People packed the Blue Cross RiverRink in Penn's Landing, as well as local Chinese food restaurants around the area on Christmas night.
From the Ice Rink to the Restaurant: Christmas Night Traditions
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How Coast Guard Recruits Got South Jersey Love for Christmas
With days that can span 17 hours, U.S. Coast Guard recruits admittedly have a busy and tiring routine.
"These recruits are exhausted," Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards said. "There's hands-on training, we get them up at 5 a.m., they're staying up 'til 10 at night."
But a gift by 120 South Jersey families gave nearly 400 recruits a much-needed reprieve from their duties as the families opened up their homes and welcomed them in for Christmas.
Operation Fireside is a tradition made possible through a partnership between the Coast Guard and the American Red Cross. In Cape May, which has the fifth-largest Coast Guard base in the nation, this partnership has brought together recruits and families for Christmas for the last 36 years.
"The coast guard's a family. It's not just a service," said Joe Orlando, a Vietnam veteran who together with his wife Hilda welcomed Kyle Watling and Jacob Jefko into their home.
Watling said he appreciated the company and the conversation, especially since the Colorado native has not been able to see his family for some time.
At the Orlando home, he and Jefko were able to enjoy some small measures of comfort, like a home-cooked meal, the ability to call their families and even being able to take off their boots midday for the first time in seven weeks.
"It is, it's nice," Jefko said, laughing at how much he appreciated that little luxury for his feet.
"It's such a weird feeling for someone to give up their time on Christmas to let strangers in the door. It's such a weird concept to me," Watling said has he and Jefko sat on the Orlandos' couch. "I'd never thought about it until now that it's happening. It's pretty cool."
For the Orlandos, who have participated in Operation Fireside for the last 20 years, it's the ability to make these recruits feel at home and appreciated that makes it all worth it.
For the recruits, it's just the little pick-me-up they need to finish off their training.
"It definitely gives you a little more motivation to get through the week," Jefko said.
He and Watling now have only a little over a week of training left to complete.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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What You Should and Shouldn't Recycle After Christmas
With all those holiday gifts come plenty of trash so what is good to put in recycling and what isn't. Some wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, plastics (not bags) and glass are good to put out in the recycling bucket on the curb but avoid leftover Christmas decorations.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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4 Die in Garden State Parkway Tanker Truck Crash
Four people died when their sedan slammed into a tanker truck along the Garden State Parkway the morning after Christmas.
The deadly crash happened around 2:50 a.m. Wednesday on the southbound lanes of the Parkway at milepost 81.3 in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey State Police said in a tweet.
"(Four) confirmed fatalities to occupants of car. No injuries to TT driver," police said.
It wasn't immediately clear if the tanker was moving at the time.
More than three hours after the wreck, the right lane remained blocked as crews worked to remove the damaged sedan and truck.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Photo Credit: SkyForce10
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7 Ways to Celebrate Kwanzaa Around Philly
Kwanzaa, the seven-day celebration of African American and Pan-African family, community and culture, officially kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 26.
The holiday revolves arounds seven principles:
Umoja (unity)
Kujichagulia (self-determination)
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Nia (purpose)
Kuumba (creativity)
Imani (faith)
To recognize the seven principles, here are seven ways to celebrate Kwanzaa Philadelphia:
Learn About Kwanzaa at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Kids at the library can learn about the history and meaning of Kwanzaa, as well as enjoy free live cultural entertainment, including a performance from the Universal Dance and Drum Ensemble and a fashion presentation from designer Ifeoma Onyia.
The free celebration starts at noon Wednesday and runs through 3 p.m.
Light a Kinara at Boathouse Row
The city of Philadelphia will join the Kwanzaa Cooperative on Wednesday for a night of free music and entertainment culminating with the lighting of boathouses on Boathouse Row.
A new house will be lit red, green and black each day until Jan 1. to mimic the kinara, a Kwanzaa candleholder.
Wednesday's celebration kicks off at 5:30 p.m.
Celebrate at the African American Museum in Philadelphia
Visitors who purchase a ticket to the African American Museum in Philadelphia can partake in free Kwanzaa activities from Wednesday to Saturday.
Wednesday will see drumming and yoga workshops. Thursday will see more workshops, including an African Dance workshop with Camara Arts, which seeks to preserve African folk arts; and a storytelling workshop.
Those who miss out on Wednesday's drumming workshop will have another chance to attend on Friday.
On Saturday, the museum's celebration concludes with a packed calendar, including a kinara lighting ceremony, a return of the African dance workshop with Camara Arts, an exploration in creativity workshop and a Kwanzaa magic show.
Enjoy and Evening With Kwanzaa's Founder
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, an African Studies professor at California State University, Long Beach.
What better way to celebrate the holiday than with the creator himself.
Karenga will be at West Philadelphia High School from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday to celebrate with entertainment, a candle lighting ceremony and an African marketplace.
Observe With Your Kids at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival
It's Kwanzaa's turn Friday at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival.
The festival will offer free arts and crafts for kids between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Spend an Evening With a Grammy Winner and Poet Laureate
Grammy Award-winner Kenny Gamble and poet laureate Sonia Sanchez join the Universal Kwanzaa Alliance for a Kwanzaa celebration Saturday at Universal Audenried Charter High School.
Visitors can purchase items from vendors at an event marketplace, as well as enjoy an evening of food, education and entertainment featuring the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.
Celebrations will last from noon to 7 p.m.
Have Fun at the Kwanzaa Children's Festival
The Cecil B. Moore Community Center will play host to the 2018 Kwanzaa Children's Festival.
The festival includes live entertainment, games, music and prizes.
It starts with a candle-lighting ceremony at 3:20 p.m. and runs through 7 p.m.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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Wednesday’s Child Success Story: The Karpinksi Family
For the final Wednesday's Child segment of 2018, take a look at the success story of the Karpinski family. They were looking to adopt one child, and instead adopted two.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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Philly Radio Host Continues On-Air Christmas Tradition
Matt Cord, host of Philadelphia’s BEN FM Morning Show, has a family tradition that has lasted for nearly 30 years. Cord’s family celebrates Christmas at the radio station with him, so that he does not have to spend the holiday alone.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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The Returns: Part 2 of Holiday Shopping Season Gets Underway
Malls and stores all across the Philadelphia area are packed Wednesday with people returning and exchanging gifts from Christmas. Expect crowds and deeply discounted items if there's anything Santa missed from your Christmas list.
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Wrestler Forced to Cut Hair Will Skip Next Match
A black New Jersey high school wrestler who was forced by a white referee to cut off his dreadlocks or forfeit his bout will not compete at his school's next match.
Buena Regional High School junior Andrew Johnson will not wrestle at the school's Thursday match as officials investigate the haircutting incident that thrust the student, referee, school and others into the national spotlight, announced Dominic A. Speziali, the attorney representing Johnson and his family.
The announcement comes on the backdrop of an impending special emergency school board meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in which school officials are set to discuss what the board calls "personnel matters."
A video of Johnson being forced to cut off his dreadlocks in the middle of his high school gym went viral and gained national attention as people rallied around the teen and raised questions about the treatment of young people of color.
The video, originally tweeted by a SNJ Today reporter, shows fans and coaches watching as Johnson stands dejected while a trainer uses a pair of scissors to cut off his hair.
The crowd cheers as Johnson wins the match - which helped his school to a tournament victory - but despite having his hand raised after the victory the junior stands with his shoulders slumped and head down as he walks off the mat to be comforted by his team.
The referee in charge of the bout was Alan Maloney, who the Courier-Post newspaper identified as the same man who used a racial slur against a black referee in 2016.
Maloney said he did not remember making the comment, but did agree to participate in sensitivity training and an alcohol awareness program after the incident was reported, according to the newspaper.
Speziali says that during Johnson's match, the wrestler was told his hair "wasn't in its natural state" and that Maloney called the teen's dreadlocks, "braids."
While some criticized Johnson's coaches, he and his family have stood by the coaches and athletic trainer, placing full blame on Maloney.
The Johnsons and Speziali say the referee did not raise any issues about the length of the teen's hair or the need to wear a hair covering when he evaluated Johnson before the match.
"The blame here rests primarily with the referee and those that permitted him to continue in that role despite clear evidence of what should be a disqualifying race-related transgression," Speziali said.
The video drew swift condemnation of the way Johnson was treated and an investigation by the state Division of Civil Rights.
New Jersey native Jordan Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, also voiced his support of Johnson, using Twitter and Instagram to call the incident "nonsense" and a "combination of an abuse of power, racism, and just plain negligence."
The American Civil Liberties Union's New Jersey chapter also responded with a tweet asking, "How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?"
Buena Regional School District Superintendent David C. Cappuccio said the district is also investigating the case and "will continue to support and stand by all of our students and student athletes."
For its part, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said it was conducting an investigation into the incident.
Michael Cherenson, a spokesman for the NJSIAA, said the organization had reached out to leagues and conferences that assign referees that they have agreed not to assign Maloney to any event until the matter has been reviewed.
Photo Credit: SNJ Today
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Emergency Meeting After Controversy over NJ Wrestler's Forced Haircut
The school board in Buena, New Jersey, was meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night following the controversy in its second week following last Friday's match where a high school wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks, or forfeit the competition. It is unclear what will happen at the meeting. The wrestler, Andrew Johnson, does not plan to wrestle in his next match, scheduled for Thursday morning.
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Families in Shock After 4 Young Men Killed in NJ Parkway Crash
A Marine and three other young men died early Wednesday when their car slammed into the rear of a tanker on the New Jersey Parkway. The exact cause of the crash, which occurred about 3 a.m. near Toms River, is not yet known. But sources say speeding is believed to have been a factor.
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Item Returns Fraud Causing Crackdown at Many Stores
Now that Christmas is behind us, it's time for one of the busiest times of the year for retailers: return season. Fraudsters, however, are making it more difficult for consumers looking to return items after the holidays. Here's why, NBC10 Responds reporter Harry Hairston found out.
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Former Bank Robber Helping Vulnerable Population in Philly
A former bank robber who served five years in prison, Jay Adams, is now an apprentice community health worker with Philadelphia FIGHTS, who provide support and wellness information for Philadelphians with HIV or AIDS and those at a high risk for the disease. His story is an inspiration for those in the process of turning their lives around after serving their time.
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Soggy Friday, Then Likely Rainy Beginning to 2019 in the Days Ahead
A very wet Friday will end what began as a very temperate Christmas week. Then rain is expected to kick off 2019 next week in the same way 2018 routinely went: stormy. According to NBC10 meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz, 2018 was the second wettest year on record.
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Mixed Bag for Pennsylvania Ski Resorts to Kick off Winter Sports Season
What a difference an hour's drive can make when it comes to skiing conditions so far this year in the Pennsylvania mountains. Here's which mountain is crowded right now on the slopes, and which mountain is waiting for better weather to open.
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SWAT Member Sings Christmas Carol, Ends Holiday Barricade
A Christmas miracle occurred in Chester County, Pennsylvania, when an allegedly armed gunman barricaded inside a home for hours finally gave up early Wednesday.
The suspect surrendered because a SWAT team negotiator sang a Christmas carol to him, according to the country district attorney, who, get this, was at the all-night scene handing out Christmas cookies.
"I brought Christmas cookies for some cold and tired SWAT team members," Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said in a Facebook post later Wednesday. "This being SWAT, they ate the cookies, made fun of each other, and went home to their families, quietly satisfied with a job well done."
Hogan did not return a message left for further details.
He did add in the Facebook post that the ending to the roughly nine-hour barricade situation in East Vincent Township, which began about 9 p.m. Tuesday, left him in wonder.
"Over a long and cold night, they kept negotiating with the man, who eventually started shooting at the police and around the neighborhood. A SWAT negotiator finally talked him into surrendering at 6:00 a.m. this morning by singing a Christmas carol for him," Hogan said on Facebook. "You can’t make this stuff up."
Photo Credit: Facebook
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Fire Tears Through Beachfront Jersey Shore Homes
A fire tore through beachfront homes in a Jersey Shore beach community early Thursday.
The flames broke out around 3:30 a.m. at 48th Street and Central Avenue in Ocean City, Ocean City police said.
Three houses were consumed by flames as firefighters spent hours trying to get the fire under control.
Some firefighters stood on dunes spraying water on the fire as smoke rose over the Atlantic Ocean.
No injuries were immediately reported.
Expect road closures in the area throughout the day.
Photo Credit: SkyForce10
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Shipwreck From 1800s Unearthed on Jersey Shore
The sands of time have unearthed a piece of history on the Jersey Shore.
A change in sand levels on Stone Harbor Beach has revealed a shipwreck from the 1800s.
Some speculate it is the remains of a ship that sank near the Hereford Inlet in 1886.
According to the Cape May County Museum, that was a dangerous area for sailors before a lighthouse was built.
Photo Credit: Werner Tedesco
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Man Poses as Animal Control Agent After Delaware Man Loses His Dog in Vicious Attack, Police Say
A 65-year-old man was walking his three dogs in Wilmington, Delaware, on Sunday when a pit bull attacked. Two of his dogs ran away and one died from injuries. Three people came up to him, one of them claiming to be from animal control who took the attacking dog, Wilmington Police said.
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Amazon Leads Strong Holiday Sales
Financial experts report that holiday sales broke records this season. Reports show it is the strongest increase since 2012. Amazon is one company that contributed to the spike.
Photo Credit: AP
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