NJ Transit rates are going up

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Better With Age
New Jersey
Friday, April 12, 2024

Good morning, New Jersey!

😬Hang on to your wallet: NJ Transit has just voted to raise bus and train fares by 15 percent come July 1. If you are 62 or older, now might be a good time to apply for NJ Transit’s 50 percent reduced fare program for seniors. Learn more here.

👀What’s on tap today:

• Medicare to cover Wegovy when patients also have heart disease

• Monmouth and Ocean counties list dates for free document shredding events

• The burden of getting medical care can exhuast older patients

Up first…

Out & About
Spring festivals are blooming across New Jersey

Festivals are springing up throughout New Jersey. Whether you’re into filmmaking or fishing, flying kites or blooming cherry trees, these celebrations are sure to please. Here are a few spring festivals you may want to add to your calendar.

Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival (Branch Brook Park, April 6 – 14, 2024)

Spring over to see more than 5,200 cherry trees in bloom (more than Washington D.C. or any other park in the U.S.) Take your pick of events — bike races, 10k run, Japanese demos, 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, live music and more.

Exit Zero Spring Jazz Festival (Cape May Convention Hall, April 19 – 21, 2024)

Get jazzed up for this 3-day fest featuring hundreds of musicians and international touring artists performing on stage in Convention Hall. The music continues with live evening performances in bars and restaurants of Cape May. Get tickets here. Tune into great shopping too, with the unique boutiques at the every-popular Washington Street Mall.

 Shadfest in Lambertville (April 20 - 21, 2024)

Fishing around for something cool to do? Celebrate the return of the shad swimming up the Delaware River. Your family will love this rain-or-shine annual event with plenty of good food, live music, vendors and more. Plus, Lambertville is the “Antique Capital of New Jersey,” so you can reel in some treasures at the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market too.

Haddonfield Music Festival (Downtown Haddonfield, (April 27, 2024)

Experience all the excitement of Haddonfield’s first-ever FREE music festival showcasing live, original music by popular headliners as well as amazing performances from up-and-coming locally-based talent. This thrilling multi-stage event will be music to your ears!

NJ Wine & Food Festival (Crystal Springs Resort, May 3 – 5, 2024)

Food and wine connoisseurs alike meet and mingle with the world’s finest chefs and winemakers at this event, as well as sample some of the best food and wine around. More details and ticket information here. And for more award-winning wines plucked from Jersey vines, raise a glass in our 50+ wineries.

4th Annual Down & Derby Wine Festival (Cooper River Park, Pennsauken, May 4, 2024)

Want to sample delicious wines from South Jersey’s leading wine producers and immerse yourself in Derby-themed fashions and festivities? This is the event for you! Wear your best Derby-esque attire and raise a glass to a day filled with music, games, food and, of course, wine!

New Jersey Seafood Festival (Belmar, May 17 - 19, 2024)

Stop by and “sea” why so many people love this event. Enjoy scallops, lobster rolls, coconut shrimp, fresh salads and all your favorite seafood specialties. Local artisans and market vendors too. Fall in love with Jersey’s beautiful beach towns including family-friendly Belmar here.

Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival (Bradley Park, May 18 – 19, 2024)

See what’s sprouting up at this tasty two-day celebration. Discover plenty of delicious vegan and plant-based meals from local chefs, vegan products, plant-based fashion, live music and more. Get tickets and merch here. More must-sees in Asbury Park: legendary destinations like The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar and the vibrant Asbury Park boardwalk.

New Jersey Renaissance Faire (Burlington County Fairgrounds, May 18 – June 9, 2024)

Be transported back in time to the days of 16th-century kings and queens, knights, live jousting and song. This magical event spans four weekends filled with pure entertainment, enchantment and adventure. Plenty of merchants and food too. Ticket info can be found here.

Wildwoods International Kite Festival (Beach at Rio Grande Ave., May 24 – 27, 2024)

Meet on the beach at Rio Grand Avenue to see excitement soar during this 4-day kite-flying extravaganza. This high-flying annual event is sure to be a hit with everyone and every age — singles, couples, parents, kids, you name it! And no trip to Wildwood would be complete without exploring the world-famous boardwalk and a stop at Morey’s Piers and Water Parks.

