MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ISSUES STATEWIDE DROUGHT WARNING

DIRECTIVE ACTIVATES DEP AUTHORITY TO CLOSELY MANAGE WATER SUPPLIES

(25/P54) TRENTON – The Murphy Administration today issued a statewide water supply Drought Warning, urging residents and businesses to reduce water use as a result of persistent below-average precipitation and deteriorating water supply conditions across New Jersey.

“The Department of Environmental Protection is closely monitoring drought indicators and water supplies to ensure we have enough water across the state,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “While there are currently no mandatory restrictions in place, it is up to each of us to take precautions now and do our part by conserving water use in and around our homes and businesses.” “The precipitation and water supply uncertainty we’ve experienced over the past year is a symptom of the impacts of climate change here in New Jersey,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “We ask residents, businesses, and partners in local government to join us in spreading the urgency of the need to conserve water.”Commissioner LaTourette today signed an Administrative Order authorizing the Drought Warning designation, which is the next stage of drought status after a Drought Watch and a step below a Drought Emergency, which could call for mandatory water-use restrictions. The state had been under a Drought Watch since Oct. 1 of this year.The last statewide Drought Warning was issued in November 2024. The warning was lifted in June of this year, following record rainfall in May, although the Coastal South region of the state remained in a watch. Overall, though, the state has experienced below-average precipitation for more than a year, leading to the issuance of a Drought Watch in October and today’s issuance of a Drought Warning.“Over the past 15 months, we’ve seen a significant deficit in precipitation, with only two months exceeding average levels,” said State Climatologist Dave Robinson. “While May 2025 brought much-needed relief as a ‘drought buster,’ it wasn’t sufficient to completely alleviate the ongoing drought conditions.”

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The WOW Van is On the Move in Gloucester County!

Gloucester County’s Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Van will be making TWO stops next week to provide free, on-site support and resources to the community.

🚌 STOP 1 – Newfield
📍 Liberty Bell Motel – 2656 Harding Way, Newfield, NJ

🗓️ Tuesday, December 9

🗓️ Wednesday, December 10

⏰ 10AM–2PM

🚌 STOP 2 – Pitman
📍 First Baptist Church Pitman / Lighthouse Community Center – 30 N. Broadway, Pitman, NJ

🗓️ Thursday, December 11

⏰ 10AM–2PM

💙 Services Available at Both Locations
Our WOW Van team provides free connections to:

✔️ Substance use treatment

✔️ Medical & health services

✔️ Shelter & housing assistance

✔️ Mental health resources

Professionals on-site include doctors, nursing & med students, peer recovery specialists, and social workers, ready to help individuals access the care and support they need.

📞 Newfield Info: 856-384-6985

📞 Pitman Info: 856-384-6885

📲 Scan the QR code(s) on the flyer for additional details.

Philadelphia’s Holiday Haunted House Returns to Historic Manayunk

Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia’s scariest haunted attraction is opening its doors for a special two-night only exclusive holiday haunted house. Lincoln Mill Haunted House at 4100 Main Street in Manayunk presents the city’s first and only Christmastime haunt with A Twisted Christmas, on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. For a Twisted Christmas, the evil mill owner Viktor Kane, who now haunts the mill, hallucinated things happening around the winter holiday time in the 1930s. He hallucinated his workers mutating into twisted elves and sinister winter creatures. In his head, the mill has transformed into a nightmarish winter wonderland. Guests will descend down to the mill’s basement via a freight elevator and will have to navigate through Viktor’s dark winter wonderland. Warning: This event features over 50 scare-actors and is intended to be very scary. Tickets are $30 a person for general admission and $23 for a special group rate. Tickets are on sale now at lincolnmillhaunt.com.

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TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

Agency will refer passengers to the fee-based TSA “Confirm.ID” payment option if they do not present a valid, acceptable ID at checkpoints

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026.

Travelers will be able to pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. TSA urges travelers who do not have a REAL ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

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Betty Lou Whilden, of Voorhees

Of Voorhees, NJ. Formerly of Vineland, NJ. Passed peacefully on December 1st, 2025. Born in Trenton, NJ she was the daughter of the late, LeRoy and Hazel (Wills) Benz. Betty Lou is survived by her loving children, Betty Winkler, Jayme Whilden, Donald Whilden, Burton Whilden, Bruce Whilden; 11 cherished grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Kenneth W. Whilden on March 4, 2013.

She will be missed dearly by her family and friends but will be up in heaven with a great father and her beloved husband Kenneth.

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‘Gift of Lights at Dover Motor Speedway’ Returns

Drive-thru light show open every evening from Thanksgiving through Jan 4.
Several theme and discount nights, including $5 Military Mondays on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, planned throughout the schedule.
Buy tickets at GiftOfLightsDover.com

DOVER, Del. (Nov. 20, 2025) – The holiday spirit will sparkle once again during the return of the “Gift of Lights at Dover Motor Speedway” drive-thru light show at The Monster Mile.

The fourth annual Gift of Lights event will illuminate the campgrounds of Dover Motor Speedway nightly from Thanksgiving through Jan. 4, featuring more than 100 festive scenes and 2.5 million lights along an almost two-mile pathway winding through the property.

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Annual passes provide access to Delaware’s 17 state parks

Delaware State Parks will begin the sale of its 2026 park passes and surf fishing permits on Dec. 9.

Passes and permits can be purchased online at the destateparks.com/buy-a-pass webpage or at park offices. Daily entrance fees in state parks will begin on March 1, 2026 with the start of the annual fee season. The rates include:

Daily entrance fees:
⦁ Inland parks: $5 for vehicles registered in Delaware: $10 for out-of-state vehicles
⦁ Beach parks: $10 for vehicles registered in Delaware: $20 for out-of-state vehicles

Annual passes:
• $50 for vehicles registered in Delaware; $100 for out-of-state vehicles; 50% discount for seniors and military members

Lifetime Pass:
⦁ $150 for Delaware residents only, ages 65 and older

Surf Fishing Permits:
⦁ No changes to the surf fishing permit program or fees in 2026, but the off-peak surf fishing permit will be discontinued in 2027 now that weekend and holiday reservations were removed from most surf fishing beaches in July 2025.

New fees were adopted for 2026 for the first time in 10 years after extensive public outreach, including three public open houses, communication across multiple channels, endorsement by Park Friends groups and the approval of the state Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. In a survey of more than 1,200 people, 68 percent of respondents said they strongly agree or agree that a fee increase was justified to continue current services.

“Delaware State Parks are now hosting 7.4 million visitors annually, nearly 2 million more people than in 2015, and we are grateful our residents and visitors appreciate the quality of the parks and the programs they provide,” said DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. “And they appreciate the value; for Delaware residents, a family can spend a day in a state park for less than a single movie ticket, and a pass to get them in any park unlimited times for a whole year is less than a family dinner out.”

Under restrictions on federal funding used to operate parks in Delaware and around the country, charges for out-of-state residents are not allowed to be more than double that for in-state residents.

The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation will continue to offer free or low-cost options to make Delaware State Parks accessible for all. In partnership with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, those who receive assistance from a State Service Center are eligible to purchase an annual pass for $10. A park pass also can be reserved online at no cost using a library card.

For more information on fees, visit the destateparks.com/passes-permits-and-fees webpage.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo and the Indian River Marina. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Lumberton Elected Official Indicted on Child Endangering/Abuse Charges

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a member of the Lumberton Township Committee who was charged earlier this year with drunk driving and related offenses has been indicted on charges of failing to protect her young child who was in the car with her at the time of the incident.

Gina LaPlaca, 46, who presently serves as the Lumberton Township mayor, was charged by a grand jury with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree) and Child Abuse (Fourth Degree). She is scheduled to be arraigned on December 8 in Superior Court in Mount Holly.

The indictment was returned November 20 and signed by Prosecutor Bradshaw.

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The Surprising Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

The moment you notice you need fresh air

There are days when your body tells you more than your schedule does. You feel foggy. You feel worn down. You sit indoors for hours and realise you have not taken a real breath all day. That is usually the nudge that pushes people outside for a walk or a quiet moment. And when they do, they feel the difference almost instantly.

Time outdoors is not complicated. It is one of the simplest ways to feel better. Yet many people forget how much it helps until they step into fresh air again.

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