NJ now has Veterans Service Offices in all 21 counties

It's Tuesday, New Jersey!

It’s also Primary Day in the Garden State. Check out a comprehensive look by NJ Spotlight News at the primary races for one New Jersey seat in the U.S. Senate and all 12 House seats.

🌞Weather: Mostly sunny, high 80.

👀What's on tap today:

• Veterans service office opens in Union County

• The 12 best superfoods for older adults

• Tour historic sites this week

Up first...

Veterans Service Offices now in all 21 NJ counties

With the grand opening of the Union County Veterans Service Office, Governor Phil Murphy on Monday announced that all New Jersey veterans and their families now have in-county access to a dedicated Veterans Service Office (VSO), which provide life-changing services through the state and federal government. This opening marks the fulfillment of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2024 promise to expand the state’s VSOs into all 21 counties. The announcement was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA).

“New Jerseyans who have answered the call to serve deserve our utmost respect and support. By expanding the footprint of our Veterans Service Offices to every New Jersey county, we are ensuring veterans and their families have easy access to the state and federal benefits they have earned,” said Gov. Murphy. “Effective today, New Jersey heroes from Sussex to Cape May Counties can visit their local Veterans Service Office to receive critical access to a wide range of services. It is an honor to make these resources and supports more readily accessible for our veterans.”

“New Jersey is investing more, doing more, and achieving more in the area of state-delivered veterans benefits, programs, and services,” said Maj. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and The Adjutant General of New Jersey. “The opening of the State of New Jersey Union County Veterans Service Office completes Governor Murphy’s initiative to establish a point of entry for service members, Veterans, and their families in each of the Garden State’s 21 counties. Expanding access is the cornerstone of our efforts to connect those who have worn the uniform with the benefits that they have earned through their service to the United States.”

Bald eagle and osprey may be removed from NJ’s endangered species list

The Murphy Administration is proposing to remove the bald eagle and osprey from the state’s list of endangered species, reflecting decades of work to restore these iconic birds to New Jersey’s landscape, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced today.

The proposed de-listing is contained within a Department of Environmental Protection rule proposal published today in the New Jersey Register and is based on a finding that populations of these birds have recovered to the point where the survival of these species in the state is no longer in jeopardy. Learn more

Healthy Aging

• The 12 Best Superfoods for Older Adults: Discover a list of the healthiest foods that are nutrient dense for older adults to boost health, prevent chronic diseases and increase longevity. U.S. News & World Report

• 8 Things To Know About Medicare's Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) Surcharges: Here's what you need to know about who gets charged and why, as well as when the fees can be waived. Kiplinger

• Older Adults Victimized by a Record Number of Scams: FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center data shows people over age 60 may have lost as much as $3.4 billion to fraudsters. Next Avenue

• Hit the Road with a Travel Companion for Hire: People are hiring personal assistants to accompany them on vacations and make sure things run smoothly. Next Avenue

'Down the Shore' this week

• June 1 – 23 – Cape May Music Festival (Cape May, Cape May County)

• June 2 – 9 – Cape May Restaurant Week (Cape May, Cape May County)

• June 5 – 9 – Lighthouse International Film Festival (LBI, Ocean County)

Step back in time

Tour historic sites this week and explore the rich heritage of Monmouth County!

Historic Portland Place Guided Tours 
Saturday & Sunday, June 8 & 9 at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Historic Portland Place - Hartshorne Woods Park, Locust
Tour this beautifully restored 18th century house with exhibits that help tell the story of the region's history and the Hartshorne family legacy in Monmouth County. Tours are limited to 10 persons and may be suspended during inclement weather; visitors must register at the site's Visitor Center the day of the tour. FREE!

Historic Battery Lewis Tours
Saturday & Sunday, June 8 & 9 at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands
Tour the restored Historic Battery Lewis in the Rocky Point section of the park, and learn about the history of this important former coastal defense site. FREE!

Milling Demonstrations
Saturday & Sunday, June 8 & 9 at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
See the 19th century gristmill grind corn into meal. Each demonstration lasts approximately 15 minutes. FREE!

Seabrook-Wilson House
Open Sunday, June 9 from 1-4 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Visit this house which dates back to the early 1700s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and see displays on the ecology of the bay and local history. FREE!

Today in history

• 1783: The Montgolfier Brothers Launch the First Hot Air Balloon:The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Jacques, were French inventors. On June 4, 1783, they launched the first hot air balloon in a public demonstration in Annonay, France. The balloon carried a sheep, a duck, and a rooster aloft for about 12 minutes.

• 1942: Battle of Midway Begins: This marked a turning point in World War II. The U.S. Navy achieved a decisive victory against Japan in the Pacific, hindering their naval power.

• 1919: The First Pulitzer Prizes Awarded: The Pulitzer Prizes are some of the most prestigious awards in journalism and literature. They were established by Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper magnate. The first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded on June 4, 1919, in 12 categories.

Today's birthdays

🥳Happy 83rd birthday today to Lisa Redding of Montclair. Wishing you a day filled with joy, laughter, and cake!🎂

A few other famous people sharing a birthday today with Lisa include actors Angelina Jolie, 49; Bruce Dern, 68; Keith David, 68, and Scott Wolf, 56.

Thought for today

"The best is yet to be." - Robert Browning (poet)

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