Is New Jersey Turning Red? What the 2024 Election Means for Our State’s Political Future

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Is New Jersey Turning Red? What the 2024 Election Means for Our State’s Political Future

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Illustration of a traffic light with three red lights

Illustration by Juan Bernabeu

It was anything but a typical Wednesday morning for Ed Durr as he hit the road to deliver furniture and mattresses. It was a MAGA day, the greatest of them all, and Durr was beaming into a video camera mounted on his dashboard.

He sang out at something like full volume to an audience of Facebook followers.

“Gooooooooooood morning America!…Congratulations to President Trump on an outstanding victory, proving once again: You can’t bankrupt him. You can’t imprison him. You can’t assassinate him. You can’t defeat him.”

Durr, a commercial truck driver from Gloucester County, made national headlines in 2021 when he won election to the state senate by upsetting incumbent Stephen Sweeney, one of New Jersey’s most powerful Democrats.

Even though he was defeated in his bid for reelection two years later, Durr is now running for governor, one of a handful of Republicans buoyed by Trump’s surprising strength in a deep-blue state that hasn’t voted for a GOP presidential candidate since 1988.

Photo: Shutterstock/Chip Somodevilla

For many Republicans like Durr, Trump’s victory is confirmation that New Jersey is turning red, and doing it quickly. Even though Kamala Harris won the state by 6 percentage points, Trump’s performance jumped dramatically compared to 2020, when he lost to Joe Biden here by 16 points.

Five New Jersey counties that voted for Biden in 2020 flipped to Trump, including traditional Democratic strongholds such as Passaic County. Even counties Harris carried saw droves of voters switching to Trump: Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Middlesex counties all saw double-digit swings to Republican.

Perhaps the scariest trend for Democrats: Huge swaths of New Jersey’s 2 million-strong Latino community voted for Trump, even as he campaigned on the mass deportation of illegal immigrants and their American-born children.

North Jersey towns with large Latino populations like North Bergen, Bayonne, West New York, Kearney and Secaucus saw large shifts to the GOP. Trump won the city of Passaic, which is more than two-thirds Latino, by 6 percentage points.

“There’s no question that the Democratic brand is not strong as it has been in the bluest areas of the country, and that includes New Jersey,’’ says Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth University Polling Institute, which has charted public opinion in the state for the past 20 years.

“We’ve definitely seen some shifting from Democrat to Trump in areas that have significant Hispanic and African American populations,” Murray says. “But in New Jersey and in other states like New York, a lot of Democrats just sat on their hands and didn’t vote. So is that an endorsement of Donald Trump or a statement about Kamala Harris and the party in power?”

In the wake of Trump’s historic victory and the broadening of his support almost everywhere, New Jersey Monthly sought out a handful of mavens like Murray, as well as some leading political figures, to assess the new electoral landscape. Their insights suggest that, while Jersey Democrats and progressives are definitely in dangerous territory, the state is not turning as red as die-hard Trumpers like “Ed the Trucker” Durr would like.

For one thing, the experts point out, registered Democrats here have an edge of 900,000 over Republicans, as well as big structural advantages in heavily gerrymandered legislative districts. The state Legislature, as well as its congressional delegation, remains firmly in the hands of Democrats.

Photo: Shutterstock/Peter Serocki

Another fact diminishing the Trump boom: State data shows that voter turnout in New Jersey in November was the lowest ever recorded for a presidential election, with just 65 percent of the state’s 6.6 million registered voters casting ballots. The collapse in voter interest, especially among Democrats, suggests that Harris and her party were not offering what their base wanted to hear.

Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, says Harris simply didn’t talk enough about issues truly important to voters. While she was busy campaigning on abortion rights and warning about Trump’s threat to democracy, Rasmussen says, Harris ceded the pocketbook issues to the GOP.

“Were people concerned about abortion and democracy issues? Of course,” Rasmussen adds. “But a lot more people were concerned about stuff they saw as more front and center: affordability, property taxes, the high cost of car insurance. Things that move the needle for families.”

“New Jersey is an expensive place to live,” he says. “People want their public officials to do something about it.”

The election, Rasmussen adds, proved to be a wake-up call for Democratic party machines in North Jersey that have reliably turned out voters for decades. Losing more African American and Latino voters would make it harder for Democrats to prevail in this year’s gubernatorial race, he says, which is suddenly looking much more interesting.

“Hudson County has been a lazy machine for years,’’ he says. “They should be working with old-school shoe leather, block by block, family by family by family, house by house. But, with some exceptions, they’re just not doing it.”

One of the exceptions is Brian Stack, the longtime Union City mayor and Democratic state senator, whose get-out-the-vote work has become legendary. Every year, Stack gives away some 30,000 turkeys to constituents as he and his crew work the streets, ward by ward. “That’s the old-school way, but we’re watching it disappear,” Rasmussen says. “If Democrats want to reverse the trend and keep the governor’s office, they’re going to have to get back to it.”

At a time when almost every Republican politician of relevance is paying fealty to Donald Trump, one GOP player in Jersey will have none of it. State Senator John Bramnick, a stalwart member of the opposition in Trenton for 20 years, says his party will lose next year if it appeals only to MAGA voters in the belief New Jersey is turning red.

