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Milhouse Engineering & Construction Chairman and CEO, Wilbur C. Milhouse III, to speak at 2023 DEI Trailblazer Awards

TRENTON, N.J. — The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce (NJCC) are pleased to announce that Wilbur C. Milhouse III, Chairman and CEO of Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc., will be a featured speaker at the 2023 DEI Trailblazer Awards.

Milhouse, an award-winning entrepreneur with more than 30 years of diversified civil and structural engineering experience, has transformed his expertise into a global enterprise that has garnered national attention.

His passion for community advancement led to the co-founding of Milhouse Charities in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting academic achievements and opportunities for minorities and underrepresented youth by supporting STEM-focused initiatives.

“It is an honor to have the leader of the largest Black-owned engineering design firm in the United States speak at the DEI Trailblazer Awards ceremony,” comment John E. Harmon Sr., IOM, AACCNJ’s Founder, President, and CEO. “This is a special treat for our guests.”

This year’s DEI Trailblazer Awards event marks the second annual ceremony co-hosted by AACCNJ and NJCC. It is dedicated to recognizing companies and organizations that are making noteworthy progress in the crucial domains of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Specifically, the DEI Trailblazer Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements in six distinct categories:

  1. Supplier Diversity: Recognizing businesses committed to diverse contracting for goods and services.
  2. Access to Capital: Commending businesses supporting enhanced access to capital for historically marginalized enterprises and entrepreneurs.
  3. Corporate Board Diversity: Celebrating businesses with diverse board compositions that reflect underrepresented communities.
  4. Workforce Diversity: Honoring businesses that exhibit a strong commitment to diversifying their staff through comprehensive recruiting, hiring, and retention efforts.
  5. Corporate Citizenship: Recognizing businesses with a significant commitment to philanthropy and community engagement, with a focus on historically marginalized communities.
  6. Emerging DEI Influencer: Applauding businesses in the early stages of DEI implementation, demonstrating intentionality across the above categories.

The 2023 nominees include AmeriHealth; Bank of America; Bridge Builders Newark, LLC; CannPowerment; The Ceceilyn Miller Institute for Leadership & Diversity; Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C.; Cole Schotz; Delta Dental of New Jersey; Gibbons P.C.; Hackensack Meridian Health; Johnson & Johnson; Lockerbie & Co.; Modivcare; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Phillips 66-Bayway Refinery; PSEG; Santander US; Somerset County Business Partnership; Tené Nícole Creative Agency; UnitedHealth Group; and We Are Jersey.

The DEI Trailblazer Awards ceremony promises to be an inspiring event. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from Milhouse and other esteemed leaders as we celebrate the nominees and reveal the 2023 awardees. The awards reception will take place at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, on Monday, November 20, 2023, 5-8 p.m. For more information about the DEI Trailblazer Awards and to register for the event, please visit: https://njchamber.com/events/dei-trailblazer-awards

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Missy Elliott electrifies, Jimmy Page surprises, Bernie Taupin calls out the elephant in the room: Essential moments from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show

Four hours and 22 minutes is a long time to be doing anything except sleeping, even watching a state-of-the-art Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards show that included Willie Nelson, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Page, Stevie Nicks and many more.

 

Yet it’s a testament to the almost superhuman talent and vision of of Missy Elliott that as the show hit the four-hour mark, she had the entire audience out of their seats for a visually and musically explosive medley of her greatest hits — including “Get Ur Freak On,” “The Rain” and the closer, “Lose Control” — as she rocked the stage in an all-gold glitter suit accompanied by rappers, a DJ, approximately 30 lithely limbed dancers and an eye-popping video presentation that spanned the entire width of the Barclays Center floor. This will come as no surprise to anyone who’s been lucky enough to see a performance from the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but it’s something we see far too infrequently these days. She even noted that the evening was the first time her mother had seen her perform live, “Because I didn’t want her to see me talking about bitches and a one-minute man.”

 

 

But before you skip to the end of the show, which was livestreamed on Disney+ for the first time and is available for playback now, see below for the other essential moments. Serious music fans will probably want to watch the whole thing — we’re skipping over performances from Sheryl Crow (with Nicks, Olivia Rodrigo and Peter Frampton), Chaka Khan (including a surreal duet with Sia), tributes to pioneering hip-hop DJ Kool Herc, Zelig-like musician Al Kooper and “Soul Train” founder Don Cornelius and more — but for those without four hours and 22 minutes to spare, dig in for a guide below.

