Kraft Hockeyville™ USA is Back! Your Community Could Win $150,000

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO–(

BUSINESS WIRE

)–

Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA is back again this year to find America’s most-spirited hockey community. Together with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), Kraft Heinz is looking to crown one hockey community in America with the

Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA 2020 title, award

$150,000 in rink upgrades along with $10,000 worth of hockey equipment through the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program, and provide the chance to host an NHL

Pre-Season Game in their community rink.

“The incredible response we’ve seen from hockey communities over the years has been an inspiration,” said Magen Hanrahan, vice president of media and marketing services, Kraft Heinz. “Every year, we’ve seen communities come together to support their local rinks, and we’re proud to be a small part of the passion that ignites hockey communities each year.”

Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA is proud to rally local communities around their true passion for hockey. The 2020 program was announced live during today’s broadcast of the 2020 Bridgestone NHL

Winter Classic

outdoor game in Dallas, Texas, featuring the Dallas Stars against the Nashville Predators.

How

Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA 2020 Works

Hockey communities hoping to become the next

Kraft

Hockeyville™ winner can kick off their chance during the nomination phase, where they can share unique stories about their local rink, teams and passion for hockey. Throughout the submission process, hockey towns need to rally their fans on the mobile-friendly platform at

www.KraftHockeyville.com

, where communities earn Rally Points by adding notes, uploading photos and videos, and tweeting from the community page. Finalists will be selected based on the best stories and their community’s total Rally Points through three periods:

Period 1 (January 1 – February 29, 2020) – Local communities head to

www.KraftHockeyville.com

to submit their story on why their rink should be crowned

Kraft

Hockeyville™ 2020. Once submitted, it’s up to the fans and hockey community to engage with the story online to boost their digital Rally Points. Communities are judged based on a combination of total Rally Points and the best story.

Period 2 (March 22 – 27, 2020) – Once the judges read through each rink’s story and calculate the total Rally Points of each submission, the top four finalists will be announced on March 22, 2020. After the official announcement, the weeklong rally begins for each of the four finalists to bring their community and supporters nationwide together in preparation for the live voting event.

Period 3 (March 28 – 29, 2020) – The four finalist communities will compete to receive as many votes as possible at

www.KraftHockeyville.com

from 7 a.m. ET on March 28 until 11 a.m. ET on March 29. The winner of

Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA 2020 will be announced on March 29, 2020 during an intermission of an NHL game on NBCSN and will be awarded the grand prize of $150,000 in rink upgrades from Kraft Heinz and an opportunity to host an NHL Pre-Season Game. The First Prize rink

will receive $30,000 in rink upgrades while the Second Prize rinks will each receive $10,000 in rink upgrades. Each of the four finalists will also receive $10,000 worth of new hockey equipment from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program.

This year, one lucky fan will also win a trip for two to a Stanley Cup

Game from Kraft Heinz. Starting March 22 through 29, fans can register online at

www.krafthockeyville.com

to be entered. Additionally, each vote cast during the 28-hour voting phase from March 28 to 29 equals one entry into the sweepstakes, so fans are encouraged to vote multiple times for their favorite community

Since launching in Canada in 2006,

Kraft

Hockeyville™ has positively impacted more than 120 communities with more than $5 million awarded in rink upgrades across Canada and the U.S. During the program, Kraft Heinz

will feature its diverse portfolio of products to unite hockey fans in their celebrations of the sport and their communities, including

Planters, Kraft

Natural Cheese,

Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Heinz

Ketchup

and

Kraft

Macaroni & Cheese.

For complete contest rules and nomination applications, visit

www.KraftHockeyville.com

. Kraft

Hockeyville™ USA can also be found on

Facebook

(KraftHockeyvilleUSA),

Twitter

(@HockeyvilleUSA) and

Instagram

(@KraftHockeyvilleUSA). Fans can join the conversation using #HockeyvilleUSA.

NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are registered trademarks and the NHL Winter Classic logo, and HOCKEYVILLE are trademarks of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2019. All rights reserved.

About The Kraft Heinz Company

For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Our Vision is To Be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World. We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2018 net sales of approximately $26 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit

https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/

or follow us on

and

Twitter.

