>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

ASIDE FROM HEAVY RAIN STORMS AND COLD WEATHER, THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND LOOKED A LOT LIKE YEARS PAST.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST MARCH, RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND RETAIL STORES WERE OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY, AND FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE COULD DITCH THE MASKS INDOORS.

ALL SIGNS OF NORMALCY RETURNING TO OUR LIVES.

NEW CASES ARE DOWN ACROSS THE STATE AS VACCINATION RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB, BUT AT A SLOWER PACE.

MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED AND NEARLY 5 MILLION RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

THE STATES SHOULD TO FILE FEDERAL MASK GUIDELINES IS RELYING ON THE HONOR SYSTEM.

NO ONE IS VERIFYING VACCINATION STATUS AND HEALTH LEADERS HOPE OF VACCINATED RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE WEARING MASKS INDOORS AND IN CROWDED SPACES.

NEW POSITIVE CASES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINTS SINCE LAST SUMMER.

177 REPORTED TODAY, AND FIVE ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

AS THE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED, TOWNS PREPARED FOR CROWDS THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN A BETTER WE CAN, BUT HOPES ARE HIGH FOR RECORD SUMMER.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> WE ARE HEADED TO SEASIDE PARK FOR A FEW DAYS TO RELAX AND GET SOME.

>> WE ARE HEADED TO CABERNET LIGHTHOUSE TO GO THERE FOR A DAY TRIP.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE IN A WHILE.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE FIRST WEEKEND TRAVELERS COULD DITCH THE MASKS AND ENJOY THE SUN ON THEIR FACES.

BUT MOTHER NATURE HAD OTHER PLANS AT LEAST UNTIL TODAY.

>> WE WERE GOING TO HEAD OUT YESTERDAY BUT TODAY LOOKS GOOD.

>> DOWN THE SHORE, THE RAINY WE CAN CRUSHED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A COMEBACK FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ALSO LIFTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> THIS CAN BE THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY WEEKEND OF THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS PANDEMIC FEVER.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY ANXIOUS TO GET OUT.

SO, YOU KNOW.

WITH THE GOVERNOR LETTING THE RESTRICTIONS THE SLIDE, THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEEKEND, INC. WE AS AN INDUSTRY WE ARE SAYING WELL, THAT IS GREAT.

AND THEN, MOTHER NATURE GAVE US A GOOD SLAP.

>> THIS MEANT AN 80% LOSS FOR HIS OUTDOOR BUSINESSES AND FOR THE INDOOR ONES, LIKE PISCES IN THE ARCADE.

HE DOWN ABOUT 25% FOR THE WEEKEND.

OTHER BUSINESSES IN SEASIDE FACED A SIMILAR FATE.

>> COMPARED TO A NICE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND I WAS A 25%.

THE RIDES WERE NOT OPEN THE WATERPARK IS NOT OPEN, GOLF, GO KARTS SO THAT'S A HUGE BIT OF OUR REVENUES.

WE HAD THE FOOD AND DRINKS WHICH WAS DECENT, BUT DEFINITELY NOT WHAT WE USUALLY WERE EXPECTING.

>> WE DID NOT OPEN THAT.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, IT WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED.

IT WAS ONLY 65%.

>> Reporter: THEY CANNOT SHAKE THE OPTIMISM OF THE MERCHANTS.

THEY'VE SEEN ENOUGH TOUGH SUMMERS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN WHETHER THIS SLOW WEEKEND AND THEY ARE FEELING POSITIVE IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT NUMBER.

>> WE ARE REALLY WAKE UP.

FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER, LISA I'M PRETTY OPTIMISTIC IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES FOR THE SUMMER.

>> Reporter: AROUND THE STATE, INDOOR ATTRACTIONS ARE ALREADY OFF TO A GOOD START SAYS JEFF VASSER.

>> I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH IS ENOUGH.

THEY'RE HAVING A VERY STRONG YEAR.