 

Carrie Underwood’s Revelatory George Michael Cover

The late George Michael was inducted by Andrew Ridgely, his childhood friend and former bandmate in Wham!, who few people recognized at first due to his long-since-receded hairline. A trio of performances followed, with Miguel starting with a strong “Careless Whisper” (accompanied by the E Street Band’s Jake Clemons on sax), a mediocre “Faith” from Adam Levine, and finally, a stunning version of “One More Try” from Carrie Underwood, who brought the house down with an emotional, soaring performance that makes you wonder why she doesn’t sing songs like that all the time. The tribute video also featured some hilarious quotes from Michael particularly when he said the two records he first owned as a child were by the Supremes and Tom Jones, noting that his music was somewhere between the two.

 

 

 

New Edition Create a Spinners Tribute Band for the Ages

Anyone who grew up near an FM radio in America during the 1970s heard tons of R&B, and one of the most prominent groups were the Spinners. For a medley of three of their biggest hits, New Edition were clad in black slacks and matching velour maroon jackets, and had their synchronized dance steps down. Hearing Bobby Brown wail on “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” was a totally unexpected but resonant moment.

 

Johnny Gill, Michael Bivens, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Bobby Brown of New Edition (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

St. Vincent Bravely Runs Up That Hill

In another unexpected pairing, Kate Bush — who skipped the ceremony but posted a touching note of thanks — was inducted by Outkast’s Big Boi, who joked, “I feel like the White House Press Secretary for Kate Bush.” After speaking of his lifelong fandom and saying “I’m the kid in ‘Stranger Things’” (a nod to the show that brought the decades-old song to new levels of popularity), he said, “What I love about Kate’s music is that you never know what you’re going to hear next.” The tribute video was fascinating, combining clips of Bush with testimonials from Peter Gabriel, and especially Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, who essentially discovered her when she was a teenager and recalled going to her house, meeting her family and then she played him “forty or fifty songs.” St. Vincent then showed just how difficult those songs are to sing, turning in a solid, brave and relatively low-key take on “Running Up That Hill” in which she wisely didn’t try to mimic Bush’s intensity.

 

 

Willie Nelson Gets a Hilarious Introduction From Dave Matthews and Performs With Chris Stapleton and Sheryl Crow

There is probably no living songwriter with a catalog that can match Willie Nelson’s, and not many past ones either. Now 90, as Dave Matthews noted in his introduction, he wrote his first song in 1940, saw his “Crazy” recorded by Patsy Cline in 1961, and has released 72 albums. Somehow, he has made it all this way while being a marijuana smoker of magnitude. “The first time I met Willie,” Matthews recalled, “I got so high I forgot how to breathe. And then we got more high, and then we got even more high, and then Willie said, ‘Is everybody high?’” Nelson took the stage and played three songs, accompanied by Chris Stapleton (on “Whiskey River”), Sheryl Crow (“On Crazy”) and “On the Road Again” with both and Matthews — his voice was a little unsteady and he played seated, but he gave a very gracious thank-you speech and peeled off two solos on his legendary battered nylon-string guitar.

 

Willie Nelson receives his statuette from Dave Matthews (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

A Surprise Performance From Jimmy Page

Link Wray, who died in 2005, was such a foundational pioneer of rock and roll guitar that most guitarists these days don’t know who he was. Yet the video that aired featured everyone from Jimmy Page and Iggy Pop to Jeff Beck and Robbie Robertson paying worshipful homage, and the audience rocked to their feet when, just after he’d appeared in the video inducting Wray, Page suddenly appeared on stage, brandishing his legendary Gibson double-neck guitar, and played a slinky, reverent version of Wray’s “Rumble,” a song you know even if you think you don’t.

 

 

 

 

Bernie Taupin Addresses the Elephant in the Room

Elton John reeled off an oft-told story about his lyricist and “best friend of 65 years,” but the tale was no less fresh as he marveled at their progression between his first album and second — “How did we take that leap in such a short time?” — and noted that although they didn’t really have an argument during their peak years, “He was often disgusted with my behavior.” And yet he also noted that they recently completed an album that “is going to surprise the shit out of you.”

 

During Taupin’s acceptance speech, some three hours into the show, the moment finally came: He said how honored he was to be sharing the honor with so many “articulate” (air quotes) women and Black artists — the evening’s only direct reference to Rolling Stone and Hall of Fame founder Jann Wenner’s recent tasteless comments that got him ejected from the Hall’s board.

