Day: June 18, 2021

Mercer County, State of NJ, Trenton

3 Day Juneteenth Celebration Kick-Off Held Tonight at War Memorial

June 18, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County (AACCofMC) in partnership with the NJ Legislative District 15 (Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli) and Outdoor Equity Alliance are planning an inaugural 3-day, city-wide Juneteenth Celebration. This event is scheduled for Friday, June 18 through Sunday, June 20, 2021 in the capital City of Trenton. The Presenting Sponsors are Wells Fargo and St. Francis Medical Center.

On September 10, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S19) which designated the third Friday of June a State and public holiday, known as Juneteenth Day. “Juneteenth was a defining moment in American History, claiming the beginning of African American independence in the country”, said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, who sponsored the legislation that became a law. It was time for the commemoration of a pivotal moment in history to become an official state holiday, underscoring its importance to our communities and giving time for reflection on how far we have come and have to go to achieve equality and justice for all.”

Latarsha Burke, Executive Director of AACCofMC, said, “as a Collaborative, we endeavor to be more than just a festival and I was ecstatic and humbled to have been approached by Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson to spearhead this significant event in our capital city.” The goal of the Collaborative is to Educate, Empower and Unite Africans in the diaspora through cultural arts, health and wellness, entertainment and sports. The purpose of this carefully planned and socially distanced event is to highlight a few very poignant and current issues through displays of culture, collaboration, commerce, unity and education. The City of Trenton, Mercer County Parks Commission and many other partners have been working diligently to ensure public safety.

Although the weekend will center on contributions of African American people in our region, all communities and groups are invited to join. The planning committee has been extremely busy mobilizing partners over the past six months. Commitments from Greater Trenton, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and the Center for Child and Family Achievement have evolved into a plethora of family centered activities that will be held simultaneously in Downtown Trenton. As a result of collaboration with the Let’s Ride Foundation and the Samuel McCoy Scholarship Fund, a Juneteenth Freedom Day Bike Ride will also start at Mill Hill Park on Saturday and travel throughout Mercer County, with options for novice to advance riders to explore neighboring towns including Ewing, Lawrence, Hamilton and Hopewell.

An invite only Kick-Off will start the festivities on Friday with expected greetings from New Jersey Governor Phil D. Murphy, Congresswoman Bonne Watson-Coleman, sponsors and others. Simultaneously, Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka, will be featured in a StreamYard Kick-Off Panel discussion entitled “How We Get Free: Artivism in the Past, Present and Future” which is sponsored by Art All Night 2021 in collaboration with the AACCofMC. Saturday will include events in downtown Trenton including a Main Stage with local and world-renowned entertainers. The headliner will be American Jazz musician Marcus Johnson. Local community activist Crystal Feliciano will serve as host for the Main Stage. A nearby Legacy Stage will feature youth/young adult entertainment hosted by “The #1Host” Kevin Hines and community champion Jasi Edwards. A Children’s Literacy Village including free books and interactive demonstrations, will open with a ribbon-cutting by Senator Shirley K. Tuner who sponsored a portion of the village. The Healthy Living Experience is being presented by Mama Yoga’s Wellness Coaching and Training and will include Trenton’s Health Team and Capital City YMCA featuring speakers, fitness, dance and activities for youth to seniors. Mercer County Stables will also serve as a location for an equestrian experience with the Crazy Faith Riders. The finale will be a Gospel Celebration on Sunday in historic Mill Hill Park featuring Trenton’s own JVR and Union Baptist Church’s Ensemble. WIMG and gospel recording artist Craig Hayes will serve as host for Sunday’s concert.

Burke says, “We believe that the inclusion of people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds promotes unity.”

For more information please call 609-474-4073 or visit www.taacf.com

Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
Allentown, Allentown, Events, High School, Monmouth County, Special Events, Upper Freehold, Upper Freehold

Allentown High School Class of 2021 Senior Car Parade

June 18, 2021

ALLENTOWN-UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–The Allentown High School Senior Car Parade, a tradition that was restarted last year due to COVID-19 was held tonight though the streets of Allentown and Upper Freehold Township. The parade started at 6:00 p.m. and featured the Class of 2021. It was reported the tradition was held prior to 1980 and faded away and restarted last year due to the pandemic. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and members/fire police from the Hope Fire Company of Allentown assisted with the parade.