New Jersey

News & Notes

1. The board of directors for New Jersey Transit has given the green light to a 15% fare hike for both bus and train passengers, marking the first increase in nearly a decade. Set to come into effect on July 1st, the decision aims to address a budget shortfall exceeding $100 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials from the agency highlighted that this adjustment is crucial to maintain financial stability and ensure operational continuity. Additionally, the plan includes provisions for annual fare increments of 3% in the following years. NJ Transit emphasized its efforts to mitigate the deficit by implementing $44 million in cost-saving measures and generating an extra $52 million in revenue. Importantly, there are no planned reductions in service levels as part of this strategy.

2. Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who narrowly missed clinching victory against Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, has kicked off his third consecutive campaign for New Jersey's highest office. Ciattarelli officially announced his candidacy on Tuesday evening in Freehold, vowing to tackle the state's persistent issue of high taxes. This move didn't come as a surprise; upon conceding to Murphy in the last election, he had already indicated his intention to run again in 2025. He enters the Republican primary alongside former legislative colleague, state Sen. Jon Bramnick. New Jersey, following a pattern similar to Virginia, conducts gubernatorial elections in odd years, occurring after each presidential race. With Murphy stepping down from office due to term limits after serving eight years, the gubernatorial race is set to be wide open. On the Democratic side, contenders include Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who has expressed interest in running.

3. Monmouth County will be hosting paper shredding events at locations throughout the county so residents can dispose of their old documents and confidential files safely. Ocean County is also running a similar program.

4. If you've bought weighted groceries or bagged fruit at Walmart in recent years, you might qualify for a cash refund as part of a class action settlement with the retail giant. The lawsuit, initially filed in October 2022, claims that Walmart customers nationwide, including those in Puerto Rico, who purchased specific meat and seafood items sold by weight, as well as certain bulk bags of citrus, were charged more than the lowest advertised price in stores. While Walmart has refuted any wrongdoing, it has agreed to settle the case for $45 million. This means affected consumers now have the opportunity to file claims for monetary compensation. Consumers can learn more about submitting a claim and the products that are covered on the settlement administrator’s website. Cash payments are available for anyone who purchased these certain weighted meat, seafood and bagged citrus products — which includes select oranges, grapefruit and tangerines — at Walmart in the U.S. and Puerto Rico between October 19, 2018 and January 19, 2024.

Senior News

Your daily link to older adult news & information curated from credible newspaper and magazine publications, and electronic news media outlets nationwide.

Health news

Most Folks with Heart Disease Consume Too Much Salt: Cutting back on sodium is crucial to treating heart disease, but most heart patients aren't able to limit their salt intake. HealthDay News

Medicare news

Medicare to Cover Wegovy When Patients Also Have Heart Disease: The move comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved drugmaker Novo Nordisk’s application to add cardiovascular benefits to the medicine’s label earlier this month. HealthDay News

Social security

When Should You Start Social Security Benefits? It Depends: The answers to these five questions can help you determine when it’s a good time to file for Social Security. The timing is different for everyone. Kiplinger

Tech news

Create a Digital Will or Control What Meta Shares with Savvy Tech Tips: Death is never fun to talk about, but it’s a reality. What you choose to do now can really help out your loved ones in the future. USA Today

Today’s Deep Dive

The Burden of Getting Medical Care Can Exhaust Older Patients: It’s estimated that an older patient can spend three weeks of the year getting care — and that doesn’t count the time it takes to arrange appointments or deal with insurance companies. KFF Health News

Quote of the day

"Age is an opportunity to live, love, and learn without fear." - Maya Angelou 😊

Today’s birthdays

Celebrating his 95th birthday today is Hal M. of Bloomfield. May your special day be as wonderful and cherished as you are, Hal! 🎁💖

Sharing the spotlight today alongside Hal are a few other notable figures like Ethel Kennedy, 96, actor Joel Grey, 92, and Pultizer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman, 83. But let's be real, folks, today is all about Hal! Cue the birthday extravaganza!" 🎈🥳🎂

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Events this weekend

Ocean City Doo Dah Parade
April 13, 12 pm – 2 pm
The Doo Dah Parade Welcome in the Spring season with this comedy parade complete with over 300 basset hounds. It begins at noon on Asbury Ave. from 6th Street to 12th Street and then up to the Boardwalk ending at 6th & Boardwalk.
Ocean City, NJ
Cost: Free to attend

