February Fun in New Jersey! ✨

It’s Friday, New Jersey!

It’s also Valentine’s Day. 💘 No plans? No problem! Join the romantic group vow renewal tonight at 6 p.m. at the Absecon Lighthouse, where history meets the heart. This 171-foot tall beacon, standing since 1857, invites singles and couples to climb 228 steps, enjoy live music, and share a champagne toast. For just $40, you'll create an unforgettable memory and help preserve a piece of New Jersey maritime history. Who knows? You might just find love (or at least an incredible story) at the top! 🚢❤️🕯️

❄️ Winter's Wild Ride: Weekend Weather Forecast! 🌨️

Get ready for a meteorological mood swing! Friday kicks off sunny but chilly, with temperatures hovering around 36°F and winds that'll make you want to bundle up. Saturday brings a snow show, with about an inch of white stuff expected between 10am and 4pm, then transitioning to potential rain. Sunday warms up to a surprising 52°F with non-stop rain, perfect for indoor activities. Washington's Birthday returns to winter's embrace with a crisp 30°F and breezy conditions. The weekend wraps up Monday night with clear, cold skies dipping down to a frosty 17°F. Grab your layers, hot cocoa, and a sense of adventure! 🧣🌡️💨

👀What’s on tap today:

• Potential bird flu outbreak closes 3 parks

• JOANN Fabrics to close six New Jersey stores

• County announces 2025 paper shredding events

Up first…

✨ February fun continues in New Jersey! ✨

February may be the shortest month, but it’s packed with exciting adventures! From romantic retreats and winter sports to Black History Month celebrations, here’s your guide to making the most of it.

💖 Romantic Getaways
🏔 Crystal Springs Resort (Skylands Region) – Escape to mountain views and luxe accommodations at Minerals Hotel (Vernon) or Grand Cascades Lodge (Hamburg). Choose from romantic packages like Wine Lover’s Escape, Suite Heart Escape, Grand Romance Retreat, and more.

🌊 The Reeds at Shelter Haven (Southern Shore) – A Travel + Leisure World’s Best Resort Hotel 2024 winner, this coastal retreat is perfect for a romantic escape. Enjoy a Reeds Romance Retreat with a two-night stay, champagne & chocolate strawberries on arrival, plus credits for dining and the soothing Salt Spa.

🍷 Wine & Unwind in Cape May – Stroll through this Victorian seaside town, visit Cape May Winery & Vineyard for award-winning wines and tapas, shop at Washington Street Mall, and dine fireside at The Washington Inn or The Blue Pig Tavern. Stay at charming inns like Congress Hall, The Queen Victoria, or Wilbraham Mansion.

⛷ Ski & Stay at Mountain Creek (Skylands) – Enjoy skiing, snowboarding & snow tubing, then cozy up in a slope-side suite at The Appalachian. Think fireplaces, hot tubs, and even your own kitchen for a perfect winter retreat. Learn more here.

🏒 Watch the NJ Devils at Prudential Center (Newark)
Hockey fans, don’t miss this home game:
📅 Feb 22 – Devils 🆚 Dallas Stars (6 PM)
Get your tickets at the Prudential Center website!

🛤 Travel a 3-Day Black Heritage Itinerary – Celebrate Black History Month with a road trip visiting museums, landmarks, and sites along the Underground Railroad. Support Black-owned businesses and learn about influential leaders shaping history.

⛸ Ice Skate in the Garden State – Glide into winter fun at rinks like Newport Skates (Jersey City) or indoors at American Dream in East Rutherford, home to BIG SNOW, North America’s first year-round, indoor ski and snow resort.

🛍 Treasure Hunt in Lambertville – Explore art galleries, chic antique shops, and cozy cafés. Don’t miss the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market, a collector’s dream for rare finds and vintage treasures since 1967.

🎰 Feel Lucky in Atlantic City – Try your luck at top casino resorts like Bally’s, Caesars, Tropicana, Hard Rock, Ocean Casino Resort, Borgata, and Harrah’s. Enjoy world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment along the iconic boardwalk.