LUCY, THE ELEPHANT.

ONE OF THE GREAT ATTRACTIONS WE HAD ON THE SHORT.

THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT WEEKEND.

SO, THERE ARE THOSE INDICATORS THAT ARE SAYING LOOK, PEOPLE ARE HERE.

THE RESTAURANTS ARE FULL, PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO GET OUT, RAIN OR SHINE.

>> AND MONEY WENT OUT WITHOUT THEIR MASKS, WITH VARYING LEVELS OF COMFORT.

>> I'M STILL KIND OF NERVOUS WALKING AROUND WITHOUT IT ON, BUT LIKE OUTSIDE I'M OKAY BUT INDOORS, NO.

I STILL LEAVE IT ON.

>> I LOVE IT.

I THOUGHT THE MASKS WERE NOT NEEDED TO BEGIN WITH.

>> IT'S A SLOW PROCESS I THINK EVERYBODY JUST EATING USED TO MAKING THE TRANSITION.

>> WILL KEEP THEM IN CASE SOME PLACES ARE REQUIRING THEM BUT OUR PERSONAL CHOICE IS NOT TO WEAR THEM.

>> MANY SAID THEY WON'T BE WEARING MASKS AGAIN AND THEY ALSO SAID THEY WON'T BE GETTING VACCINATED AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE WATCHING, SAYS STEPHANIE SILVEIRA.

>> HOPEFULLY COMING OUT OF THIS WEEKEND WE'LL SEE THESE LOCALIZED OUTBREAKS AGAIN.

WHEN THERE'S AN OUTBREAK IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR NEW VARIANTS TO DEVELOP, THIS PUTS EVERYONE ELSE AT RISK.

AND SO, WE ARE SO CLOSE TO HAVING THIS REALLY UNDER CONTROL.

YOU KNOW I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ON THAT PATH.

>> Reporter: AS I SAY, YOU CANNOT PREDICT THE WEATHER OR IN THIS CASE, THE RISK OF CODED SPREAD ON THIS FINALLY SUNNY MEMORIAL DAY.

IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, A TIMELY REOPENING.

THE VIETNAM MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHILE FOR GIVING BACK VISITORS FOR A LIVING WINDOW INTO THE WAR'S HISTORY.

EACH OF THE VOLUNTEER TOUR GUIDES ARE VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

ACCORDING TO THE MUSEUM, IT THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.

IN CAMDEN COUNTY TODAY, A SOLEMN CEREMONY TO REMEMBER OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS.

A REMINDER THAT THESE WARS ARE FOUGHT BY OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILY, AND OUR FRIENDS AS WE HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO GIVE US OUR FREEDOM.

JANINE DONALDSON REPORTS.

>> HE ALWAYS TRIED TO ASSURE ME THAT HE WOULD BE SAFE, HE WOULD COME HOME AND CONTINUE ON WITH HIS EDUCATION AND HIS WIFE, AND SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

SPIRIT CAMDEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND GOLDSTAR MOTHER IS SPENDING MEMORIAL DAY HONORING HER SON JEREMY, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN ON JANUARY 23rd, 2010.

>> HE STOPPED A SUICIDE BOMBER AND THEY KEPT JEREMY TO OTHER MEN THAT HE SERVED WITH AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT WERE PLAYING IN FRONT OF HIM.

BUT, AMAZINGLY HIS ACTIONS SAVE THE LIVES OF THE MARINES BEHIND HIM WHICH WAS ALMOST 12 MEN.

>> Reporter: DOESN'T CAME TO VETERANS ISLAND TO REMEMBER THEIR FALLEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OR TO JUST PAY RESPECT TO THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM.

NELSON MELONS RECOGNIZED SOME OF THE NAMES READ ALOUD OF SOLDIERS FROM KIM COUNTY WHO WERE KILLED FIGHTING IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> RONALD LESLIE BOND, HENRY JOSEPH BOYLE JR., HARRY G BRENNAN.