About the NHL

The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of 31 Member Clubs and proudly welcomes its 32nd franchise, based in Seattle, for the 2021-22 season. Each team roster reflects the League’s international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Gary Bettman has served the NHL as Commissioner since February 1, 1993 and has guided the world’s top professional hockey league to more than $5 billion in annual revenues and partnerships with more than 40 blue chip corporate sponsors. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 151 million followers – league, team and player accounts combined – across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including NBC/NBCSN and the NHL Network™ in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, Viasat in the Nordic Region, Yandex in Russia and CCTV and Tencent in China. The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every country including via its live and on-demand streaming service NHL.TV™. Having entered the esports world in 2018, the League hosts the NHL Gaming World Championship™ annually, drawing record digital streaming audiences during the 2019 campaign. Fans are engaged across the League’s digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the League’s inception, powered by SAP. The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities through the sport of hockey by increasing youth participation and engagement; fostering positive family experiences; promoting inclusion, positive culture and leadership; and supporting sustainable community impact.

About the National Hockey League Players’ Association

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, NHLPA Goals & Dreams was launched as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 20 years, more than 80,000 deserving children in 34 countries have benefited from the players\’ donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $25 million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit

www.nhlpa.com

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 13 or older. Void where prohibited. Promotion starts 3/22/20 and ends 3/29/20. For Official Rules, entry requirements, and prize descriptions, visit

www.krafthockeyville.com

. PRIZES/ARV: One (1) Grand Prize/$6,550; Fifty (50) First Prizes/$20. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. Sponsor: Kraft Heinz Foods Company, 200 E Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601.

Seeing the new Star Wars? Be careful what you wish for

Study surveyed people before and after they saw The Last Jedi

Newswise — COLUMBUS, Ohio – How much you enjoy the new

Star Wars

movie will depend a lot on your expectations going in, a new study suggests.

Researchers surveyed 441 people before and after they saw the last episode in the popular franchise,

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi

, released in 2017. They wanted to see how audiences’ expectations affected their actual enjoyment of the movie.

The findings suggest that it is probably best not to go into

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

thinking you’re really going to love it or really going to hate it, said

James Alex Bonus

, co-author of the study and assistant professor of

communication at The Ohio State University

As you might expect, people who had the highest expectations for

The Last Jedi

but were disappointed in the movie had the lowest enjoyment of anyone taking the survey.

But what was most interesting, Bonus said, were people who expected very little from the movie but ended up feeling intensely happy after seeing the film. Their overall enjoyment was lower than those who felt similarly joyful but who went into the movie with higher expectations.

“It wasn’t really helping people to go in with those low expectations,” Bonus said.

“The negative bias going in dragged them down and even if they were pleasantly surprised by the movie, they still didn’t like it as much as other people did.”

The study was published online this month in the

Journal of Media Psychology

The results show how much our expectations can influence our enjoyment of a movie, particularly one in a franchise like

Star Wars

, where audiences have a history with the characters or storyline.

“It becomes a lot less about what is in the movie and a lot more about what you expected it to be,” Bonus said.

In this study, online participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk were interviewed three weeks before the release of

The Last Jedi

in 2017. They were asked to rate on a 7-point scale how happy, sad and nostalgic they thought the film would make them feel.

Three weeks later, those who had seen the movie were asked how happy, sad and nostalgic seeing the movie had made them feel. They also rated their enjoyment and appreciation of the movie.

Results showed that many people weren’t very accurate at predicting how they would react to seeing

The Last Jedi

, Bonus said. That goes along with other research that shows people are bad at predicting how various experiences will make them feel.

In this study, about 55 percent of participants did not accurately predict how the movie would make them feel. Most of them didn’t get their prediction entirely wrong, such as saying the movie would make them happy when it didn’t.

But many were off in the strength of their feelings, predicting, for example, the movie would make them very happy when it made them only somewhat happy.

“We are really bad at predicting how future events will make us feel,” Bonus said.

One other interesting fact from the study: People who in the first survey expected that

The Last Jedi

would make them feel nostalgic were more likely to have seen the movie when re-interviewed three weeks later. Expectations about how happy they would feel did not predict viewing behavior.

