Grandmas are choosing creative names

It’s Tuesday, New Jersey!

🌤️Weather: Mostly sunny, showers possible late in the day, high 75.

👀What's on tap today:

• Grandmothers opting for creative names

• Medicare Basics: 11 things you need to know

• Plenty of events this weekend, including the NJ Seafood Festival in Belmar

Up first...

Around the web

Grandmothers go for creative and cultural names: While "Grandma" still reigns supreme in many families, other names are becoming more mainstream, according to a BabyCenter poll conducted for Axios.

How You Can Tackle Health Care Costs in Retirement: Doctor visits and medications are only part of the challenge of health care costs — there’s also long-term care planning. Here’s what you can do. Kiplinger

Gene Discovery Points to a New Form of Alzheimer's: People who carry two copies of the gene mutation most strongly implicated in Alzheimer’s disease are almost certain to develop brain changes related to the degenerative disorder. HealthDay News

Medicare Basics: 11 Things You Need to Know: Medicare basics include Parts A, B and D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and more. We sort out the confusion. Kiplinger

10 Best Places to Retire in Canada: With its natural beauty, low population density and high-quality health care, Canada makes an attractive home for retirees. And while Canadian winters are known to be quite cold, there are plenty of coastal regions with surprisingly mild weather for seniors. U.S. News & World Report

Latest Social Security COLA Forecast a Setback for Retirees: Social Security COLA forecast adjusted to 2.6% in 2025. That's bad news for retirees juggling inflation. Kiplinger

Monmouth County Library virtual event

Click here for details and to register.

25th NJ Seafood Festival this weekend

The 25th Annual NJ Seafood Festival returns to Silver Lake Park in Belmar May 19-21, 2024. It's a vibrant celebration that brings together seafood enthusiasts and local communities for a weekend of culinary delights and lively entertainment. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Jersey Shore, this festival showcases the state’s rich maritime heritage and its bountiful seafood offerings. Attendees can indulge in an array of delectable dishes featuring fresh catches from the Atlantic Ocean, prepared by skilled chefs and local vendors. In addition to food, visitors can enjoy live music, family-friendly activities and explore artisanal crafts and products from local vendors. Festival hours are Friday, May 19, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, May 20, 12-8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 21, 12-6 p.m. Learn more here.

Other events in NJ this weekend

May 16 – Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories LIVE featuring The Chapin Family (New Brunswick, Middlesex County)
May 16 – 19 – 50th Annual Greek Festival (Paramus, Bergen County)
May 16 – 19 – New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Spring Festival (Cape May, Cape May County)
May 18 – Bergen Philharmonic and the “Rach” Star (Paramus, Bergen County)
May 18 – Steel Mill Street Fair (Florence, Burlington County)
May 18 – Steel Pan Concert (Allentown, Monmouth County)
May 18 – Brew by the Bay (Highlands, Monmouth County)
May 18 – Maple Shade Beer Fest (Maple Shade, Burlington County)
May 18 – Keansburg Food Truck Festival (Keansburg, Monmouth County)
May 18 – Lake Hopatcong Block Party (Lake Hopatcong, Morris County)
May 18 – Greetings From the Garden State Presents Jersey Fest (Jersey City, Hudson County)
May 18 – Rhythm & Brews (Haddon Twp, Camden County)
May 18 & 19 – Rose Squared Art Show Verona Park (Verona, Essex County)
May 18 & 19 – Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival (Asbury Park, Monmouth County)
May 18 & 19 – The New Jersey Renaissance Faire (Columbus, Burlington County)
May 18 & 19 – World Food Extravaganza (West Windsor, Mercer County)
May 18 & 19 – May Fest (Smithville, Atlantic County)
May 19 – Denville Garlic Festival (Denville, Morris County)
May 19 – Historic District House Tour (Morristown, Morris County)
May 19 – Murder Mystery Tour at Four Sisters Winery (Belvidere, Warren County)
May 19 – Ocean Fun Days (Sandy Hook, Monmouth County)
May 19 – Cranford Street Fest (Cranford, Union County)
May 19 – Kenilworth Street Fair with Classic Cars (Kenilworth, Union County)
May 19 – Bark & Brew Brunch (Denville, Morris County)
May 19 – Walnford Day (Uppper Freehold, Monmouth County)
May 19 – Freehold Porch Festival (Freehold, Monmouth County)

NJ News Briefs

• Police in the Essex County town of South Orange warned residents about a black bear that was reported wandering through neighborhoods on Monday, prompting school officials in nearby districts to cancel outdoor activities as a precaution. NJ 101.5

• N.J. quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

• NJ Sen. Bob Menendez’s curruption trial begins. NJ Monitor

Today in History

• 1607: English colonists arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, establishing the first permanent English settlement in North America.

• 1796: English physician Edward Jenner administered the first successful smallpox vaccination to 8-year-old James Phipps, leading to the eventual eradication of the disease.

• 1940: The Netherlands surrendered to German forces during World War II, following the invasion and bombing of Rotterdam.

• 1973: The United States' Skylab, the country's first space station, was launched into orbit atop a Saturn V rocket.

• 1998: The final episode of the iconic television sitcom "Seinfeld" aired, bringing an end to its nine-season run.

• 2004: The marriage of Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was celebrated, marking a significant event in Spain's royal history.

Thought for Today

Today's Birthdays

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday today to Scott Harrison of Monroe! 🎂🎉 Wishing you a day filled with joy, laughter, and all the things that make you smile! Enjoy every moment to the fullest! 🥳✨ Other notable people sharing a birthday today with Scott include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 40; actress Cate Blanchett, 55; filmmaker George Lucas,, 80; actor Tim Roth, 63, and musician David Byrne, 72.

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