 

 

Robbie Robertson Gets a Generation-Spanning Tribute From Elton John, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow and Brittany Howard

The Hall digs deep for its “In Memoriam” segment, honoring many relatively little-known bandmembers in addition to superstars. And in a year when a sobering number of great musicians died, it seemed inappropriate to honor just one — until the segment closed with a photo of the Band’s Robbie Robertson and the house band kicked into the group’s 1968 classic “The Weight.” Four generations of singers — Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton and Brittany Howard — each took a verse and then joined together for the song’s concluding fifth verse, showing in stunning fashion just how foundational the Band and that song were for all of them.

 

 

Even in Their Absence, Rage Against the Machine Raged

Since they first parted ways in 2000, Rage Against the Machine have never been there when you needed them. They sat out the George W. Bush years, reunited for tours during the Obama administration, and were a couple of dates into a long-overdue reunion tour last summer when singer Zack de la Rocha injured his knee and the tour was postponed indefinitely. Yet the group’s explosive influence was vividly detailed in the electrifying tribute video, in Ice-T’s introductory speech — “I think Rage has the greatest rock lyric of all time: ‘Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me’” — and guitarist Tom Morello’s acceptance speech. Always an inspired speaker, he noted that the often-feuding bandmembers have “differing perspectives on a lot of things, including being inducted,” but paid tribute not only to them but also the “fifth member of the band” — the group’s fans — and noted that the presidents of Chile and Finland “have all spent time in our mosh pits.”

 

His speech gained momentum as he continued, “Can music change the world? The whole fucking aim is to change the world!” and finished by exhorting people to make a difference in whatever way they can, by activism or forming a band or simply following their conscience instead of orders. “It’s time to change the world, brothers and sisters,” he concluded, “or at the very least stir up a shitload of trouble.”

 

As fans exited the venue after a very long night, they saw the following words grafitti’d on a boarded-up window across Flatbush Avenue: “THANK YOU RATM.”

 

 

— Variety

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New Jersey Photography Forum announces opening of 29th Juried International Photography Exhibit ‘Our Best’

The NJ Photography Forum opened its 29th International Photography Exhibit, “Our Best,” online and in person on Nov. 1, 2023.

 

There are 66 works by 31 artists  for this year’s show selected from hundreds of entries which came from across the U.S and around the globe. The show will remain available online until Jan. 15, 2024. The in-person exhibit will be on display at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung, N.J. from Nov. 1, through Dec. 3, 2023.

 

Nancy Ori, Director of the NJ Photography Forum and the Curator of the exhibit was very enthusiastic about the response to the call for submissions and says, “the emotional impact of the pieces range from mysterious and thought provoking, to stunning black and whites and digitally enhanced pieces, to traditional and beautiful color works. The variety of creative ideas and processing techniques has produced a stunning exhibit.”

 

There will be an Opening Reception and Holiday Art Fair: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, 1-4 p.m. (EST) at the Watchung Arts Center, Watchung, N.J. on the circle. The reception is free and open to the public. Wine and refreshments will be served.

 

The public is also invited to attend an online conference via Zoom moderated by the Curator to review the exhibit and hear from some of the artists on Nov. 18, 2023 from 3-5 p.m. eastern time. Contact Nancy Ori to get the link.

 

At the same time as the Our Best exhibit is in the Main Gallery of the Watchung Art Center, the New Jersey Photography Forum will also be showing The Best One, works by the members of the Forum’s Exhibit Committee in the more intimate downstairs gallery. Both exhibits can be viewed during regular gallery hours.

 

All of the images will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Watchung Arts Center.

 

Four years ago, The New Jersey Photography Forum celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding. The group is dedicated to furthering the interests of professional and serious photographers living or working in the Metro area. Under the direction of Nancy Ori, the NJPF has grown to be the largest and most recognized group of fine art exhibiting photographers in the state.

 

The monthly meetings are held virtually using Zoom or in-person at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit when possible. Meeting attendees are encouraged to share expertise and advance their skills. At each meeting, member and guest photographers have an opportunity to show their work as well as have access to a wide variety of current creative and technical information through informal presentations and demonstrations. Exhibition possibilities within the fine art community are constantly being explored with the group producing as many as a dozen group exhibits each year at various venues. These opportunities have become an invaluable resource for Metro area photographers interested in becoming fine art exhibitors.

