3+ week, 4+ day ago (347+ words) TRENTON " New Jersey voters are casting ballots today in one of the nation's only two gubernatorial races this year. The expected-to-close contest between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli that could signal whether the Garden State is shifting politically after nearly a decade of Democratic control. Polls remain open until 8 p.m., after which results will begin to roll in. This story will be updated throughout the night as returns come in from across the state. We already have a preview of early-voting results below. Voting got off to a tense start after bomb threats forced relocations at polling sites in seven counties " including Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic. Authorities say all threats were determined to be hoaxes, but the incidents caused confusion and brief delays in some districts. "We will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with…...

2+ day, 11+ hour ago (227+ words) As the holiday season returns, we're once again inviting you to help Light Up New Jersey with the biggest and brightest display of outdoor holiday lights the Garden State has ever seen. Whether you're decorating a home or a business, this is your moment to share joy, hope, and cheer with your entire community. The tradition continues: one lucky participant will take home a $500 cash prize! Thanks to our sponsor, Danley 911Electrical " Top-rated, fully licensed and insured electricians inCentral Jersey since 1921, with expert solutions servicing all brands. As entries roll in, our contest page will showcase the season's most dazzling displays in a live gallery for everyone to enjoy. All eligible submissions will be entered into a random drawing, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 23, 2025 " just in time to make someone's holiday a little brighter. This is your year…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (406+ words) What Makes a Craft Brewery Beloved? Is it the beer itself, the vibe, or the people behind the taps? That's one of my favorite topics " and one we dove into this week on The Judi & EJ Show. I told Judi and Kyle that one of my wife's and my favorite hobbies is visiting different craft breweries around New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware" and grabbing a flight (or two). This past weekend, we stopped by Oyster Creek Brewing Company on Route 9 in Waretown. It was our first visit " and the beer did not disappoint. Being an IPA guy, let me recommend the CRITICALMass New England IPA and the May the 4th IPA. They also had a smooth vanilla porter and a bold 13% ABV Apple Brandy Belgian Tripel that packed a punch in the best way. The vibe was awesome too " we met…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (409+ words) Waking up on this cold mid-November morning, I see frost and freeze warnings " and it's 30" out! And guess what? I haven't done one single thing yet to winterize our home. Have you? The Jersey Chill has officially arrived. Sure, it'll warm up a bit again, but those regular below-freezing nights aren't far behind. (Meteorological winter starts December 1st " thanks for the reminder, Chief Dan Zarrow!) So it's worth spending this weekend getting your home (and your car) ready for whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us this year. 1. Seal Up and Stay WarmOne year we had a cold draft sneaking in from an old basement window " and sure enough, the nearby water pipes froze. Lesson learned! Make sure all your drafty windows are sealed, and wrap any exposed pipes with foam insulation, especially in basements, garages, and crawl spaces. A…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (698+ words) Here's the stories you'll be talking about on the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show on Monday: Election Day is tomorrow. Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are making thier final arguments to be the next governor of New Jersey. Various polls have shown the race tightening in recent weeks, with Sherrill holding a slight advantage. The Democrat will go into Tuesday with a sizeable advantage. A million New Jersey residents took advantage of early voting, either by mail or in-person. While we don't know who they voted for, we can see party affiliation. More than 235,000 registered Democrats than Republicans have already cast a ballot. There are also nearly 200,000 unaffiliated voters that cast a ballot before Election Day. When final early voting figures are in on Monday, Ciattarelli may know how much ground he has to make up if he wants…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (321+ words) Have you ever been to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Chester County, PA?My wife and I are big fans'we make several trips there every year. And once a year, we team up with friends to experience the magic of "A Longwood Christmas." This year's festive celebration kicks off November 21, 2025, and runs through January 11, 2026. You can plan a visit early in the season or after the holiday rush'either way, you'll be surrounded by beauty and holiday spirit. During the holidays, the gardens transform'what Longwood calls "a living jewel box as radiant as the jewels and gems that inspired it." After dark, more than half a million lights sparkle across the gardens. I swear (as Big Joe's show intro says) Longwood might even be visible from space this time of year! Kids will love the Garden Railway, while parents and grandparents…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (306+ words) There's nothing more New Jersey than a solid Sandwich. Whether it's a sub from your favorite deli, a pork roll egg and cheese from the bagel shop down the road, or a pastrami sandwich so big it'll blow your mind, Jersey is a sandwich lover's paradise. But if you had to choose what the best sandwiches in the state were, would you be able to decide? My answer is super easy. Either the BLT from the Anchor Inn in Ocean Gate, or the Chicken Parm Sub from Angelina's in Lavallette. I could eat both every day and never get tired of them. However, the food experts at Love Food have scoured our state far and wide to reveal Jersey's best sandwiches, all of which were invented right here in the Garden State, of course. Three sandwiches were deemed the best…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (367+ words) When I first heard someone did a survey to find each state's favorite Charlie Brown holiday special I thought, "aren't there only two?" There's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." And for sweetness and touching moments, you'd have to go with the Christmas special. For comedy gold, you need to choose the Halloween special where Charlie keeps getting a rock instead of candy. But then I saw there were so many others I was forgetting about. How was I not remembering "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" considering the holiday is next week? Then there's "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown," and even "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown." Highriskpay.com set out to find which states preferred which Peanuts special and each state's favorite character. Surprising no one, the very sweet Christmas…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (383+ words) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. " If there's one thing that unites us as New Jersey drivers, it's our collective eye-roll at anyone with New York (or Pennsylvania) plates. According to a new Rutgers'Eagleton Poll, a full 33% of New Jersey voters say New York drivers are the absolute worst on the road. But here's the twist: 22% of New Jerseyans also ranked themselves as the worst drivers. It's a mix of road rage and self-awareness that feels"well"very Jersey. "It's on brand for us," said Jessica Roman, director of data management and analysis at the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling. "New Jerseyans love to poke fun at themselves"but only they're allowed to do it." Behind New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania (14%) and Florida (10%) drivers earned the next spots on the "worst driver" leaderboard. Rounding out the list were Massachusetts (5%), California (4%), and Connecticut…...

5+ day, 22+ hour ago (316+ words) The governor-elect of one of the highest-taxed states in the country wants New Jersey to stop paying federal taxes as long as Donald Trump is the president. Mikie Sherrill kicked around the idea during her recent appearance on'The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. The comedian says he wants to see a federal tax strike to resist the Trump administration. It's a "great idea" to claw back federal dollars, according to the governor-elect. "I think people here in New Jersey agree, if they're not going to run the programs, then what are we paying them for? You're paying us for service, and they're not delivering. So, let's stop paying for it," Sherrill said. In fiscal year 2019, New Jersey'residents and businesses paid $140 billion in taxes to the IRS. They only got back $105 billion in federal spending " a loss of $35 billion, according to…...