Italian ice cream chain Rita’s is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an “epic sweepstakes”. The event will award lucky fans with a year’s worth of ice cream products, as well as a grand prize trip for two to either Italy or Iceland. Every week, Rita’s will select 10 winners who will receive a year’s supply of Rita’s small ice creams (a total of 52), valued slightly over $200. On May 28, one grand prize winner will be randomly selected to take a guest on a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, or Rome, Italy (winner’s choice). The prize package is worth over $18,000 and includes roundtrip airfare, 6 nights hotel accommodation, a $1,000 travel budget, and a $1,400 check that can be used for food and other travel expenses. Anyone can try their luck through this link: https://www.ritas40thbirthdaysweepstakes.com/home.
Traffic officials announced last Friday (April 26) that most drivers entering Manhattan’s Central Business District will be required to pay a $15 congestion fee starting on June 30. Under the congestion pricing plan, most drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during the day will need to pay the $15 fee. Larger vehicles will have higher tolls, while nighttime and motorcycle tolls will be lower. The plan, approved by the New York State Legislature in 2019, aims to raise $1 billion annually to fund public transit for the city’s 4 million daily passengers. Congestion pricing will start at 12:01 am on June 30. Low-income drivers can apply for congestion fee discounts on the MTA website, and disabled individuals can apply for exemptions.
Officials in North Wildwood recently passed an ordinance this month adjusting curfew hours for individuals under 18. Specifically, minors are not allowed to be out in public unaccompanied from 10 pm to 6 am (May 15 to September 15), including sitting in cars. From September 15 to May 15, the curfew is at 11 pm. The ordinance also designates a curfew of 10 pm for Halloween and the nights leading up to certain holidays. Violations of the curfew by minors may result in warnings rather than citations or charges, but parents or guardians who knowingly allow minors to violate the curfew rules may face consequences. First-time curfew violators may be fined up to $500. Repeat violations within a year could result in fines up to $1,000. The ordinance also makes it illegal for businesses to allow minors under 18 to stay on their premises unaccompanied past curfew hours.
Strong state tax incentives have turned New Jersey into a hub for film and television production, and an increasing number of Garden State municipalities are looking to capitalize on this trend. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the State Film and Television Commission held a seminar in Morristown last Tuesday (April 23), attracting local officials from across the state to learn about the film industry and how their towns can attract future film and television productions. State government officials report that film and television production brought in over $700 million in revenue for New Jersey in 2022. Executive Director of the Commission, Jon Crowley, stated, “This is a strong motivator for our local economy,” adding, “The governor has repeatedly emphasized that for every dollar the state spends to retain the entertainment industry, $6 to $8 flow back into the local economy.”
Some popular attractions in New Jersey offer free parking, such as Cape May County Zoo, Liberty State Park, Popcorn Park Zoo, and parking is free for visitors who purchase tickets online at the Showboat Island Water Park in Atlantic City. The American Dream shopping and entertainment center in East Rutherford offers free parking for the first 30 minutes, and parking fees can be reduced to $5 if visitors spend $25 or more. Season pass holders at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson receive free parking, whereas single day parking fees range from $45 to $60. In comparison, parking at Disneyland costs $30 per day, and the self-parking fee at Yankee Stadium operated by Cityparking is $47.
Various attractions, such as the Adventure Aquarium in Camden and the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, have different parking fees for different membership levels or general admission. The Battleship NJ and Jenkinson’s Amusement Park also have varying parking charges. With an increase in car theft incidents in New Jersey, Six Flags Great Adventure has implemented signage, security patrols, and video surveillance within the park. Additionally, Hurricane Harbor and theme parks have installed new Volta charging stations for visitor convenience.