 

The Watchung Arts Center offers new art exhibitions each month, performances of music, comedy, improv and classes for children and adults in art, photography, dance, yoga, and more. Visit the Watchung Arts Center website at: www.watchungarts.org for exhibit visitation times and current activities. The center is located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, N.J. on the circle.

 

You can learn more about the New Jersey Photography Forum by visiting their web site at www.njphotoforum.com where you will also find a link to the online exhibit or by contacting Nancy Ori at nancyori@comcast.net

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Cleanup begins on lake at Miry Run’s Dam Site 21

The first phase of development of a new passive-recreation Mercer County park began Nov. 1, with the dredging of the 50-acre lake at what is known as Dam Site 21.

Located in Hamilton, Robbinsville, and West Windsor, the 279-acre property was acquired by Mercer County in the late 1970s in order to build a dam to reduce downstream flooding and to develop the land into a publicly accessible park. The dredging will rid the lake bed of weeds, debris and sediment that has built up over the years, and improve access for boating and fishing.

“One of our longstanding goals was to take this diamond in the rough and create a gem of a park, and I’m thrilled that the Mercer County Park Commission’s plan is advancing,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

The lake improvements are part of a larger Park Master Plan for the site, which was adopted by the Mercer County Park Commission in 2020. “The goal of our Master Plan is to make the largely hidden public site more accessible to County residents,” said Mercer County Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson. “But the first step in implementing our plan is to improve the lake’s flood capacity, water quality, wildlife habitat, and accessibility.”

After four years of planning, design, and permitting, the Park Commission recently awarded a contract to Capela Construction, which will begin lowering the lake and complete the dredging over the winter. During the course of this cleanup, there will be no public access to the lake area until the project is complete.

The larger Master Plan for Dam Site 21 calls for trails, parking and other park visitor facilities, and the conversion of farm fields into new natural areas for birds and other wildlife. When complete, the site’s natural features will be augmented through the establishment of up to 34 acres of new forest, which will contain an estimated 14,000 new trees, and 64 acres of new native meadows.

The Master Plan for the site, developed with Simone Collins Landscape Architecture and Princeton Hydro, was awarded the 2021 Chapter Award from the New Jersey Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.

For more information on the development of Dam Site 21, go to https://www.mercercounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/24870/638066292391570000

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Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk celebrates 15th anniversary with more than $3M raised for kids

Presented by Kinecta Federal Credit Union, the Annual Event Broke Records and Will Help Thousands of Children with Diverse Needs, Public Education and Scholarships

 

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk celebrated its 15th anniversary event with more than $3 million raised for children with special needs, public education, and national scholarships—totaling over $24 million in donations since its inception in 2009. Thousands of registrants contributed to these causes at the milestone event, which was supported by Presenting Sponsor Kinecta Federal Credit Union and over 100 generous businesses and donors, and featured Brooke Burke, Mr. T and Amanda Kloots along with performances from Young Selena singer and America’s Got Talent golden buzzer winner Madison Taylor Baez, Team Siwa’s pop group XOMG POP! and teen group FuturePop.

“I am very fortunate to have a platform to do good, and to be part of an organization at Skechers and the community of the South Bay that believes in giving back. It’s been my greatest joy to make a difference through philanthropy, especially the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk,” said Michael Greenberg, founder of the Walk.

“For over 15 years, I’ve seen thousands of our children form friendships, mature into young adults, realize their purpose, set out into the world—all the way knowing that we are here for them, behind them. The Walk has been such a beautiful and moving day to be part of, year after year—from seeing all the walkers to our generous celebrities and volunteers to incredible organizations like Kinecta and companies with so much heart—all here to uplift our kids. I’m deeply grateful for this experience—I know we’re helping future generations, and I encourage every community to do the same. I always say, ‘give until it hurts.’ But really, seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, it just feels good.”

 

“This walk is about the power of friendship, which is actually quite profound when you think about it,” added fitness encourager and television host Brooke Burke. “Friendship is the thread that connects every human. It inspires us to make the impossible possible. And it’s the constant I’ve seen over the 12 years I’ve supported this walk. From the parents, neighbors and kids to the engaged sponsors and performers, athletes and icons who have graced this stage, everyone is here to celebrate friendship year after year.”