Video and photo gallery from the 2021 Senior Car Parade:

Allentown High School 2020 Senior Parade Click Here

Jackson, Ocean County

Faulty Camera Equipment To Blame In Smoke Condition At Justice League, Great Adventure Indoor Ride

June 18, 2021

JACKSON, NJ (OCEAN)–Six Flags Fire Department along with Jackson and Millstone Township Fire Departments were dispatched to Six Flags Great Adventure for a smoke condition inside the JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis “Hall of Justice” ride. Upon arrival of the fire department, the incident commander reported a light smoke condition inside the building and that they were trying to locate the source. About 15 minutes into the call firefighters found the source of the smoke and returned incoming units.

Six Flags Great Adventure spokesperson, Kristin Fitzgerald told MidJersey.news in statement, “The Six Flags Fire Department and local fire companies responded to one of our indoor rides shortly after 7:00 p.m. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority. All guests and team members safely exited the ride building within minutes. No one was injured. The source was a faulty camera component.”

Millstone Township Fire Department operating at a smoke condition at Six Flags Great Adventure tonight. Park representatives say it was a faulty camera component that created the smoke. Millstone Twp. FD photo
Six Flags Great Adventure Video
Other Towns, Somerset

Two NJ Brothers Charged With Homicide In Bucks County, Pennsylvania

June 18, 2021

BUCKS COUNTY, PA–District Attorney Matt Weintraub announced yesterday Thursday, June 17, 2021, that two New Jersey brothers will be charged with killing a man found dead in Richland Township.

Anthony Joel Gamble, 19, and Joshua David Gamble, 17, both of Somerset, N.J., are charged with criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime and tampering with evidence. The younger Gamble is being charged as an adult. 

The Gambles were arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Lisa J. Gaier and were sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.

The brothers are accused of killing a man found stabbed to death early Thursday in a wooded area in the 500 block of East Pumping Station Road. The victim has not yet been positively identified and an autopsy is scheduled for Friday, June 18, 2021.

The investigation began at 12:03 a.m., Thursday, when a Pennsylvania State Trooper spotted what appeared to be disabled vehicle with its blinkers activated in the area of East Pumping Station Road, north of Heller Road, in Richland Township.

The vehicle was described as silver Subaru with New Jersey registration plates. A second vehicle, an Audi A5 with Florida plates, was parked 100 feet from the Subaru.

Walking toward the Audi, the state trooper saw a male lying on the ground in a nearby wooded area. The trooper identified himself but got no response from the male.

The male was detained and later identified as Joshua Gamble. 

Joshua Gamble had blood on the top part of his shoes and was wearing a plastic-coated work glove on his left hand. A similar right-handed glove was found where he had been lying on ground. Joshua Gamble was also in possession of a Subaru key fob, which was stained with what appeared to be blood.

 As troopers detained Joshua Gamble, they heard what sounded like a man running through the woods near them. A male subject then emerged and ran toward the Subaru and troopers ordered him to stop.

The male was detained and identified as Anthony Gamble. He also had blood on his shoes, as well as his shirtsleeve. Two work-type, coated gloves were found in his pants pockets.

As the investigation continued, police located a substantial amount of blood inside the Audi and requested backup.

Police entered the woods and found the body of deceased male, a short distance away from where Joshua Gamble had been lying and where the Audi was parked.

The initial investigation indicates the unidentified male appeared to have stab wounds about his head, neck, upper chest, and arm.

A large knife was found on the passenger floor of the Audi. The knife had blood on the blade and its wooden handle.

Police found a cellphone and sanitizing wipes on the roof of the Audi, and a second cellphone was found inside.

The investigation found that Joshua Gamble purchased the wipes and two sets of coated work gloves from a nearby 7-Eleven in Richlandtown, about 20 minutes before state police showed up.

“The Gamble brothers have no apparent connection to this area, being Richland,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said at an afternoon news conference. “Obviously this case is ongoing, I can’t predict the future, I don’t know what other facts will be revealed to us, but as of right now, we are unable to discern any reason for them to be in Bucks County, in Richland Township.”

Weintraub also added that there is a presumption that this homicide occurred in Bucks County because there is a presumption in the law that a homicide is deemed to have occurred in the jurisdiction where the victim is found deceased unless there is evidence to the contrary.

“For that reason, we will presume that Bucks County has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute this murder,” he said.

This case is being investigated by Bucks County Detectives, Pennsylvania State Police and Richland Township Police and is assigned for prosecution to Deputy District Attorney Monica W. Furber and Deputy District Attorney Kristi Hoover. 

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

District Attorney Matt Weintraub announced yesterday Thursday, June 17, 2021, that two New Jersey brothers will be charged with killing a man found dead in Richland Township.