Holiday display opens at Drumthwacket

It’s Wednesday, New Jersey!

It’s also the first day of “The Holidays at Drumthwacket,” a longstanding tradition of open house tours at the Governor’s official residence in Princeton. This year, the Drumthwacket Foundation, in partnership with seven garden clubs from across the state, has decorated each room using fresh arrangements and greenery to complement the architecture and decor of the historical property. 

“It is our joy and privilege to welcome thousands of New Jerseyans to Drumthwacket all year, and especially during the holiday season. This beautiful property, appropriately known as the People's House, is a historical and cultural treasure that becomes even more remarkable at this time of year. I am incredibly grateful for the festive decorations created by seven garden clubs across our state in partnership with the Drumthwacket Foundation,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Over the coming month, I look forward to welcoming many New Jersey families to visit and enjoy the holidays with us here at Drumthwacket.”

The tours are self-guided, but there will be several docents to answer questions and provide historical information about the property. The open house tours will be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday, December 4, 2024

• Thursday, December 5, 2024

• Friday, December 6, 2024 

• Saturday, December 7, 2024

• Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Reservations are required; admission and on-site parking are free of charge. To make tour arrangements, visit December Holiday Open Houses - Drumthwacket, the Official Residence of the Governor of New Jersey.

To see what the exhibit is like, watch this video of the annual display from 2021.

Aging News Roundup

Most Americans Expect to Die with Debt. Who Inherits It? Two of the toughest topics to discuss with loved ones are death and money. Most Americans don’t know which debts they inherit and which they don’t. Money, Nov. 21.

 Early Retirement Comes as a Surprise for Many Workers. Here’s How to Manage That Financial Shock: Retiring early is the dream for many workers. Yet many people find themselves forced to call it quits because of health, career or family circumstances. CNBC, Nov. 27.

Irregular Sleep Patterns May Raise Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research. CNN, Nov. 28.

Here’s what’s cooking at the library

Join Chef Rob this month for the Virtual Holiday Recipe Series! Learn tips and tricks from a seasoned professional! These renditions are short and savory, or sweet! These are virtual cooking and baking sessions available to view via the Monmouth County Library's website. Recipes available here, videos are linked below:

• December 7 -  Chocolate Dipped Winter Butter Cookies

• December 14 - Baked Ravioli with a Spinach and Artichoke Sauce

• December 21 - Spiced Eggnog Cookies with a Rum Eggnog Frosting

• December 28 - Penne alla Vodka and Shrimp

No registration required. Watch via the library website.

Senior Living Spotlight

Thinking about buying or selling? Here’s a list of 10 homes for sale this week in 55-and-over adult communities in Monmouth County.

1. 58 Village Ct #13, Freehold 

- Price: $369,999 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,454 sq. ft

2. 160 Rue De St Germaine UNIT A, Freehold 

- Price: $324,999 | 2 Beds | 1 Bath | 1,262 sq. ft

3. 12 Jaffreyton Close UNIT 1000, Freehold 

- Price: $354,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,180 sq. ft.

4. 110 Henley Court UNIT E, Howell 

- Price: $348,000 | 2 Beds | 1 Bath | 1,088 sq. ft.

5. 19 Plaza Del Campillo UNIT A, Freehold 

- Price: $339,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,064 sq. ft.

6. 12 Appian Court, Freehold 

- Price: $725,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 2,062 sq. ft.

7. 28 Edgeware Close UNIT 1000, Freehold 

- Price: $389,900 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,144 sq. ft.

8. 48 Legacy Court, Freehold 

- Price: $749,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,943 sq. ft.

9. 139 Wein Market UNIT F, Freehold 

- Price: $329,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,044 sq. ft.

10. 55 Datchet Close, Freehold 

- Price: $415,000 | 2 Beds | 2 Baths, 1,180 sq. ft.

For more details or additional listings, local real estate websites can provide further information.

Commissioners offer shopping tips ahead of the 2024 holiday season

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is reminding residents to protect their personal information while purchasing gifts this holiday season. “According to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. residents lost over $10 billion to scams in 2023,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “While the holiday season is a joyful time of year, scammers and criminals see it as an opportunity to steal your personal information for nefarious use.”

When shopping, consider the following tips to help protect yourself from scams:

· In stores, make sure the scanned prices for your purchases are correct. Overcharges cost time and money, especially when they are not noticed immediately.

· Before buying anything based on an online review, search for information from a trusted source. Browsing the internet for different prices may help keep you on budget.

· If you use your smartphone or computer to shop for deals, be weary of unexpected emails, texts, or notifications that may flood your device. Fraudulent websites will advertise to consumers claiming bargains on a variety of brand names.

· Save your receipts. When shopping online, keep copies of order numbers, refund policies, shipping costs and warranties.

· Be mindful of warranties. Even though it is not required by law, warranties come with the majority of major purchases.

· Have packages delivered to a secure location or when someone is home. If no one is home, have packages delivered to work or ask a neighbor if they can watch for the delivery.

Monmouth County residents can contact the County’s Division of Consumer Affairs, which helps protect and serve the public through educational programs and outreach in an effort to prevent consumer fraud and illicit business practices.

“The staff at the Division of Consumer Affairs is always prepared to assist those who believe they have been the victim of fraud or an unfair business practice,” said Commissioner Erik Anderson, liaison to the Monmouth County Division of Consumer Affairs. “The Division also provides educational programs to help combat fraud and prevent problems before they occur. If you would like to arrange for one of our speakers to provide a free program to your group, contact them by calling 732-431-7902.”

Information about consumer affairs programs, complaint histories of businesses and lemon law booklets can be found on the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com, or requested by calling 732-431-7900 or by emailing [email protected].

Today in history

1. 1965: The Gemini 7 space mission was launched with astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell aboard. They spent nearly 14 days in space, completing 206 orbits of Earth.

2. 1980: The iconic British rock band Led Zeppelin announced their disbandment following the death of their drummer, John Bonham, two months earlier.

3. 1991: Pan American World Airways, once one of the largest and most prestigious airlines in the world, officially ceased operations after more than 60 years in service.

4. 1978: Following the assassination of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein was appointed as San Francisco's first female mayor, breaking gender barriers in a significant political role.

5. 2018: The French luxury fashion house Chanel announced it would no longer use fur or exotic skins in its products, aligning with growing ethical concerns and trends in the fashion industry.

Today’s birthdays

🥳Happy 79th Birthday, Eileen Dougherty of Manalapan! 🎉🎂 Wishing you a fabulous day filled with joy and laughter! 🥳💖A few other notable people sharing a birthday today with Eileen are rapper Jay-Z, 54; model and TV personality Tyra Banks, 50; actor Jeff Bridges, 74 and actress Marisa Tomei, 59.

Quote for today

"Always maintain a joyful mind. Appreciate the struggles as opportunities to wake up."

Actor Jeff Bridges

🙏Thanks for reading!

🎄A special shout-out today goes to the New Jersey garden clubs for their beautiful annual holiday display at Drumthwacket, which brings joy and festive spirit to hundreds of gardening enthusiasts and residents alike during the holidays.

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😊See you next week!