“That shows the important role nostalgia plays for audiences of established franchises like Star Wars,” Bonus said.

Study co-authors were Nicholas Matthews, a visiting assistant professor of communication at Ohio State, and Tim Wulf, a postdoctoral researcher at LMU Munich in Germany.

Miss America Camille Schier to Partake in Tournament of Roses Parade

Pasadena, California–For the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California,

newly crowned Miss America Camille Schier will throw the parade-ending football. She will join famous names and acts such as Rita Moreno, Gina Torres, and Laurie Hernandez, who were all announced as the 2020 Grand Marshals. They will ride in the 131st Rose Parade® presented by Honda, themed “The Power of Hope” and join in the pre-game celebration of the 106th Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual. For more information about the Tournament of Roses, click

here.

Please note: Camille Schrier will be available for press interviews and/or other media efforts surrounding the event. For more information on Camille and the Miss America Organization, click

here.

To schedule an interview with Camille Schrier, please contact

info@missamerica.org

PATCO OFFERING FREE RIDES NEW YEAR\’S EVE

Free fares will begin at 8 p.m. on December 31

and run through 4 a.m. on January 1.

PATCO will offer free train rides for New Year’s Eve for the fourth year in a row. The free rides are aimed at offering a responsible, convenient travel option for those who wish to enjoy New Year’s Eve festivities.

The free rides will begin at 8 p.m. on December 31, 2019 and run through 4 a.m. on January 1, 2020. During those hours, station fare gates will be open to allow free passage. If a rider boards right before 4 a.m. and reaches their destination station after 4 a.m. when the fare gates close, they are asked to pick up the red phone located at the fare gates and a Customer Service Agent will open a gate to allow exit.

PATCO will operate a special holiday schedule on New Year’s Eve with 6-car trains running every 15 minutes from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.

PATCO thanks all of its customers and the community for the last 50 years and wishes everyone a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year!

Trains will operate on a special schedule on New Year\’s Eve & New Year\’s Day:

Tuesday, 12/31 | Eastbound & Westbound | New Year\’s Eve | All Day

Wednesday, 1/1 | Eastbound & Westbound | New Year\’s Day| All Day

New Year\’s Eve Entertainment in New Jersey

Sahara Sam’s Water Park offers a New Year’s Eve

Midnight at the Oasis

party from 7:00 until 12:30. The park’s water attractions will be open, as well as games, limbo and a Foam Party. Sahara Sam’s also provides food, party goods and a champagne/apple cider toast, all for $68.99. Kids under 2 go for free!

The Adventure Aquarium in Camden

The Adventure Aquarium in Camden’s New Year’s Splash begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. The day includes a DJ dance party, visiting the residents (fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals), a beautiful fireworks display over the Delaware River, and more. Prices start at $21.99 for children and $29.99 for adults. See

Adventure Aquarium

for more.

Ocean City’s First Night

Ocean City offers a First Night celebration with rides at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and fireworks. The 60+ entertainment programs include magicians, puppeteers, Broadway shows, ice skating, games, music, a mentalist, comedy, dancing, inflatables, and skateboarding! The event promises tons of fun for adults and children alike, and there’s jitney service to transport everyone between locations. Buttons are $20 for

First Night Ocean City

10th Annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks In New Brunswick

For the tenth year in a row, the town of New Brunswick will be the site of

a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

Ring in The New Year with a bang and also check out some of New Brunswick’s best bars and restaurants, all in walking distance. From 11:30PM-12:30AM at Monument Square Park on George Street & Livingston Avenue.

Family Overnight On Battleship New Jersey For New Year’s Eve

Military buffs and those looking for a unique experience will enjoy dinner and breakfast served at the chow line, a guided tour of the Battleship, a ride in the Flight Simulator, and trying out a bunk bed where the crew of the USS New Jersey slept. You can also pull the trigger of an historic 5-inch gun. The

New Year’s Family Overnight

is $79 per person.

STRYKE New Year’s Eve

STRYXE in Madison offers 3 hours of unlimited bowling, signature and specialty food items, and unlimited soft drinks. There’s even champagne for guests over 21! You can reserve lanes from 5:30 p.m. -12:30 a.m. ($345/lane or $295/lane) at 6 guests per lane. The event sells out every year, so make sure to reserve soon at

STRYXE

Statue Of Liberty Fireworks, Courtesy of Spirit of New Jersey

Spirit Cruises of New Jersey’s New Year’s Dinner Cruise

Celebrate the start of 2020 from the water, with fireworks over the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Spirit Cruises of New Jersey

’s luxury New Year’s Eve cruise offers a dinner buffet, an open bar, and a DJ. Board the ship at 9:30 p.m. in Lincoln Harbor, NJ and cruise from 10:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. Packages start at $309 per person.

iPlay America in Freehold

Photo Courtesy of iPlay

iPlay America

is a game- and ride-filled destination that will keep your whole family entertained. They offer an Unlimited Ride Pass, $10 game card, party favors, a DJ and light show, prizes, laser tag, mini-bowling, child and adult rope courses, and more! You can even watch the ball drop on one of their 5 monitors. Entry is $39.99 per person in advance, and $49.99 per person at the door.

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson

Six Flags Great Adventure Fireworks, Photo Courtesy Of Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure’s

Holiday in the Park

makes for the perfect daredevil’s New Year’s Eve. You and your kids can ride Nitro, Batman: The Ride, or Superman: Ultimate Flight, and then warm up with s’mores and hot chocolate. The park opens at 1:00 p.m. and closes after the 9:00 p.m. fireworks at A Main Street Christmas. General tickets are $24.99.

Ice At The Pier New Year’s Eve at Pier Village In Long Branch

If you’re in the mood to gracefully glide a figure-eight, head to Long Branch. Ice skate by the beach in festive Pier Village from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.! The shops and restaurants will be open and a magnificent fireworks show begins at 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit

Ice At The Pier

The price is $10 for children under 12 and $14 for adults. Skate rentals are $4.

source

NJ NEXT

Recording Artist CC Miles Named Youth Ambassador for Food Bank of South Jersey

PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY – With a focus on increasing awareness of the impact of food insecurity and the importance of healthy eating in the youth community of South Jersey, the Food Bank of South Jersey announces recording artist CC Miles, 18, will serve as Youth Ambassador 2020.

Recording artist CC Miles

As Youth Ambassador 2020 for the Food Bank, Miles will bring the message of food insecurity and hunger awareness to regional schools, communities and organizations, as well as work directly with the Food Bank of South Jersey’s Health & Wellness and Community Engagement & Impact teams to distribute information and resources to support healthy eating, nutrition awareness and an understanding of the many faces of food insecurity in South Jersey communities today.

“I am honored to support the Food Bank of South Jersey’s mission to spread food insecurity awareness and health and wellness strategies and eating habits to young people throughout South Jersey,” CC Miles shares. “Nutrition is a very important topic for me, personally, and I can see no better way to share my enthusiasm for healthy eating and proper nutrition while, at the same time, assist young people in South Jersey in understanding the disaster of everyday hunger that impacts so many children, families and entire communities.”

Currently, in Camden County alone, there are 17,200 food-insecure children, 24% of whom are currently ineligible for federal nutrition programs, and 76% of whom are currently income-eligible for nutrition programs – at least, as of today.

Overall in Camden County alone, the total food-insecure population is over 60,000. Food insecure populations in Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties are equally sobering. Burlington County currently has 41,680 food-insecure residents, of which 10,960 are food-insecure children. Gloucester County holds 8,180 food-insecure children in a total food-insecure population of 26,860 individuals. Suffering the impact of rural hunger, the less populated farmlands of Salem County shows 8,080 food-insecure individuals, of which 2,550 are children – all of which may live more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store.

“We are delighted to appoint CC Miles our Youth Ambassador for 2020,” reports Fred Wasiak, CEO, Food Bank of South Jersey. “The message of food insecurity and its impact on children throughout our region is a vital point of understanding for today’s youths – awareness can, and will, create power and change in the effort to end hunger in South Jersey.”

ABOUT CC MILES

Recording artist and songwriter CC Miles has released three albums in less than five years, with her most recent album,

Almost

, released in August 2018. Popular on iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify, CC engages her growing

Instagram

and

YouTube

followers with new releases and original music between touring the country performing live in Nashville, New York, throughout the United States and internationally, including performances in Italy. Whether on stage, on tape, or on-screen, 18-year-old recording artist CC Miles invites everyone into her world. By way of candid lyrics, genuine charm, and undeniable charisma, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist imparts a storytelling sensibility on impassioned and irresistible pop. Driven by her voice as a writer and augmented by personal instrumental prowess, she shines through each side of every song. At first listen, you might just feel like you know her. CC Miles was born and raised in Medford Lakes, New Jersey. For more information, visit

www.ccmiles.com

ABOUT FOOD BANK OF SOUTH JERSEY

Marking its 35th year in 2020, the Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is the leader in providing safe and nutritional food to people in need throughout South Jersey. FBSJ distributes food, provides nutrition education and cooking courses, and helps food-insecure families and seniors find sustainable ways to improve their lives. Throughout 2019, FBSJ distributed 14 million pounds of food, including 75,000 after school snacks, over 200,000 summer meals and more than 15,000 senior food boxes, as well as serving 95 health and wellness programs to more than 6,000 residents. Providing community impact through local support, FBSJ ensures that local donations stay local. FBSJ is a member of Feeding America, our nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. To learn more, visit

www.foodbanksj.org

Mike and Peaches Luken, Just One of the Many Reasons Ocean City is America\’s Greatest Family Resort

After 30 years, Mike and Peaches Lukens are wrapping up what is expected to be their last Community Christmas Dinner.

By TIM KELLY/

Somers Point News

OCEAN CITY, NJ–Ocean City Councilman Keith Hartzell, a longtime volunteer and benefactor to Wednesday’s Community Christmas Dinner in Ocean City, took a moment to consider the event organizers, Mike and Peaches Lukens.

The couple conceived the event in 1989, organized it and executed it every year since.

“They are the heart and soul of what it means to call Ocean City ‘America’s Greatest Family Resort,’” Hartzell said. “We’re a beach resort in the summer. In the other nine months, we’re a Norman Rockwell painting. We’re Mayberry. We’re small town America coming together as a community. Nothing says it better than this event.”

Peaches and Mike, who started the event by serving approximately 150 people at the old Ocean City Youth Center, have seen their idea grow into one of the town’s most beloved events. For more than 20 years now, it has taken place at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.

“We will serve more than 800 meals today,” Mike Lukens said of the event, which ran from noon to 3 p.m. Christmas Day. “We were prepared to serve 1,200. We served more than 500 dinners in the first hour alone.”

He and his wife announced earlier in the year that this would be their last at the helm of the event. The couple relocated to Cape May, and found it more difficult to accomplish the many details of the dinner from a long distance.

Mike did leave some wiggle room, though. “Maybe someone will rope us into it one more year,” he said with a laugh, and added, “We will be involved in some way. It just won’t be the same.”

No, it won’t. Mike and Peaches and Jennifer Bowman, who handles much of the marketing side of the dinner, were in search of sponsorship to take over the financial cost of the dinner, possibly in exchange for the sponsor’s name on the event.

Enjoying the community dinner are (clockwise from bottom left) Connie Henry, Bill Henry, Jim Kelly, Donna Kelly, Rob Kelly, Shannon Kelly, Mason Henry and Jordan Henry.

They were also considering crowdfunding as an option to help keep the tradition intact.

Last week, after reading of the event’s situation in an OCNJDaily.com article, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian personally donated a new commercial grade refrigerator to the church after learning the old one needed to be replaced right away.

Individual and group donations poured in after the story, raising most of the funds needed to pay for this year’s dinner and its staging.

Bowman was quick to point out that while the dinner has fed thousands of people in need over the years, it is not designed for that purpose alone.

“Mike and Peaches wanted a nice, free, fun event for people who had nowhere else to go. Or people who have family elsewhere and can’t get away.”

Peaches Lukens serves beverages at the holiday dinner at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.

Hartzell, who has donated beverages for the dinner for years, said he was a good example. A traveling sales executive, he said Christmas “is one day where I can relax and my phone won’t ring. I live in the neighborhood and I can walk here. I’m able to volunteer and help.”

“But I’m also able to enjoy it, have a great meal and take some food home,” Hartzell continued.

Throughout the dining area, individuals, couples, families and larger groups were seen interacting and enjoying each other’s company and a great holiday meal.

“This is a fantastic thing for the community,” said “Lenny B,” a DJ and karaoke singer who kept the Christmas music flowing. “I’m here every year, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

In addition to food and music, candy, toys and toiletries were handed out to those in need. People needing rides were transported to and from the event, and shut-ins were the recipients of donated and delivered meals.

Hartzell summed up the Christmas and community spirit that permeates the dinner year in and year out.

“Ocean City was founded by God-fearing people,” he said. “Today’s event shows once again that we are still a God-fearing community.”

DJ and karaoke master “Lenny B” provides the entertainment.

The Sixth Most Charitable State is Pennsylvania

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

Pennsylvanians are more likely to help their neighbors, stick with a volunteer activity and partake in fundraising compared to most other areas of the country, according to a recent

study.

Researchers with personal finance website WalletHub recently combed through various data for the study, “

2019’s Most Charitable States

.” Pennsylvania ranked sixth of the 50 states.

Charitable giving, naturally, is a front-and-center topic amid the holidays. WalletHub asked a number of academics and experts to weigh in on this topic in a broad sense.

Femida Handy, professor and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s social welfare program, offered her insight and views on a number of topics, including the percentage of income households should donate to charity.

“All households, with incomes above the median income, should donate, and they should donate anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of their incomes,” Handy said.

According to WalletHub, study data was analyzed into two overarching categories – the first being volunteering and service, the other under the overarching umbrella of charitable giving. Pennsylvania ranked No. 12 in the first category, and No. 11 in the second one.

However, more granular analyses within both categories were weighted differently, which pushed Pennsylvania into its single-digit position within WalletHub’s analysis.

A look at states’ numbers of volunteer hours per capita carried 12.5 points, for instance, while a metric on the number of charities per capita carried 2.78 points. All told, Pennsylvania notched 65.88 points in both categories.

WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann said multiple sources were considered for the analysis, with data gleaned from such organizations as the Corporation for National and Community Service, Charity Navigator, Gallup and U.S. Census Bureau.

Pennsylvania landed in the top 10 in five metrics. The state tied for No. 1 in the metric of state regulations deemed friendly to charities.

According to the report, 43.61 percent of Pennsylvanians engage in fundraising or sell items to raise money for a specific cause. The statistic landed the state in No. 4 for the individual metric.

Pennsylvania also landed in the top 20 percent of all states in the nation using Google to search for charities (No. 6 ranking). Data also revealed 58.9 percent of the state’s population reported doing favors for neighbors, resulting in a No. 8 ranking in the metric.

Additionally, the state was singled out for having a higher than average volunteer retention rate. Data suggested 69 percent of Pennsylvanians stick with a charity after pledging to volunteer time and money to the cause.

On the other end of the spectrum, Pennsylvania fell into the bottom 10 of all states in one specific metric: share of income donated. According to WalletHub, Pennsylvanians on average donate 1.12 percent of their income – a statistic that landed the state at No. 40.

Neighboring states had across-the-board overall ranks in the analysis. Maryland ranked No. 3, Ohio was No. 5, New York was No. 19, New Jersey was No 29 and West Virginia was No. 42.

The most charitable state, according to WalletHub, is Minnesota, while the least charitable is Arizona.

published here with permission of The Center Square

DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation hosts First Day Hikes across Delaware

DOVER (Dec. 27, 2019) – New Year’s Day is a great time to kick the 2020s off on the right foot with one of 18 First Day Hikes hosted by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation. First Day Hikes is a national movement sponsored by America’s State Parks to encourage the celebration of fitness in the nation’s great outdoors.

There’s no need to register for any of the hikes listed below; just show up prepared to walk! Items hikers may want to bring along include comfortable hiking/walking shoes, a camera, a bottle of water, appropriate layers for the weather, a hat, sunglasses, a backpack, and snacks. Some hikes may require water-resistant shoes, or have age or pet restrictions. Not all hikes are suitable for strollers.

Check out one of the following hikes to celebrate the New Year at a Delaware State Park.

10 a.m. – Alapocas Run State Park, Wilmington – 2 to 3 miles – Easy/Moderate

Meet at Blue Ball Barn. Leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome.

10 a.m. – Fort Dupont State Park, Delaware City – 1.1 miles – Easy

Meet at the parking lot closest to the river, at the end of Wilmington Avenue/Old Battery Lane.

10 a.m. – Trap Pond State Park, Laurel – 2 miles – Easy

Meet at Baldcypress Nature Center.

11 a.m. – Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes – 1.5 miles – Moderate

Park in the Point Comfort Station Parking lot and walk north to the Point parking lot. Minimum age: 7 years old with an adult.

12:30 p.m. – Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington – 1/4 mile – Easy

Meet at the gift shop.

12:30 p.m. – Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area, Lewes – 1.7 miles – Easy

Meet at Fort Miles Parking Lot. Minimum age: 7 years old with an adult

1 p.m. – Bellevue State Park, Wilmington – 1.5 to 3 miles – Easy

Meet at Bellevue Arts Center. This hike is for all ages and is stroller friendly.

1 p.m.

–

First State Heritage Park, Dover – 1/4 mile – Easy

Meet at the John Bell House.

1 p.m. – Holts Landing State Park, Bethany Beach – 1.7 miles – Easy

Meet at Holts Landing Picnic Pavilion

1 p.m. – Killens Pond State Park, Felton – 1 to 3 miles – Varying Difficulty

Meet at the Nature Center.

1 p.m. – Lums Pond State Park, Bear– 2.5 miles – Easy/Moderate

Meet at Area 1 Pavilion/. Pets are permitted but must be on a 6-foot leash.

1 p.m. – Auburn Valley State Park, Yorklyn – 1.1 miles – Moderate

Meet at 1516 Snuff Mill Road Trail lot.

1 p.m. – Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington – 2-2.5 miles – Moderate

Meet at the Nature Center.

1 p.m. – White Clay Creek State Park, Newark – 1 to 2.5 miles – Multiple Difficulties

1.3 miles – Moderate – Millstone Pond Trail. Meet at Carpenter Recreation Area.

2 miles – Moderate/Difficult – Arc Corner Monument Loop. Meet at Nature Center.

2 miles – Moderate – PennDel/Pomeroy Trail. Meet at Nature Center

2.5 miles – Moderate/Difficult – Twin Valley Trail. Meet at Carpenter Recreation Area.

3:30 p.m. – Auburn Valley State Park – Easy – 1 mile

Meet at the Paper Mill Parking Lot on Benge Road.

For more information about the Delaware State Parks First Day Hikes and to see maps of the park trails beforehand, go to

https://destateparks.com/firstday

or call 302-739-9220.

Holiday Events in SOUTH JERSEY

Adventure Aquarium\’s Christmas Celebration

Through December 30

1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ

A unique experience you can’t miss! Visitors can experience Scuba Santa and his elf swim alongside the Aquarium’s habitants while enjoying the twinkling lights, glowing trees, and falling snow of the Aquarium. AAA Members can save on Adventure Aquarium tickets.

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New Year’s Fireworks from the Battleship @ Battleship New Jersey

December 31 • 4PM – 12:30AM

The annual tradition continues! Ring in the New Year with fireworks aboard the Battleship New Jersey. Music, concessions, and cash bar service will be available for both showtimes – 6pm and 10pm. Tickets required.

Purchase tickets here

Additionally, families can spend the night on the ship on December 31, with breakfast the next morning.

Purchase tickets for the overnight event here.

Smithville Holiday Light Show On The Lake

Thursday – Sunday until January 5 • Dark until 8PM

Historical Smithville 615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Smithville, NJ 08205

In addition to exploring a variety of shops, families can explore over 120 Christmas trees magically floating on the lake while listening to orchestrated lights and music.

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WinterFest Ice Skating at Cooper River

Thursdays – Sundays through February 17

Cooper River Park, Cherry Hill

Tasty treats, outdoor games, a heated tent with arcade games, an all-around family fun – visit Cooper River Park to experience this and more!

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