 

“This is my first time here, and what a thrill it’s been,” added actor and icon Mr. T. “Every kid has room to grow—there are no ceilings to what any person can learn and achieve. And what an amazing, special day this community has made to help them on their way. The energy and enthusiasm at this event is incredible. This Walk’s going to keep celebrating for 15 more years and beyond—and I’m so happy to be part of this beautiful legacy of love for our kids.”

 

Historically California’s largest event for children with special needs and education, the 3.5-mile Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk supports the future Friendship Campus (The Greenberg Family / Skechers Center)—a $55 million, 3.25-acre campus that will offer a life-changing community for friendship and learning. Planned for completion by year-end 2025, the facility will include numerous vocational programs including a Creative Arts Center, Culinary Institute, Recreation Center, Life Skills programming, and early education and mentoring opportunities, giving young adults the tools to transition to the workforce and find lifelong passion and purpose.

 

The Campus will also be home to the new headquarters for the Friendship Foundation, which offers companionship, celebrates uniqueness and encourages acceptance for all with diverse abilities. The organization offers over 60 in-person programs such as art, music, fitness, sign language, science, social emotional wellness and yoga, as well as pop-up programs like virtual scavenger hunts and talent shows that are free for anyone to attend locally and across the United States.

 

Academically, the Walk supports public school education foundations—reducing class sizes, updating labs, libraries and facilities and protecting teachers’ jobs. The Skechers Foundation’s national scholarship program also gives a portion of Walk proceeds to students with financial need and proven excellence in academics, athletics and leadership, donating more than $1.1 million in scholarships to date.

 

The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks Presenting Sponsor Kinecta Federal Credit Union and all of its sponsors, including Nickelodeon, Rare Beauty, Schwartz Family Foundation, Steel Sports, United Legwear & Apparel Co., Big 5 Sporting Goods, Petco Love, TJX Companies, Chevron, Bank of America, Ross Stores, Barco, Dakine, Vertra, LA Kings, LA Dodgers, McCarthy, LA Angels, Continental Development, WSS, Turkish Airlines, Cushman & Wakefield and many more companies that are committed to supporting our children.

 

To watch this year’s Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk and learn more about the event, please visit skechersfriendshipwalk.com or YouTube, and follow the Walk on Facebook, X and Instagram.

 

About Skechers Foundation

Established in 2010 to help children in need, the Skechers Foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities to ensure the health, success and well-being of youth worldwide. We invest in a global network of charitable organizations dedicated to embracing individuals with diverse abilities, improving education, empowering disadvantaged families and providing humanitarian, disaster and economic relief. By supporting millions through our products and services, we aspire to make a valiant effort in creating stronger, self-sufficient individuals for future generations.

 

About Skechers USA, Inc.

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE:SKX), a Fortune 500® company based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Collections from The Comfort Technology Company™ are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through digital stores and over 4,900 Company- and third-party-owned physical retail stores. The Company manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

 

About Kinecta Federal Credit Union

Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, Kinecta Federal Credit Union is one of the country’s largest credit unions, with assets of $6.7 billion and more than 270,000 members from coast to coast. Banking the Southern California area for more than 80 years, with additional branches in New York, New Jersey, Northern California and Florida, Kinecta offers its members a full range of financial products from banking, lending and insurance to wealth management services. Kinecta has been recognized by the Mortgage Bankers Association as a recipient of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Residential Leadership Award, and received the Best of Show award granted by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Technology Council. Residents of Rochester, NY, voted Kinecta as a finalist for Best Credit Union in the Democrat & Chronicle’s annual Rochester Choice Awards in 2022. Forbes awarded Kinecta as a top-ranked credit union in California on its America’s Best Credit Unions in Each State 2022 List. Kinecta has 29 branches, and its members can use a network of more than 5,800 shared branches and access over 85,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. For more information on Kinecta, visit the website and LinkedIn.

 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers’ future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers’ annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2023. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance.

Contacts

Jennifer Clay

SKECHERS USA

jennc@skechers.com
(310) 937-1326

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Six Flags Magic Mountain breaks ground on California’s largest solar energy project

Phase One for New 12.37-Megawatt Solar Carport Structure Begins on November 1

 

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #SixFlagsMagicMountain — Six Flags Magic Mountain, the undisputed Thrill Capital of the World, in partnership with Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables (DSD), today announced the official ground breaking of a new 12.37-megawatt solar carport and energy storage system. The Six Flags Magic Mountain project is the largest single-site commercial renewable energy project in California and largest solar project allocated toward a for-profit organization in the United States.

 

“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground on this monumental project and taking the next step towards a cleaner, greener future,” said Six Flags Magic Mountain Interim Park President Jeff Harris.

 

“We’re continuing to make advancements towards improving and protecting the environment, and are honored to be industry leaders, paving the way for other theme park companies around the world. Our partners and established solar and renewable energy industry experts at Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables, as well as our partners with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s Office, have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, allowing us to break ground at an increased timeline. Getting a glance at what this massive structure will bring to our parks and community is simply remarkable,” he added.

 

Key components of the Six Flags Magic Mountain solar installation include:

  • A 637,000 square foot, 12.37-megawatt solar carport built over the main guest parking lot and team member parking lot;
  • The park will be able to offset 100% of its energy usage with solar power;
  • Estimated 3,544 guest parking spaces and 771 team member parking spaces;
  • Approximately 30 electric vehicle charging spaces in the guest parking lot;
  • Added shade coverage to keep cars cool for guests and team members;
  • Increased security systems and protection;
  • Battery storage system producing approximately 2 megawatts of power with up to 8-megawatt hours of capacity that can be deployed daily;
  • Produce 20.8 million kilowatt hours of energy annually, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 2,874 homes;
  • Offset greenhouse gas emissions each year comparable to 34,194 barrels of oil consumed, 5,110 tons of waste recycled rather than landfilled, and 17,612 acres of U.S. forests;
  • Offset carbon dioxide equivalents each year comparable to taking 3,182 cars off the road, 37.8 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered automobile, and 1.6 million gallons of gasoline consumed; and
  • Produce 517.89 million kilowatt hours of energy in a 25-year period, which offsets greenhouse gas energy consumption equivalent to 911 million miles driven by gasoline-powered automobiles and the carbon sequestration equivalent to 434.3 thousand acres of trees planted.

 

The Six Flags Magic Mountain project is the third solar installation for Six Flags. Properties in Northern California at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and New Jersey at Six Flags Great Adventure have also developed on-site solar capabilities with over 30 megawatts of fully operational solar power systems installed. These three sites will rank as the largest volume of onsite Solar PV systems for any U.S. organization with a combined total of 42.37 megawatts.

 

“We are excited to break ground on this solar-plus-storage project at Six Flags Magic Mountain and watch the Solar Optimum team work their installation magic. Solar canopies have always been an excellent use of otherwise underutilized space and this site, with its wide open parking lots, provides the perfect canvas to build on,” said Danielle Fidel, Senior Director, Developer Network at DSD. “Partnering with Solar Optimum through DSD’s Developer Network has allowed us to make this project a reality for Six Flags and we’re looking forward to it coming to life!”

 

“The Six Flags Magic Mountain solar project stands as the largest of its kind in the nation, boasting an impressive area exceeding 637,000 square feet of shade structures,” said Arno Aghamalian, CEO and Founder of Solar Optimum. “The magnitude of this undertaking is a marvel in itself, and as we initiate the construction phase, we are excited to offer a glimpse into what this project will evolve into by the year’s end.”

 

“Not only does this project rank as a remarkable national achievement, showcasing the integration of solar technology, carports, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging, but it is also a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of all those involved,” continued Aghamalian. “From the offices of the Governor and LA County Supervisor to SCE, our development partners, and a dedicated team of individuals, we are rapidly ushering this project to completion.”

 

For 63 years, Six Flags has been committed to protecting and improving the environment and its communities, striving toward the expansion of sustainability and ESG-related initiatives and efforts. By actively working to reduce the environmental impact of its amusement park operations, the company continues to make meaningful advancements in adopting solar power throughout its operations and otherwise reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information regarding Six Flags’ sustainability and ESG-related initiatives, visit sixflags.com.

 

About Six Flags Magic Mountain

Six Flags Magic Mountain, known as the Thrill Capital of the World, boasts 20 world-class roller coasters—more than any other theme park on the planet—and is home to more than 100 rides, games, and attractions, including roller coaster icons like Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, Goliath, and X2. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com/magicmountain.