Start planning your February adventures now! 🚗💨

News & Notes

A potential bird flu outbreak has led to the closure of three parks in Allentown, New Jersey, following the deaths of approximately 25 geese. Sensi Park, Heritage Park, and Dr. Farmer's Park are currently off-limits due to concerns about cross-contamination. While bird flu can affect humans, it's rare. However, it's important to exercise caution:

1. Avoid contact with bird droppings

2. Stay away from affected water bodies

3. Do not touch or handle dead birds

The parks will remain closed until test results confirm the cause of the geese deaths and appropriate safety measures are determined. Seniors are advised to check with their local health departments for any similar situations in their towns and follow any guidelines or precautions provided.

Attention crafters: JOANN Fabrics is closing six New Jersey stores as part of a nationwide restructuring. The affected locations include: Deptford, Lawrenceville, Mays Landing, Mount Laurel, Succasunna and Toms River.

Good news: Five New Jersey JOANN stores will remain open, including locations in Cherry Hill, Colonia, Paramus, Riverdale, and Shrewsbury.

The company is navigating its second bankruptcy filing in a year, citing inventory challenges. While this may disrupt your crafting routine, you can still visit nearby stores or continue shopping online at JOANN.com.

Pro Tip for Seniors: Call ahead to confirm your local store's status and check online for continued craft supply availability.

Other news

Egg prices have reached a record high in the U.S. The consumer price index released on Wednesday confirmed what consumers, bakers and food companies already knew: an ongoing bird flu outbreak that began in 2022 are making eggs terribly expensive right now. The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set in January 2023. Of course, that is only the nationwide average. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places. And specialized varieties, such as organic and cage-free eggs, are even more expensive.

Paul McCartney has staged a surprise performance before a small crowd in New York. His previous show in the area took place at MetLife Stadium, capacity 82,500. Tuesday's surprise appearance at the Bowery Ballroom was in front of, at most, 575. McCartney announced the show just hours before taking the stage. The news swept through Manhattan and beyond, sending New Yorkers racing to the Bowery for a chance to snag a ticket. If the location was stripped down, the former Beatle didn’t put on a minimized show. Rather, he put on a blistering tour through his entire catalog, from Beatles classics to Wings hits.

Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast and Phish are some the 2025 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It's a list that also includes two sets of musical brothers who have had public feuds and recent reunions — the Black Crowes and Oasis. The Hall revealed the list of 14 performer nominees Wednesday, including Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, Soundgarden and the White Stripes. The 2025 Inductees will be revealed in late April. Nominees will be voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.

Looking for love? Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms is urging users to stay vigilant about “romance scams,” warning of unsolicited messages through its apps and other social media platforms, as well as general text messages. Scammers tend to pose as “attractive, single and successful individuals,” Meta says. They build trust over a period of time before asking their targets for money.

Kilauea volcano is shooting lava into the air once again in Hawaii. Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It has been erupting on and off for nearly two months since it burst to life on Dec. 23. The eruption has been taking place at the volcano’s summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No residential areas have been threatened by lava. The latest release of molten rock began at 10:16 a.m. with lava flowing on to the floor of Halemaumau Crater. A half-hour later, a vent shot lava about 330 feet or 100 meters high. Maybe it’s time to rethink those vacation plans?

🗑️ Shred It & Forget It! Monmouth County’s 2025 Paper Shredding Events 📄

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is excited to offer 16 free paper shredding events in 2025, providing residents with a secure way to dispose of old documents and protect against identity theft.

🗣️ “These free events help residents clear out clutter and safely dispose of sensitive paperwork,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “We’re grateful to our municipal partners for making this valuable service available.”

