, coach Joe Pintimalli, Jax Kaber, coach JC Landry, Nate Manning, coach Keith Bunnell, Will Raftery, Tyler Bunnell and coach Jack Fowler. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Their courage and compassion inspire ustriumph all. Small stature, big

to getappeared in the game, and with Gazonasa had just suited One morning, message writtenupin chalk Robbinsville for his first meaningful scho- his parents in the stands no in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words resident chronicles couldn’t lastic game since the previous less. have been or more What soul stirring, could have been the November, whensimpler, he captained collegiate soccer or more St. accurate. Anthony’s High School end of one man’s story, was journey in Hamilton (now Trenton actually the beginning of a

Catholic Academy) to a 4-0 compelling book. No one knew it at the time, win over Union Catholic “Heroesin the NJSIAA Parochial A here.” champi- but the seeds were planted work that Saturday night for the It was Sep. 21, 1974 and onship game. What a difference 10 sociology major to become darkness had enveloped an author. At just 5-foot-3, 132 months made. the Hartwick College socThree words of gratitude and encouragement that Despite the fact Hartwick— pounds, Gazonas would evencer team’s bus as it rolled capture the courage and compassion of health which in the 1970s was to col- tually have quite a tale to tell, from Montclair State back to workers across To share your in being named lege here soccerand what NotreAmerica. Dame culminating its campus in Oneonta, New thanks or to support our Emergency Fund, the nation’s best player on the is to college football—took a Response York. In the back of the bus, season-opening victory, nation’s best team in 1977. freshman Billy Gazonas sat visit 1-0 rwjbh.org/heroes All of that occurred after with tears welling in his eyes Gazonas was devastated. He was only for Hawk player and a fire igniting in his gut. Seesafe. GAZONAS, Page 18 Andthe please, them, stay not home and By Rich Fisher

In an atmosphere rife with misinformation and political divisiveness, confusing messages have spawned concerns about mail-in voting—a process that has proven safe and secure in the several states where it is now the norm. The western states of Utah, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Colorado have for years conducted their elections entirely or mostly by mail-in ballot. New Jersey will join them for this year, after Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order No. 177, mandating all active registered New Jersey voters receive a mailin ballot with prepaid return postage for the Nov. 3 general election. In Mercer County, ballots began to be mailed to voters in the last week of September. This switch has not sat well with some, and disinformation about the process and safety of vote-at-home elections started to spread as a result. One piece of disinformation—one that could land voters in jail—came from President Donald Trump, who suggested to North Carolina citizens Sept. 2 that they vote twice, once by mail and once at the polls, to test the See VOTE, Page 8

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10-20 RA by Community News Service - Issuu