Category: LegacyImport2

Avalon Attains Class 3 CRS Rating

35 Percent Discounts on Flood Insurance Come in 2020

The Borough of Avalon has achieved a Class 3 status in the Federal Emergency Management’s Community Rating System that evaluates the flood mitigation practices of a community.  During its five-year review process, the CRS program elevated Avalon from a Class 5 to a Class 3, meaning property owners who carry flood insurance will enjoy a 35 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums.  This translates into approximately $1.6 million in cumulative insurance savings for Avalon residents starting sometime in 2020.  1,700 municipalities participate in the CRS program nationwide; Avalon is one of only 13 municipalities in the entire country to achieve a Class 3 rating.

“This two-level increase by the Borough of Avalon in this program is extremely significant and a true reflection on the Borough’s best flood mitigation practices, recognized on the national level”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi.  “Flood mitigation is not a once a year, but an everyday practice among our employees, professionals, and volunteers.  The CRS program has recognized the Borough’s level of excellence in making our community more resilient and protected from future storm events and sea level rise”.

Avalon received a draft verification report on the points assigned to various activities for which the Borough participates.  Avalon secured enough points to move from a Class 5 to a Class 3.  In addition, Avalon also secured enough points during this review process that will still secure the Class 3 classification even when points are taken away in the future from every community for adopting advisory base flood elevation maps following Hurricane Sandy.   Avalon may also amend its application in 2021 with the potential of achieving a Class 2 status, providing further discounts in flood insurance premiums.

The Borough is aggressively reviewed in this program with a complete evaluation of resiliency efforts, including building code standards, ordinance and regulations, public communications and notification, maintenance of proper elevation certificates, storm water management, and higher regulatory standards.  Avalon achieves additional points for having its own Watershed Management Plan and Floodplain Management Plan.   Avalon recently authorized a north end flood mitigation project, the elevation and repair of the 8

th

Street Jetty, and a flood sensor program that measured actual impacts in flood-prone areas.

The Avalon Office of Emergency Management is also highly credited for having a model program for flood risk communications, including a standalone emergency website, presence on social media, Avalon weather station, and municipal flood risk map that is included in all messaging.

Avalon is one of two communities in the State of New Jersey to elevate its program to the Class 3 classification.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 11, 2019, Tariche used one of his Twitter accounts to post threats to ICE agents: “We need to kill all ICE agents.”  He also posted: “Why can’t mass shootings occur at @ICEgov buildings them mfs need to get smoked.” Tariche also used his Twitter account to compare his feelings to that of Elliot Rodger, the individual who carried out a mass shooting at Isla Vista, California, murdering six people and shooting 14 others. Tariche also posted on Twitter: “You might’ve heard I paint houses,” a phrase that refers to murdering people and that was recently popularized by the movie, “The Irishman,” which depicts a mafia hitman.

Law enforcement officers were able to link Tariche to his Twitter account through an investigation of his social media accounts and the locations from where he logged onto his Twitter accounts.

The charge of interstate communications containing threats carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

CNB Hunting/Fishing Maryland: Home on the Fringe: White-tailed Deer Thrive in Suburbs

December, 2019

MARYLAND–Suburban deer sightings are so common that few of us pay much attention anymore. White-tailed deer are everywhere – along the roadways, throughout our parks, and in our very own backyards.

Many people incorrectly presume that these animals belong in the deep woods, and the ones wandering into our neighborhoods are refugees displaced by residential, commercial, or agricultural development. In fact, development actually creates better habitat for deer. White-tailed deer are a fringe species, exploiting the benefits of forested land for cover and open areas for food, requiring a substantial portion of each to survive.

As it turns out, their natural habitat bears a striking resemblance to the one we’ve built for ourselves. When residential neighborhoods grow and multiply, they support much higher densities of deer than a natural setting would. We unwittingly provide a refuge in which a lack of natural predators, limited hunting, quality habitat, and a variety of abundant food resources combine to allow deer to reproduce at an equal or higher rate than natural environments.

Living in close proximity isn’t for everyone. While some can’t wait for another glimpse, others lament the financial costs to their property and would rather not host a herd of hungry deer

Whitetail are browsers, not grazers. Natural food sources include acorns, hickory nuts, berries, herbaceous plants, tree seedlings and other woody stems – even things like greenbrier and poison ivy!

They’re also known to satisfy their appetite at the expense of cultivated crops like corn and soybeans. And many homeowners would note that nearly all garden vegetables and ornamental plantings are on the menu as well.

Intentionally feeding neighborhood deer is strongly discouraged by wildlife professionals. Such food sources tend to attract and congregate the animals, not only increasing the chance of disease transmission between them, but also upping the danger posed to them by traffic on adjacent roadways. Even in severe winter conditions, providing food actually does the animals more harm than good, as it disrupts and overwhelms their stomach’s seasonally-tuned balance of bacteria and protozoans necessary for proper digestion.

“Despite good intentions, the reality is that feeding whitetail adversely affects not only their wildness, but also their well-being,” says Urban Deer Biologist George Timko. “ Human response to presumed deer health is often misguided and not in line with the animal’s specific biology or behavior.”

In general, most rescue efforts are ill advised. More often than not, it’s better to let wild things be wild. Keep your distance, respect the potential dangers to yourself and the animal – and though it may seem cruel – leave things in the hands of mother nature.

When in doubt – but before acting – reach out to a wildlife expert. Check out our website for a searchable list of local wildlife rescue and rehab organizations, or call our Wildlife and Heritage Service at 1-877-463-6497.

Don’t be a fawn napper!

Photo by Justin Prden

Each spring, countless fawns are removed from their natural environment for fear of parental abandonment – a strategy intentionally employed by the mothers to protect their young. In the first few weeks of a young deer’s life, it has no scent and limited mobility. During this time, the mothers will stash their fragile offspring, returning only occasionally throughout the day to nurse before wandering away again – and in doing so, diminishing the threat she herself brings from predatory attraction.

How many is too many?

One of the more far reaching impacts of overpopulation is on the understory of our forests. Hungry deer have voraciously thinned almost all of the underbrush in high-population areas, not only challenging their generational succession, but also altering the ecosystem. This has resulted in lost flora, impacting other creatures that depend on it.

There’s also human health to consider. Robust deer herds can better support large populations of blacklegged ticks, the parasite that transmits Lyme disease — the most commonly reported tickborne disease in the United States.

Perhaps the greatest threat to us is that from motor-vehicle collisions. Across the nation, more than one million automobile accidents each year are deer-related, and several hundred of those result in human fatalities. Countless more result in severe injury and significant vehicle damage. In Maryland, there are an estimated 30,000 strikes a year.

The majority of such incidents occur in October and November, as breeding season make male and female deer more active and somewhat prone to irrational movements. Another, less-intense spike in activity can be observed in May and June, after does give birth to their young — requiring mother’s to cover more ground while foraging.

Control

If left unchecked, the number of deer in our state might very well become untenable. For decades, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has managed stable populations through well-regulated hunting practices.

Currently, the statewide deer population estimate is about 225,000, down from a one-time peak of about 300,000. Biologists credit the drop to expanded hunting seasons and bag limits. Some attempts were also made with birth control or sterilization, but to date those have proven largely ineffective.

In urban and suburban neighborhoods, hunting presents a challenge. There are examples of communities successfully reducing deer populations by conducting controlled hunts or contracting sharpshooters, but allowing such hunts requires close study, broad consensus, and special permitting.

There are also several non-lethal options to help reduce damage by exclusion or behavior control. The installation of tall or electrified fencing can help keep deer from entering yards or gardens. Individual plant protection, such as wire cages, plastic netting or tree shelters, is also commonly used. Taste and odor-based repellents are also somewhat common, but must be frequently re-applied or managed, and in some instances deer have adapted to their use.

Biologists with the Department of Natural Resources will continue to investigate both non-lethal and lethal deer control methods as they evolve, and make this information available to the public. Likewise, deer numbers will be carefully monitored and efforts will continue to manage populations at levels compatible with their human neighbors.

Additional information about the species and control options for it can be obtained online at

dnr.maryland.gov

, by phone at 410-260-8540 or via email at

CustomerService.DNR@Maryland.gov

.

dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife

Stephen Badger is a public affairs officer with the department’s Office of Communications. Appears in Vol. 22, No. 4 of the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, fall 2019.

PATCO Hosts \”Transportation YOU\” Event at Lindenwold Facility

Goal of program is to educate young women on the importance of transportation industry

DRPA/PATCO’s Engineering Department was the proud host of a program that offers young women the opportunity to explore first-hand a wide variety of transportation careers.

The program is called Transportation YOU and it is run through the Women\’s Transportation Seminar (WTS).

Dozens of young women, ages 13-18, recently had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at PATCO’s main headquarters in Lindenwold, New Jersey.

PATCO General Manager John Rink, PATCO Director of Equipment John Barrett and DRPA Senior Engineer Elisabeth Klawunn conducted a tour of the Lindenwold facility that included a look at the equipment shop and the work needed to keep PATCO trains running and clean.

Through the program, WTS chapters work to make a difference in the lives of young girls by offering programs and activities that will spark their interest in all modes of transportation and encourage them to take courses in math, science, and technology, which are the stepping stones to exciting careers that can change the face of the transportation industry. The program is led by over 30 women professionals (engineers, planners, marketing, and finance professionals) who volunteer their time as mentors.

SURVEY SHOWS MAJOR INCREASE OF ENDANGERED SEABEACH AMARANTH PLANTS SOUTH OF SANDY HOOK

TRENTON – An annual plant census along New Jersey\’s coastal beaches south of Sandy Hook shows a significant surge in the number of seabeach amaranth, a federally threatened and state endangered plant species, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Biologists with the DEP and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey counted 7,195 plants, a more than 600 percent increase from the 2018 total of 1,053 plants. Similarly, 1,591 of the plants are at Island Beach State Park, compared with 307 found there in 2018 — a more than 500 percent increase.

\”I am very pleased that the statewide surge of seabeach amaranth experienced in 2018 has been far exceeded this year,\” Commissioner McCabe said. \”Our DEP biologists indicate that while the increase can be the result of many different factors, it could not have occurred without the presence and structural integrity of the habitat required by this species.\”

The resurgence of seabeach amaranth is particularly remarkable because the plant had not been observed in the state from 1913 to 2000 and was considered lost from New Jersey flora. The plant was rediscovered in 2000 near Sandy Hook following a beach-fill operation in Monmouth County for coastal storm protection and recreation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants pay for the DEP to do annual surveys of the plant since its rediscovery.

\”Staff of the Division of Parks and Forestry and its many partners and supporters should take a bow for their contribution to the resurgence of this very interesting and specialized plant,\” said Division of Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn. \”Of course, if a little bit of luck was involved, we are thankful for that, too.\”

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a low-growing plant with fleshy, spinach-like leaves and reddish stems. Plants germinate as early as April, and in June and July begin to produce inconspicuous yellow flowers that are wind-pollinated. Seed production soon follows, and plants typically grow about four inches across but sometimes may grow to a meter in diameter. Flowering and seed production continue until the plants die in the fall and early winter.

Seabeach amaranth is an annual plant, meaning that the individuals counted in any year are new plants resulting from seed dispersed in prior years. The seeds are durable, waterproof, and can be dispersed long distances by wave and wind action, or they may stay relatively close to the parent plant. The seed are also thought to remain viable for long periods, known as seed banking. Consequently, it is impossible to predict how abundant the plant will be from one year to the next.

On an undisturbed beach, seabeach amaranth may grow anywhere from the base of the dune to the high tide line. Managing human activity along the New Jersey coast, including beach raking as well as government and recreational vehicle use, also occur in the habitat that is vital for this and other species, whether rare or common.

The presence of seabeach amaranth is an indicator of a healthy or recovering habitat. It is one of only six plants in the state that are listed as either endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The DEP, in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Raritan Valley Community College is working to protect the habitat where seabeach amaranth thrives.

Island Beach State Park has created special protection zones, known as plant protection strips, that are marked with stakes, strings and signs to alert the public to the presence of a protected area along the base of dunes. This allows public recreation to continue near thriving plants. The protection zones have proven successful, with seabeach amaranth and other rare plant species continuing to repopulate and expand in these areas.

Between 2001 and 2015, Island Beach State Park had an average of seven seabeach amaranth plants per year. After the 2016 expansion of protections throughout the park, the average number of seabeach amaranth jumped to 479 plants annually.

The protection zones also create habitat essential for beach-nesting birds to raise new young successfully. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a federally threatened shorebird, returned for nesting at Island Beach State Park in 2016 following a 27-year absence. Plovers have returned each year since, with 2019 marking the most successful year for the species in the park since protections were put in place in 2016, with six young birds fledged.

The same protections also allowed American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), a species of Special Concern in New Jersey, to successfully nest on the ocean beaches for the first time.

Habitat protection at Island Beach State Park began as a pilot project by Raritan Valley Community College in 2008 and has been implemented since 2016 with grant funding received by the Branchburg college serving Somerset and Hunterdon counties, and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Additionally, through its annual issuance of beach and dune maintenance permits, the DEP is regulating municipal beaches where seabeach amaranth and other federally listed plant and animal species occur. These permits include actions that must be taken to protect habitat for these species based on data collected by the DEP and its partners.