 

About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with 27 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 63 years, Six Flags has entertained hundreds of millions of guests with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. Six Flags is committed to creating an inclusive environment that fully embraces the diversity of our team members and guests. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

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Like us on Facebook @sixflagsmagicmountain @sixflagshurricaneharborla

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Follow us on TikTok @sfmagicmountain @hurricaneharborla

 

About Solar Optimum

Solar Optimum is a Los Angeles-based solar, battery storage and roofing company that provides homeowners and businesses in California, Nevada, and Arizona with progressive, premium energy solutions – with unmatched value. Since 2008, Solar Optimum has been on a mission to educate and inspire its customers to become 100% energy independent, and with over 300 MW installed, thousands of customers have now reached that goal.

 

Solar Optimum’s premier certifications, top-of-the-line products and warranties, and award-winning customer service have earned Solar Optimum the position as the #1 ranked California EPC for Solar and Battery Storage and #2 ranked National EPC for Solar and Storage (in the Residential and Commercial category) according to Solar Power World International. To learn more, visit www.SolarOptimum.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

 

About DSD Renewables

DSD Renewables (DSD) is transforming the way organizations harness clean energy while building a more sustainable future. With unparalleled capabilities including development, structured financing, project acquisition and long-term asset ownership, DSD accelerates the deployment of renewable energy resources and creates significant value for our commercial, industrial, and municipal customers and partners. Backed by world-leading financial partners, our team brings a distinct combination of ingenuity, rigor, and accountability to every project we manage, acquire, own, and maintain. To learn more, visit DSDRenewables.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Contacts

Alex French

sfmmpr@sixflags.com
661-400-3143

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Business Culture Entertainment News International & World Lifestyle Programs & Events

Jekyll Island Convention Center to continue partnership with ASM Global through 2029

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #ASMGlobal — ASM Global has won the renewal of management of the Jekyll Island Convention Center (JICC) in Jekyll Island, Georgia. ASM Global, which oversees the largest portfolio of convention centers in the U.S. and internationally, has operated the venue since its opening in May 2012.


The Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) board approved the management term extension for an additional five years with an option for an additional five-year renewal after that at the discretion of the JIA. The continued partnership solidifies ASM Global’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences and ushering in a new era of innovation for JICC.

 

“Our longstanding partnership with ASM Global has been instrumental to the successes of the Jekyll Island Convention Center since its opening more than a decade ago,” said Mark Williams, JIA executive director.

 

“ASM Global’s exceptional service and consistent performance have played a pivotal role in the center’s recognition as a top venue both within the state and along the southeastern coast. We believe this continued partnership reaffirms our commitment to excellence in serving our business and leisure visitors.”

 

The only oceanfront convention center on the East Coast south of New Jersey, JICC is the cornerstone of business and entertainment events in the region, offering over 128,000 square feet of flexible event space with a 45,000-square-foot ballroom, 11 meeting rooms, full in-house catering by SAVOR, in-house A/V service and spectacular coastal views.

 

A Silver LEED-certified venue, JICC is a showcase for sustainability, with design and construction centered around the delicate coastal ecosystem and incorporating locally sourced materials, such as shells, sea glass and reclaimed pine. Some of the sustainability features include individual lighting for 90% of the building, a solar-powered water-heating system, innovative water-waste technology, and the use of high-performance and low-emitting materials.

 

“We thank the Jekyll Island Authority for both their long-term partnership and continued confidence in ASM Global to manage this jewel of convention centers,” said John Page, regional general manager, ASM Global.

 

“I’m extremely proud of our Jekyll team led by Tabitha Mayers and excited for the future as they continue to advance and deliver cutting-edge and innovative services for our clients every day.”

 

About ASM Global

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. asmglobal.com.

Contacts

Jim Yeager

breakwhitelight (for ASM Global)

jim@breakwhitelight.com
818-264-6812

Categories
Art & Life Culture Lifestyle Programs & Events

Celebrating Black innovation: The Black Future Newsstand blends tech and art at AfroTech

AUSTIN, Texas — Media 2070 is partnering with The Center for Cultural Power in early November, to unveil a travel-sized “Black Future Newsstand” at AfroTech for reflecting the advances for Black-owned media.

 

This in-person, custom-built installation is guided by the question, “How can the Black stories and technologies of today give us safe passage to our futures?”

 

The installation will engage all senses as it whisks visitors to a future where a thriving Black-owned media landscape reflects the wholeness of Black experiences.

 

The Black Future Newsstand will be activated at the Center for Cultural Power’s Mixed Media Mixer Art Show, taking place at Speakeasy on 412 Congress Ave. in Austin on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 4 – 8 p.m. CDT.