📅 2025 Shredding Event Schedule:

🕘 9 AM – 1 PM (except July 14, 4 PM – 8 PM)
📍 Locations:
✅ March 22: Atlantic Highlands – Municipal Harbor Parking Lot
✅ April 5: Oceanport – Borough Hall, 910 Oceanport Way (Fort Monmouth)
✅ April 26: Freehold Borough – Freehold Raceway, 130 Park Ave.
✅ May 10: Union Beach – DPW/Recycling Yard, 1400 Florence Ave.
✅ May 31: Millstone Township – Millstone Park, 4 Red Valley Road
✅ June 14: Tinton Falls – Borough Hall, 556 Tinton Ave.
✅ June 28: Marlboro – Marlboro Middle School, 355 Route 520
✅ July 14 (4-8 PM): Howell – Memorial/Adelphia School, 485 Adelphia Road
✅ Aug. 9: Eatontown – Borough Hall Parking Lot, 47 Broad St.
✅ Aug. 23: Matawan – Matawan-Aberdeen Train Station, Lot No. 1
✅ Sept. 6: Asbury Park – City Hall, 1 Municipal Plaza (Main St.)
✅ Sept. 20: Colts Neck – Town Hall Parking Lot, 3 Veterans Way
✅ Oct. 4: Neptune City – Adams Field Park, 2 Westend Ave.
✅ Oct. 18: Red Bank – Red Bank Middle School, 101 Harding Road
✅ Nov. 1: Allenhurst – Beach Club, end of Corlies Ave. near Ocean Ave.
✅ Nov. 15: Middletown – Middletown High School North, 63 Tindall Road

📌 Event Guidelines:

✔️ Residents can shred up to 100 lbs. (about 4 office boxes or large trash bags).
✔️ All shredding is on-site in mobile trucks until trucks are full or the event ends.
✔️ Staples & paper clips are OK, but large binder clips must be removed.

📲 For more details, visit: www.visitmonmouth.com or call 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.

♻️ Declutter safely & protect your personal info – see you there! 🚛

📸 Vote Now! Help Pick the 2025 County Travel Guide Cover! 🗺️

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is inviting YOU to help choose the cover photo for the 2025 County Travel Guide! 🏖️🏞️

🗳️ Voting is open now through Saturday, March 1 at MonmouthCountyTourism.com – don’t miss your chance to have a say!

🎉 What’s at stake?
🏆 The winning photo will grace the cover of the Travel Guide & feature a photographer spotlight!
📸 Runners-up will also be featured inside the guide.

🚀 Cast your vote today at MonmouthCountyTourism.com and help us showcase the best of Monmouth County!

Here are the photos you can vote for:

Pretty awesome photos, right? 📸✨

💘 NJ Valentine's & Presidents' Weekend Events Guide 💘

Romantic Highlights:

• Feb 12-14: Princeton Garden Theatre Valentine's Celebration

• Feb 14: "A Bronx Tale" One Man Show (West Long Branch)

• Feb 15: Love in Bloom at Colonial Nursery (Lincroft)

• Feb 15: Old-Fashioned Valentine's Day On The Farm (Lambertville)

Family & Fun Events:

• Feb 13-16: NJ Boat Expo (Edison)

• Feb 14-16: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" at Kelsey Theatre

• Feb 15-16: Cape May President's Weekend

• Feb 15-16: Maple Sugaring at Environmental Education Center

Music & Entertainment:

• Feb 15: We May Be Right (Billy Joel Tribute at Drew University)

• Feb 16: The Duprees and Who's Johnny at Drew University

Unique Experiences:

• Feb 15: Mike's Seafood Run/Walk for Autism (Sea Isle City)

• Feb 15: Maple Sugaring at the Hermitage (Ho-Ho-Kus)

❤️ Something for everyone this Valentine's and Presidents' Weekend!

Caregiver’s lift 🌈🌈

"Caring for others is the highest form of love." ❤️🤲

Today’s birthdays

Happy Birthday, John D. of Red Bank! 🎈 Wishing you a day filled with laughter, love, and lots of cake! 🎂

A few other notable people sharing a birthday today with John include: Businessman and Politician Michael Bloomberg, 83; Journalist Carl Bernstein, 81; Magician Teller (Penn and Teller) 77, and Singer Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) 53.

Thanks for reading!

📸 A big THANK YOU to the talented photographers who submitted their stunning shots for the Monmouth County Travel Guide cover contest! 🎉 Your photos have us dreaming of sunny days and summer adventures! ☀️🏖️ Who else is feeling inspired? 😍

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☺️See you next week!