>> I FOUGHT MANY WARS, VIETNAM, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ.

HE DOES THINK ABOUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LOST.

FRIENDS, RELATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.

IT MEANS A LOT.

IT MEANS A LOT THAT WE HAVE THEM HERE TO REALLY REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WILL THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

>> MANY CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY IS THE OFFICIAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER, BUT THE DAY IS MEANT TO HONOR, RECOGNIZE, AND REMEMBER SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION.

TED GALLAGHER, THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN CAMDEN COUNTY SAYS IT'S NOT THE SAME AS VETERANS DAY.

>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY, DIFFERENT THAN VETERANS DAY.

VETERANS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIVE AND THEREFORE, THEY ARE ALREADY GIVING THEIR TIME.

AND WE ARE NOT REALLY SAYING THANK YOU TO ANYBODY IN THIS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT APPRECIATION, WE APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICES THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE, THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION THEY'VE MADE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> IS VERY TOUGH.

AND HIS SERVICE AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

BUT IT PROFOUNDLY SAD FOR ALL OF US THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE 22 YEARS OLD.

HE WILL NOT BE THERE FOR HIS BROTHERS TO GET MARRIED, YOU WILL NOT HAVE A WIFE, CHILDREN, A FUTURE OF HIS OWN, AND IT'S HARD RAKING EVERY DAY.

>> SHE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO SUPPORT VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE STRUGGLING TO TRANSITION INTO CIVILIAN LIFE.

MANY, UNABLE TO COPE IN TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> PREVENTING ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS, EVEN TODAY.

JUST SAYING TO THE VETERAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO I THINK IT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND HEALING TO SAY TELL ME ABOUT SOMEONE YOU SERVED WITH IT THEN THEY NOT HAVE RETURNED HOME.

SHARE WITH ME THEIR NAME AND WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED BECAUSE OF THEIR DEATH.

>> Reporter: LOVED ONES, ASKING ALL AMERICANS TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS TODAY THINKING OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED.

I AM JANINE DONALDSON FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE, ONE EVENT TODAY HIGHLIGHTED AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN GROUP OF SOLDIERS.

THE BLACK AMERICANS WHOSE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE TO THIS NATION HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY RECOGNIZED BY THE PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS HONORED THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TODAY AT THE PENNINGTON AFRICAN SANITARY.

IT WAS THE UNITED STATES TROOPS THAT HELPED DEFEAT THE CONFEDERACY AND WIN THE CIVIL WAR.

ROUGHLY 200,000 BLACK SOLDIERS FOUGHT IN THE UNION ARMY.

IN TRENTON THIS WEEKEND, SIMILAR CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE LOCUST HILL CEMETERY, THE CITY'S LARGEST AND OLDEST REMAINING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BURIAL GROUND.

PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS SAYS THAT THERE SACRIFICE IS A REMINDER OF THE WORK THAT REMAINS.

>> I THINK THEY WOULD BE SOMEWHAT DISMAYED BY THE INTRACTABLE RACISM THAT STILL GRIPS THIS SOCIETY.

THE FACT THAT THE KLAN STILL EXISTS, AND YOU HAVE ALL TYPES OF WHITE SUPREMACIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE GOING BACKWARDS.

I THINK THEY WOULD CALL IT OUT.

I DON'T THINK THESE MEN WHO FOUGHT IN WARS WOULD BE SHY ABOUT CALLING OUT THE RACISM AND RACIAL INEQUALITY THAT CONTINUES TO EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> WHILE ENSURING VETERANS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE MILITARY, THE GOAL OF ONE STATE GROUP, THE MEMBERS ARE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING TO MAKE A FAIR ECONOMY FOR VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES.

IN OUR BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, RHONDA SCHAFFLER SPEAKS WITH FRANCISCO SCHWARTZ HAS, VETERAN AND COFOUNDER OF NEW JERSEY STATE PROGRESS.