AC Beer and Music Festival
April 13 & 14
This sring festival returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th, featuring three lively sessions. You’ll get to savor brews from 100 craft breweries and enjoy live music from Hot Mulligan, Saves the Day, and Goldfinger. Plus savor delicious food, explore cool vendors.
Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd , Atlantic City, NJ
Cost: $85

West Orange Restaurant Week
April 13 – 21
West Orange Restaurant Week 2024, running from April 13 to 21, invites everyone to savor the flavors of the town’s diverse and unique restaurants. The event features special menus and offers, encouraging patrons to support their favorite establishments and explore new culinary delights. Whether diners prefer waterfront views, a backdrop of the NYC skyline, or a cozy table, West Orange offers award-winning restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. For those on the go, local food influencers and cafes offer quick, sweet, or savory bites to enjoy during the week-long celebration.
West Orange, NJ

Ewing Twp Restaurant Week
April 13 – 21
Join Ewing for its third annual Restaurant Week, a celebration of the town’s local eateries! Discover the culinary delights that Ewing, New Jersey has to offer. Whether you’re planning a family night out or a special evening for two, dining in or opting for take-out, Ewing has something for everyone. Take advantage of special Restaurant Week offers to try new and different cuisines, expand your list of favorite restaurants, and quickly find new favorites. It’s a win-win opportunity to indulge in the diverse dining scene of Ewing!
Ewing Twp, NJ

Daffodil Day at Reeved Reed Arboretum
April 14, 11 am – 3 pm
Daffodil Day is a decades-old tradition in Summit, when visitors to the Arboretum have an opportunity to enjoy one of the largest daffodil collections in New Jersey – over 50,000 bulbs in bloom in the Arboretum’s glacially carved Daffodil Bowl. The day’s activities include Spring-themed games and crafts, a story trail, music, food, market vendors, their current art exhibit, and The Green Goats.
165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ
Cost: $10

Bloomfest
April 14, 11 am – 5 pm
Enjoy a family day in New Jersey’s pinkest park! A packed schedule of events includes Japanese cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, food and more!
Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Mill Street Entrance, Belleville + Prudential Concert Grove, Clifton Avenue Entrance, Newark, NJ

Art In Bloom: A Fine Arts Festival
April 14, 11 am – 4 pm
A brand new festival in historic downtown Clinton: Art in Bloom! A town-wide Fine Arts & Crafts festival where artists and local artisans will showcase and sell their works among the charming local shops and eateries that line the beautiful downtown.
43 Leigh Street, Clinton, NJ
Cost: Free

Red Bank Street Fair
April 14, 11 am – 5 pm
Visit downtown Red Bank for the annual spring Street Fair and enjoy a day filled with crafters, food vendors and tons of shopping! Plus this a great day to explore the downtown and check out some new shops – and some of your favorites! Vendors will be setup along Monmouth Street and part of Broad Street (roads will be closed to vehicle traffic).
Downtown Red Bank, NJ

Latin Food Fest
April 14, 12 pm – 7 pm
Embark on a Latin culinary adventure at the Food Fest Fiesta on April 14th at Garden State Plaza’s Nordstrom’s Lot. From noon to 7p, attendees can enjoy authentic street-style tacos, sizzling fajitas, mouthwatering arepas, empanadas, and a variety of Latin American desserts. Live Latin music and dance performances, family-friendly activities, culinary demonstrations by renowned chefs, and food contests with exciting prizes will keep the festive vibes alive. Admission is $6 (5 and under free), with the option to purchase a FASTPASS online for savings and quicker entry.
Garden State Plaza Mall, Paramus NJ
Cost: $6 Children 5 and younger are free

Annual Morristown Restaurant Week
April 15 – 19
The most delicious week of the year! Over 40 restaurants offering prix fixe menus and special promotions join us each year for a week in April to offer a variety of dining options for families, date nights, business occasions and more. In addition to special menus and dining deals, Morristown Restaurant Week boasts special events at many of its restaurants including wine pairings, tasting menus and special entertainment.
Morristown, NJ
Cost: Varies Per Restaurant

Take the grandkids

Scoop on Sloths
April 12 at 5:30 PM
Meet Wally, the two-toed sloth, and learn more about sloths and why they do what they do. Before the program, enjoy a fun after-hours aquarium visit.
Cost: $30 for adults and $20 for children
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, 300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach