JACKSON – Jackson Day returned with a variety of activities, food and more including the attraction of the day, a drone show. The weather was picture perfect and drew perhaps the largest crowd ever in the event’s history.
Jackson Day was once again held in Johnson Park and it ran from noon to 8 p.m. Planners of it were relieved that they didn’t need to postpone it to its backup rain date of September 22.
The park was filled with numerous food trucks, a stage that featured musical entertainment like Williams Boy, a motorcycle stunt show, basketball shoot-out and corn hole tournaments and merchandise.
There were also karate demonstrations and many children’s rides. Tables run by organizations and vendors drew a good crowd. A craft and flea market was held on site. The Volunteer Auxiliary for Animal Shelters was supporting pet adoption efforts. Members of Boy Scout and Cut Scout Troop 204 were also promoting their groups.
Business Administrator Terence Wall welcomed everyone to the event. “We have a fantastic program for you. We have a fantastic presentation of the flag by the Air Force junior ROTC and the Jackson Memorial Band is going to have a rendition of the National Anthem that you have never heard before. It is always important that we are here for our military.”
“In 1844 Jackson was incorporated. We have so much action going on for you today and thank you so much for being here,” Wall added. He thanked the planning committee, Recreation Department, Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Departments, EMS, sponsors “and a huge shout out to Jackson’s military thank you for your service.”
“The weather is perfect,” said Raymond Cattonar of the event planning committee. “It was a lot of work but I enjoy it. We had eight to 10 members on the committee this year.”
He opened a cage of doves provided by Jersey Shore Doves. The doves flew off but not too far as they soared into a cage based at the business’s vendor table on site.
“They also come back to my house in Toms River,” Jersey Shore Doves Founder/CEO Sarah Shrekgast said. “They’ve gone to Philly and Broadway, they’ve been in commercials, birthdays, military appreciation days, they do everything.”
There was also a REMAX hot air balloon present and a petting zoo. Jackson firefighters once again put on a demonstration concerning fire prevention and noted some statistics about increases of fires in households and ways this can be avoided.
Mayor Michael Reina couldn’t have been happier about the turnout. He told The Jackson Times, “We usually have fireworks but this year we have drones. I can’t say how proud I am of everybody and the Jackson residents. The look on their faces is worth it right there.”
While the mayor noted that the event was not political in nature, there were some reminders that November is offering up a presidential election and that seven candidates were seeking three township council seats.
Each of the seven candidates were present at a promotional table where residents could meet them, talk, pick up literature and show off their campaign T-shirts.
It could also be said that presidential candidate visits were made given that the Jackson GOP hosted Donald Trump impersonator Bob DiBuono and the Jackson Democrats had a cardboard stand up of Vice President Kamala Harris at their table.
There was also a separate Team Trump table not affiliated with any political organization where you could buy all manner of Trump paraphernalia.
Jackson GOP President Mordechai Burnstein noted at the Jackson GOP booth that Jackson was the “Trumpiest town in New Jersey.” Republican gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea also stopped by during the day.
There was also a table operated by members of Convention of States Action (COS) a non-partisan organization collecting signatures for a petition calling for a Convention of States to propose constitutional amendments to limit federal spending, debt and establishing term limits for certain federal offices.
The final event was the evening drone show.
Cottonar said “Amazing Drones is doing this. They go all over the country. I went to see one of their shows as part of this. Jackson High School JTV developed a soundtrack for their program. It was an amazing effort for our high schoolers.”
JTV had their own drone in use to capture all those special moments. The student television production program was also responsible for creating a promotional video seen online and at Town Hall for Jackson Day using footage from last year’s event and featuring narration about this year’ highlights.
Wall remarked, “This going to be one of the best Jackson Days in the history of the township.”