>> Reporter: TELL ME HOW THIS VETERANS CHAPTER CAME TO BE IN NEW JERSEY.

WHY DID YOU SEE THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR THIS?

>> I WANTED TO BE ON THE PROGRAM.

SO, WE CREATED THE CHAMBER IN 2018 ON VETERANS DAY, ACTUALLY BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THERE WAS A GREAT NEED FOR SOME FOR VETERAN BUSINESSES IN JERSEY.

NOT ONLY VETERANS, BUT STUDENT VETERANS AND SPOUSES OF VETERANS WHO LACKED THE RESOURCES TO NORMALLY SUSTAIN BUSINESSES BUT TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> Reporter: ARE THERE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT VETERANS HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO WANTING TO START A BUSINESS OR CONTINUE OPERATING IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER BUSINESS OWNER.

SO, THE VETERAN GETS STATIONED AND THEY MOVE ON A LOT.

OFTEN TIMES THEY CANNOT ESTABLISH CREDIT BECAUSE THEY'RE IN GOVERNMENT HOUSING BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY LACK CREDIT SCORES AND EQUITY TO PUT INTO THE BUSINESS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS, WE HELP THEM WITH RESOURCES THAT THEY PROVIDE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, THE BUSINESS THEY SEEM VERY FOREIGN TO A VETERAN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW BEING A VETERAN HELPS YOU BE A STRONGER BUSINESS OWNER.

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

AND, THE VETERAN.

WE GO THROUGH SO MUCH.

LIKE I WAS STATIONED, I'M AN ARMY VETERAN MYSELF.

SEVEN YEARS IN THE MILITARY, AND I REMEMBER DOING TRAINING MISSIONS IN THE DESERT.

OFTEN TIMES, 20 DAYS AT A TIME, 18 HOURS A DAY, AND WHEN I LEFT THE MILITARY AND I JOINED THE CORPORATE SECTOR, WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS WAS NOT FOREIGN TO ME.

I WAS USED TO THE WORK AND ETHIC.

I WAS ALSO A TEAM LEADER.

ALL OF THOSE SKILLS THAT TRANSFERRED AND THEY WORK IN HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE TRANSFER TO BUSINESS OWNERS.

IS IN HIS OWNERSHIP IS VERY STRESSFUL.

SO, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRAINED, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, BATTLE TESTED, WE CAN ACTUALLY YOU KNOW, TRANSFER THOSE SKILLS THAT RELATE TO THE MILITARY TO OUR BUSINESSES AND WE CAN GROW OUR RESPECTIVE TEAMS.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ABOUT THE VETERANS CHAMBER AND ALSO OF COURSE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

>>> TOMORROW, JUNE 1st, IS THE DEADLINE FOR ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE TO EQUIP OFFICERS WITH BODY WORN CAMERAS.

THE RESULT OF A LAW GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED IN NOVEMBER.

BUT, SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY MISS THE DEADLINE, EVEN AFTER THE STATE SET ASIDE $58 MILLION FOR GRANTS IN AID TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AS THEY PURCHASED THE CAMERAS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ACKNOWLEDGED SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE BEHIND AND SAID EVERY AGENCY SHOULD MAKE THEIR BEST EFFORT TO COMPLY.

THE STATE SAYS AS OF SEPTEMBER, 239 POLICE DEPARTMENTS FULLY ROLLED OUT BODY WORN CAMERAS.

THAT IS LESS THAN HALF OF ALL DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE.

THE LAW REQUIRES BODY CAMERAS TO BE ACTIVATED IN ALMOST ALL POLICE CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE CDC IS REVISING EARLIER GUIDELINES ON MASK WEARING AT SUMMER CAMPS.

FULLY VACCINATED THE KIDS, WHICH AT THIS POINT, ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE 12 AND OLDER DON'T NEED TO WEAR A MASK INDOORS OR OUT.

BUT, THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN, THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED WILL BE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO KEEP THE MASKS ON INDOORS AND ONE IN CROWDED SITUATIONS OUTSIDE.

SO, SOCIALS THAT DISTANCING IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE UNVACCINATED.

ACCORDING TO THE STATE FROM THE TOP, MORE THAN 90,000 VACCINE DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO KIDS BETWEEN 12 AND 15 YEARS OLD.

IT MEANS BY MIDSUMMER, FULLY VACCINATED CHILDREN COULD HAVE A PRE-PANDEMIC LIKE CAMP EXPERIENCE.

AND THOSE REVISIONS, COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO DROP, EVEN AS A NEW, TROUBLING TREND SURFACES.

A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY FINDS NEARLY 3/4 OR 73% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED WITH MODERATE OR SEVERE CASES OF COVID-19 REPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE LONG-HAUL COVERT SYMPTOMS.

THE MOST COMMON WAS FATIGUE, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, AND BRAIN FOG WERE THE OTHER MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED SIDE EFFECTS.

IN SOME CASES PATIENTS DEALT WITH SYMPTOMS FROM 60 DAYS UP TO SIX MONTHS.

THE DATA CAME FROM A REVIEW OF 45 STUDIES LOOKING AT MORE THAN 9700 PATIENTS WITH THE VIRUS.

MANY HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THIS PANDEMIC HIT, LIVE MUSIC AND THEATER PERFORMANCES ARE COMING BACK.

THAT INCLUDES SCHOOLS.

ONE EAST BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO KEEP THE ART ALIVE OVER THE LAST 14 MONTHS AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO WELCOME BACK STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS FOR A SPECIAL PRODUCTION.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE STUDENTS AT EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH GRACED THE STAGE.

BUT THEY ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP THE CRAFT ALIVE PERFORMING THIS NIGHT IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE.

>> AMAZING.

I JUST, I FEEL LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON THAN I DID IN THE LAST YEAR.

I'M SO USED TO SITTING AT HOME AND DOING NOTHING IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND DO WHAT I LOVE BECAUSE I MISS IT A LOT.

>> Reporter: IT'S A SENTIMENT SHE'S HAPPY TO SEE.

AS A SUPERVISOR OF THE EDUCATION MAKING SURE STUDENTS CAN STILL EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY IS HER TOP PRIORITY.

>> I KNOW THAT FOR SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, AND FOR ME, WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, MUSIC AND THE ARTS, AND THEATER, THEY ARE FAMILY, THERE IS A SPACE, AND THEY ARE AN OUTLET FOR EXPRESSION, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> THEY COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PLAYS THE CLARINET FROM THE HONORS LEVEL AND TO AN ENSEMBLE.

SHE ADMITS PRACTICING AND PERFORMING OTHER STUDENTS VIRTUALLY OVER THE PAST YEAR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

BUT, PEREZ SAYS THE EXPERIENCE HAS GIVEN HER A GREATER SENSE OF APPRECIATION.

FOR DOING WHAT SHE LOVES.

>> THE BEST PART ABOUT NOW IS THAT IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN BEING STUCK IN MY ROOM ALONE, PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT, AND ONLY LISTENING TO MYSELF.

I CAN HEAR ELLISON TO OTHER PEOPLE, I CAN BASE IT OFF OF THEIR SOUND AND IN GENERAL HAVE A SENSE OF I WAS AN ENTIRE BAND, AND WITH PEOPLE AGAIN THAT I PLAYED FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SENSE OF FAMILY.

>> THROAT PLAYING TOGETHER AGAIN, EVEN MORE EXCITING FOR FOR GREATER WHO PLAYS THE CELLO FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA.

>> THE CELLO HAS A VERY DEEP AND COMMON SOUND.

SO, I REALLY LIKE THE RICHNESS OF IT.

>> THIS THERE'S A SPRING CONCERT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE EVER GOT A CHANCE TO PERFORM LIVE WITH HER BANDMATES SINCE BEGINNING TO LEARN HER INSTRUMENT.