\”Beach and dune maintenance permits issued to public and private entities are predicated on annual coordination as seabeach amaranth take root and bird species come to nest,\” said Division of Land Use Regulation Bureau Chief Ryan Anderson. \”The cooperation and willingness of our regulated partners to adjust their maintenance activities based on the presence of sensitive species cannot be understated in the resurgence of seabeach amaranth.\”

For a fact sheet on plant protection strips and other information, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/amaranth.html*photos__;Iw!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwudmgwYcC$

.

Learn more about the DEP\’s Division of Land Use Regulation and Office of Natural Lands Management at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/landuse/lu_onlm.html

and the New Jersey Natural Heritage Program at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/index.html

.

For more information on the Division of Parks and Forestry, visit

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/

.

For more information about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwuRIR3e-I$

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Find out what you need to figure out when decorating your walls with mosaic

Gloucestercitynews.net (Dec. 25, 21019)–Mosaics are not the recent discovery, as you may know. Earlier their use was mostly confined to the floor decoration. But things started changing since the Paleochristian era when they made their appearance on the building walls for decorative purposes. The art may have disappeared from the trend for some time; however, nobody could resist its luxurious appeal and uniqueness. That’s why perhaps it has made a successful comeback both in commercial and residential projects. So, as a homeowner, if you want to adopt this tiled artwork in your interiors, then make it a part of the walls. It can breathe in a new soul into them when done thoughtfully.

Find the right place for it first

Mosaic tiles can decorate any walls easily

, and hence, you don\’t need to limit your imagination and choice of design. But make sure the side you choose for this artwork has clear visibility in the house.

For example, if you explore previous designs and themes, you will notice that most of them found their place in the entrance halls where anyone would host their guests. Considering this factor, you can have it beautify the wall in the lounge, a dining area, kitchen, or even a bathroom. In the bathroom, it can give you a bit of a Roman feel.

No matter which area of your house you choose for this, you should feel enthusiastic about it. Then only it makes the best choice.

Designs

Dimension and form can be two critical factors to consider here. What location you choose for this artwork will be integral to this decision. If you select a huge theme for a small space, it can look loud, and if the area is reasonably large and the piece of mosaic art is comparatively tiny, then it will not be as effective as it should be. Hence, being sure about the dimension is necessary.

When done with this part, you can decide on the types of shapes, sizes, textures, and techniques. During ancient times, artists used tiles directly on the walls. But in this era, you can have them framed and use as paintings.

So, there is a vast scope of experimentation. You can bring something to cover the entire wall or a part of it. You can also buy one large frame and a couple of tiny ones to arrange them attractively. It is all up to you what you want to do. Nowadays, the artistic style is quite popular. If you are an ardent lover of art and believe in collecting timeless pieces, then the creative designs should appeal to your taste.

These are two main points that need your attention when you plan to jazz up the appearance of your walls in the house. Some people still go with the idea of embedding the tiles into a wall. Although there is nothing wrong with it, you will not have the flexibility to do anything else there in the future. However, it doesn\’t mean that it will go out of trend. It is just that if you get a frame, you will have much more freedom. For design ideas and other assistance, you can visit

Mosaicist

.

image source pinterest

SPECIAL STATE INVESTIGATOR/ACTING CAMDEN COUNTY DETECTIVE PROMOTED TO SERGEANT

CAMDEN CITY NJ–On

December 23, 2019

, Special State Investigator/Acting Camden County Detective Michelle Chambers-Larsen was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  Sergeant Chambers-Larsen began her law enforcement career in 1995 as a Probation Officer.  Later, in 2001, Sergeant Chambers-Larsen was hired by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and assigned to the Grand Jury Unit.  During her 18 years at the CCPO, Sergeant Chambers-Larsen has proven herself to be a dedicated and diligent detective, working hard each day to serve the citizens of Camden County.  Sergeant Chambers-Larsen has become a very well-rounded detective through her wealth of experience in many units throughout the CCPO, including the Special Prosecution’s Unit, Child Abuse Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Intelligence Unit and the Domestic Violence Unit.

Sergeant Chambers-Larsen will now be assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit.  Congratulations to Sergeant Chambers-Larsen.  Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of the CCPO.  Shown here from left to right are Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer, Special State Investigator/Acting Chief of Detectives Jeffrey Dunlap, Special State Investigator/Acting Camden County Detective Sergeant Michelle Chambers-Larsen, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting First Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ellen Murphy and Chief of Staff Mike Mangold.