 

In this space, guests will be able to reflect on the past, present, and future of Black narrative power while reflecting on the question, “How can the narratives and innovations of today’s Black community lead us toward a brighter future?”

 

“Technology, art, journalism, and media are the bedrock of our communication infrastructure,” said Diamond Hardiman, reparative journalism program manager for Media 2070.

 

“Tech visionaries, artists, journalists, and media-makers alchemize the Black creativity and abundance that guides how we share, tell stories, connect and communicate. This activation of Black Future Newsstand allows us to lean into a world where storytelling is rooted in Black creativity and imagination that celebrates Black folks’ wholeness, care, and dignity.”

 

Admission to this event is on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP is required. To register, visit https://events.eventnoire.com/e/mixed-media-mixer/tickets.

 

The Black Future Newsstand is an initiative of the Media 2070 media reparations project at Free Press, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group based in Washington, DC. Media 2070 campaigns for the media system that will get us to a future that’s ripe with reparations justice.

 

About Mañón Media: Mañón Media is a PR firm committed to helping changemakers and disruptors get the news coverage they need to raise awareness, spread a message and make change. Learn more at tiannamanon.com and see recent blog posts, placements and current clients.

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Culture Entertainment News Farewell Services Lifestyle Programs & Events

‘Saturday Night Live’ pays tribute to Matthew Perry hours after his death

“Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to Matthew Perry, hours after the news of his death broke.

 

The broadcast showed a picture of Perry coupled with a moment of silence right before the episode’s goodnights segment. Nate Bargatze was the episode’s host. Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” died on Saturday. He was 54.

 

According to the LA Times, Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.

 

The actor hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1997 with musical guest Oasis. Perry portrayed the beloved, sarcastic Chandler on “Friends,” which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. He received one Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002 for the ninth season. Perry also appeared in “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Go On,” “The Odd Couple” and “The West Wing.” He scored two more Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004 for his role as Joe Quincy on the Aaron Sorkin political drama.

 

In 2022, Perry opened up about his struggle with alcohol and drugs in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” revealing he was only sober for one Season 9 — the ninth — of “Friends,” and battled for most of his life.

 

In the book, he says at one point he was taking 55 Vicodin a day, has attended 6,000 AA meetings, had 14 surgeries and gone to rehab 15 times. He decided to write the book with hopes to help others going through any sort of addiction struggles.

 

In 2018, Perry’s colon exploded and he spent two weeks in a coma; his family was told he had a 2% chance to live. After he survived, he lived with a colostomy bag for nine months.

 

Since the news of his death, many celebrities have honored the comedian, including Paget Brewster, who starred on the show for six episodes an played his love interest, Kathy. “I’m so very sad to hear about @MatthewPerry. He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after,” she tweeted. “Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there.”

 

 

— Variety

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Culture Entertainment News Lifestyle Programs & Events

A recent student hip-hop showcase, Vision and Voice: A smash success!

Vision and Voice, a recent student hip-hop showcase performance from late summer  was an incredible success from top to bottom at Mill Hill Playhouse in Trenton, N.J.

 

The show featured wonderful performances from our middle and high school aged students, with two dance numbers, four individual spoken word pieces, one large group spoken word piece, and an absolutely PACKED playhouse full of friends, family, and members of the Trenton community coming in to see what our students have done.

 

The playhouse thanks students, their caregivers, Vision and Voice Camp Coordinator Johanna Tolentino and her talented team of teaching artists (Phillip, Nico, Lucas, Pete, Jack), and the generous grants from the state and donations from folks like you that allowed us to put on this show!

 

They appreciate Romeo’s Pizza in Plainsboro, N.J., for donating the pizza for the students’ wrap party! We had a wonderful time celebrating the hard work put in creating and rehearsing this uniquely personal performance.

 

All throughout our Vision and Voice program, in addition to our regular teaching artists, we brought in special guest instructors who are also out there doing the work creating specialized hip-hop art… we kicked things off with a special presentation and workshop with Trenton’s very own Poor Righteous Teachers, and we also brought in Chesney Snow to lead a workshop on beatboxing, Shanika Boston to lead a workshop on hip-hop dance, and Leon Rainbow to teach the students basics of tagging in the world of graffiti art.⁣

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Huge thank you to each of our guest instructors for bringing their gifts to even greater enhance what our hip-hop summer camp program helped to build!⁣