>> IT WAS COOL.

WHEN WE DID THE RECORDING WITH EVERYONE.

IT SEEMED WEIRD BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE THAT BEFORE.

I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED HOW LOUD IT WAS.

>> I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH I NEEDED IT.

AND, UNTIL WE STARTED WORKING I WAS LIKE OH YEAH, THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MISSING FROM MY LIFE AND FOR THE KIDS TOO, THEY ARE JUST SO EXCITED TO BE PERFORMING ON THIS.

IT'S WHAT THEY LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY DAY.

>> PROTOCOLS MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE.

STUDENTS WERE MASKS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THEY SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY LOVE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> AN UPDATE TONIGHT ON A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE ENDANGERED RED KNOCKED BIRD.

I BIOLOGIST STARTING THE MIGRATION THIS YEAR TO THE DELAWARE BAY FOUND NUMBERS PLUNGED TO THE LOWEST ON RECORD IN NEARLY 40 YEARS, PUSHING THE RED NOT CLOSER TO EXTINCTION DESPITE ALL OF THE WORK TO SAVE IT.

THE MIGRATION SAW JUST SHY OF 6900 WORDS WITH A STEEP DECLINE FROM THE 19,000 COUNTED IN 2020.

IN 2018 AND 19, 30,000 BIRDS WERE RECORDED.

AS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CONTRIBUTOR JOHN HARTL REPORTS, THE SHARP DROP COMBINED WITH SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS ARE RENEWING FEARS THAT THE WORD WON'T SURVIVE IN LONG TERM.

>> IS NOT ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE BIRDS TO EAT ON THE NORTHBOUND MIGRATION THROUGH THE DELAWARE BAY BEACHES LAST YEAR.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THE HORSESHOE, THESE BIRDS ARE SO DEPENDENT ON WAS DELAYED UNTIL EARLY JUNE.

ONE BIOLOGIST I TALKED TO SAID THAT PROBABLY AROUND 40% OF THE BIRDS JUST SIMPLY DID NOT MAKE IT.

THEY DIED AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM LITERALLY FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.

>> YOU CAN READ MORE OF HIS REPORTING ON THE ENDANGERED RED NOT INCLUDING WHAT EXTINCTION WOULD MEAN FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM AND ECONOMY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

MEANWHILE, THE STATE IS IN THE MIDST OF ANOTHER NATURAL PHENOMENON CONSIDERED RARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AFTER 17 YEARS UNDERGROUND.

THOUSANDS OF CICADAS ARE EMERGING.

THEY ARE LOUD, LARGE WINGED INSECTS CONSIDERED BEAUTIFUL BY SOME, BUT A NUISANCE BY PLENTY OF OTHERS.

CRAWLING OUT OF THE GROUND FOR A BUSY 14 6 WEEKS OF FLYING, MEETING AND EVENTUALLY DYING.

NOT TO BE SEEN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER DECADE.

LEAH MISHKIN HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: THEY'VE BEEN HIDING UNDERGROUND, FEEDING ON THE ROOTS OF TREES FOR 17 YEARS.

>> YOU KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LIVE FOR.

ROMA DR. GEORGE HAMILTON VISITED THIS TREE AT PRINCETON BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK IN 2004 TO SEE THE NATURAL WONDER APPEAR.

THE WAY TO SEE THEM AGAIN, WELL WORTH IT, HE SAYS.

>> IT WAS JUST AS SPECTACULAR AS IT IS THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE NO OTHER INSECTS AM AWARE OF THAT HAVE A LIFECYCLE THAT LASTS THIS LONG.

AND, THEY ARE ONLY HERE BRIEFLY.

>> PERIODICAL CICADAS ARE COMING OUT OF THE GROUND TO MEET HERE THEY HAVE TO SHED THEIR SKIN SIMILAR TO A BUTTERFLY AND COCOON BEFORE THEY CAN FLY OUT OF THE TREES.

>> TO FLY THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BODY TEMPERATURE ABOVE 50 DEGREES.

NO >> Reporter: SO THE LOUD NOISE WE ARE HEARING IS MOSTLY COMING FROM THE TREES?

>> IS COMING FROM THE SURROUNDING TREES.

THEY'RE PROBABLY UP ON THE TOPS OF THOSE TREES, AND THE MALES ARE MAKING THE CALLS TO ATTRACT FEMALES.

THEY HAVE A STRUCTURE ON THE TOP OF THEIR THORAX CALLED TIMBALES, AND THEY ARE MEMBRANES THAT THEY CAN VIBRATE, SO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IS THEM VIBRATING THOSE TIMBALES VERY QUICKLY TO CREATE THAT NOISE.

>> Reporter: THE FEMALE STAYS UP THERE AND THAT'S HOW SHE LAYS HER EGGS?

>> THEY ARE UP IN THE TREES AS WELL.

>> AND THEN THEY WILL JUST FALL DOWN?

>> IS CORRECT, RIGHT.

>> IS PRETTY HIGH UP AND THEY ARE VERY TINY.

THE ACT DR. HAMILTON SAYS THEY BURY THEMSELVES INTO THE SOIL 2 FEET DEEP AND STAY THERE FOR 17 YEARS.

FEEDING ON THE ROOTS IN THE GROUND.

AS FOR THE ADULTS, >> THEY ALL MADE AND THE FEMALES LAY THEIR EGGS.

THEY'RE HERE ONLY FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS.

AND THEN THEY ARE GONE.

>> IT'S A REALLY UNUSUAL LIFECYCLE WHERE YOU HAVE THE JUVENILE STAGE BASICALLY GOT THE WHOLE LIFE AND THEN, THE ADULT STAGES JUST THIS TINY LITTLE AGAIN.

>> DR. JESSICA'S ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

DIFFERENT WRITS OF CICADAS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

MOSTLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE MIDWEST.

WE KNOW THAT THE BIRD EMERGING RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NEW JERSEY'S TIME TO SHINE BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EVENT AN ABUNDANCE OF ROUTE 10.

>> THEY CAN BE FOUND IN SIX COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY.

DR. HAMILTON EXPLAINS AND THEY DON'T POSE ANY THREATS TO HUMANS OR ANIMALS.

THEIR DEFENSE AGAINST POLLUTERS MAY BE IN THEIR NUMBERS.

>> WE KNOW THAT LOTS OF MAMMALS CONSUME THEM, PEOPLE CONSUME THEM, AND SO PERHAPS CUTTING THE ASSOCIATION STRATEGY WHERE THEY COME OUT INTO THESE GIANT NUMBERS IT KIND OF FILLS UP BELLIES THE POTENTIAL THINGS THAT MIGHT BE EATING YOU.

THEN YOU, YOURSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL HAVE A GREATER CHANCE THAT EVERYBODY AROUND YOU WILL BE EATEN AND THEN THE PREDATORS WILL BE FULL AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE TO PASS ON YOUR GENE.

>> IS THIS THE SAME AMOUNT YOU THINK THAT YOU SAW 17 YEARS AGO?

>> THIS IS AT LEAST AS MANY AS I SAW 17 YEARS AGO.

>>'S ARE NOT AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

>> NOT ENDANGERED, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST THREE AND 400 YEARS THAT WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THESE INSECTS, A REDUCTION IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY STILL OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

BECAUSE THEY FEED ON THE ROOTS OF TREES AND TYPES OF WOODY SHRUBS AS WE DEVELOP THE LAND AND REMOVE THE TREES, WE TAKE AWAY THEIR FOOD SOURCE.

>> Reporter: IF THIS AREA STAYS IN TOUCH UNTIL 2038, WE WILL SEE THEM EMERGE ONCE AGAIN.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, OR FIND A FUN SOCIAL TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING AS WE REMEMBER OUR FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR SELFLESS ACTIONS.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.