Released Tuesday, December 24, 2019.

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Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 11, 2019, Tariche used one of his Twitter accounts to post threats to ICE agents: “We need to kill all ICE agents.”  He also posted: “Why can’t mass shootings occur at @ICEgov buildings them mfs need to get smoked.” Tariche also used his Twitter account to compare his feelings to that of Elliot Rodger, the individual who carried out a mass shooting at Isla Vista, California, murdering six people and shooting 14 others. Tariche also posted on Twitter: “You might’ve heard I paint houses,” a phrase that refers to murdering people and that was recently popularized by the movie, “The Irishman,” which depicts a mafia hitman.

Law enforcement officers were able to link Tariche to his Twitter account through an investigation of his social media accounts and the locations from where he logged onto his Twitter accounts.

The charge of interstate communications containing threats carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg Take Aim at Special Funds

By Dave Lemery |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG, PA–To Eileen Norcross, special funds in state budgets have the effect of disguising spending, concealing from the public what state government is actually doing with public dollars, which she calls “fiscal evasion.”

Norcross is vice president of policy research at the Mercatus Center, a free-market oriented public policy research center at George Mason University. She spoke late last week at a news conference in Harrisburg focused on a package of legislation designed to rein in spending.

“The proliferation of special funds are not unique to Pennsylvania, but their growth may be a sign of weak spending discipline,” she said. “The effect is to diminish budget transparency and to give both policymakers and the public a false sense of the true amount of spending, public policy priorities and the taxes necessary to support those programs.”

She noted that Pennsylvania’s total budget spending has grown from $56 billion in 2006 to $84 billion today, a rate of growth that she blamed on special funds.

“The practice of off-budget accounting or the creation of special funds can be problematic, effectively creating a shadow budget that isn\’t subject to the same legislative oversight, debate or rules that apply to the general fund,” she said. “The outcome is a two track general fund budget in which the general fund appears to be flat or declining, while the overall budget grows.”

Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-Dillsburg, is introducing a piece of legislation that would begin to address Norcross’s concerns. House Bill 1991 would ban the creation of new special funds within the budget, which Keefer said is timely because there are currently efforts ongoing to continue creating new special funds.

“The way we have our budget layered with all of these different shenanigans of how to shift money around from one fund to another, or from the general fund to offline spending, is a false sense of our financial picture, and we have completely evaded any kind of accountability that our taxpayers deserve,” Keefer said. “We need to get our fiscal house in order.”

Also introduced at the news conference was Rep. Andrew Lewis’s House Bill 1990, which would establish a Council on State Finances made up of administration officials and lawmakers of both parties to work on the annual state budget process in the open, instead of the current process that takes place behind close doors.

Rep. Tim O’Neal’s House Bill 1989, meanwhile, would dictate that surplus funds at the end of each fiscal year would automatically be deposited into the state’s rainy day fund. O’Neal noted that Pennsylvania lawmakers have received praise for adding $300 million to the rainy day fund this year, but he said that amount was nowhere near sufficient.

“The reality is, with the current budget in the rainy day fund, the Commonwealth can only operate for 3½ days,” O’Neal said. “We are on the verge of financial peril. And this is in one of the best economies that any of us have seen in our lifetime.”

Acting as emcee at the news conference was Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, the chairman of the House’s new Government Oversight Committee. He introduced House Bill 1988 to return 17 special funds with $2.08 billion back to the general fund, and he said that the four bills were key to the state becoming more responsible with taxpayer dollars.

“This financial reform package of legislation will reduce the state borrowing, improve our credit rating and strengthen the commonwealth rainy day fund,” he said. “These four common sense reforms are smart and innovative solutions House Republicans have been championing.”

published here with permission of The Center Square

One Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $140,963 Jackpot in Ocean County

TRENTON (Dec. 24, 2019) – One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $140,963 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Monday, Dec. 23, drawing. The winning numbers were: 10, 22, 23, 25 and 40 and the XTRA number was: 04. The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for the winning ticket sold. That ticket was sold at Jay’s Food Mart, 358 Herbertsville Rd., Brick in Ocean County.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 286,462 tickets purchased for the drawing. By adding XTRA, for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn. For correctly matching four of the five numbers drawn, 39 ticketholders won $543 each and 13 others won $2,172 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three of the five numbers drawn, 1,789 ticketholders won $14 each and 355 others won $56 each with the addition of XTRA. Lastly 4,456 ticketholders each won $2 for correctly matching two of the five numbers drawn with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.