Bramnick, an amateur comedian who was voted by bar colleagues as the funniest lawyer in New Jersey, sees no joke in Trump’s threat to the Jersey GOP. New Jersey and its diverse, well-educated population, he argues, remains decidedly moderate.

Bramnick, who is seeking his party’s nomination in the governor’s race, recited a list of Republicans who have broken the Democratic voter-registration edge to win statewide office: Thomas Kean, Christine Todd Whitman, Chris Christie.

“What do those names have in common?” Bramnick asks. “They were all moderate, middle-of-the-road conservatives who placed practical good sense over some ideology. Their success tells me that people in New Jersey won’t ever elect a Trumper for governor.”

Despite Trump’s showing in 2024, public opinion polls over the years consistently show that New Jerseyans embrace a broad range of progressive policies, from the preservation of abortion rights to sensible limitations on gun ownership to gay marriage and legal marijuana.

“But people here also want lower taxes and less spending, and the sensible Republican who makes that case will win next year,” Bramnick says. “If we talk just about crazy Trump resentment stuff, we’ll lose.”

In the days leading up to the election, the race for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District drew serious national attention when Sue Altman, a former pro basketball player and progressive Democrat, appeared poised to unseat GOP scion Thomas Kean Jr., with the political control of the U.S. House in play.

Altman’s aptitude for taking on tough political fights, even with figures from her own party, like Camden County Democratic leader George Norcross, lifted her to prominence among reformers looking to shred New Jersey’s political-boss system.

In challenging Kean, Altman would have to win over voters across New Jersey’s Republican heartland, from Sussex County through Morris, Warren and Hunterdon. The district had also recently been redrawn, making it even more hostile to Democrats: Registered Republicans now held a 16,000-vote edge.

Altman ended up losing to Kean by some 5 percentage points. Today, she concedes the possibility that New Jersey may be undergoing a red shift. But she says the real puzzle is not why Trump did so well in Jersey, but how Democrats did so poorly.

“It wasn’t just that we lost some people who went from D to R,’’ she said in a phone interview about a month after the election. “It’s that the turnout for Democrats wasn’t the boon we expected in a presidential year. And I don’t know why that is.”

“I’ve learned there’s usually a rational reason people don’t exercise their right to vote, and it’s usually because they don’t feel they can make a difference,” Altman went on. “We have to find ways to make people feel like their votes matter.”

As her party retrenches in the wake of 2024’s Trump quake, Altman sees no easy way to reignite flagging Democratic voters. But the way forward, she says, will require a new spirit to fight and a willingness to take on conservative spin that tars too many progressives as dangerous socialists.

Democrats, Altman says, have grown too timid.

“If there’s any takeaway here, it’s that Dems have to develop an appetite for boldness and finally put on the shelf the kind of risk aversion that plagues us,’’ she says. “We have to run campaigns on our own terms, not on the terms of a narrative set by Fox News.”

While Democrats in New Jersey search for answers, emboldened Republicans will continue measuring the state for MAGA furniture and curtains. Many say Jersey is now a swing state and predict that the Trump-led GOP will take over Trenton in the next few years.

“No matter what way you look at this, Trump has changed the party forever,” says Mike Crispi, a South Jersey talk-show host and businessman who is considering a run for governor this year.

“There’s a brand-new coalition forming. You can see it in places like Passaic County. It’s Latinos, it’s working-class people, union members, it’s people who live in urban areas that have been blue forever. You draw 10 percent of new voters in Newark, Paterson, all over Hudson County, and you’ve got a new ball game.”

Jeff Pillets is a journalist based in Trenton who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2008.

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Sellinger to return to Greenberg Traurig

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Sellinger to return to Greenberg Traurig

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Philip Sellinger, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, will rejoin Greenberg Traurig LLP as co-chair of the firm’s global litigation practice, the firm announced Friday afternoon.

The move is effective Feb. 1.

Sellinger, who began serving as U.S. Attorney in 2021, formally resigned from the position on Jan. 8 – a standard and expected move before a new presidential administration.

Sellinger was the founding chair of Greenberg Traurig’s New Jersey office in 2002 and served as co-chair of the firm’s global litigation practice before taking the position.

Richard Rosenbaum, the firm’s executive chairman, was thrilled to make the announcement regarding his return.

“It is an honor and pleasure to welcome Philip home to Greenberg Traurig, where his leadership in our global litigation practice and New Jersey office over the years prior to his becoming U.S. Attorney was always profoundly appreciated,” he said.

“He is a distinguished attorney and a pillar in both the U.S. litigation bar and the New Jersey community, having always maintained the highest standards of quality and integrity. His experience, energy, collaborative nature, and servant style of leadership will once again be of significant value to his colleagues and the firm’s clients, particularly in our global litigation practice, and to the further strategic growth of our New Jersey office.”

Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy was equally enthused.

“Philip’s return to help lead our global litigation practice is a strong addition to our robust team of 800 litigators, of whom more than 60 are former federal and state prosecutors, including eight former U.S. Attorneys,” he said. “This team continues to grow from strength to strength, providing clients with representation at the highest level including real trial experience wherever and whenever needed worldwide.”

As U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Sellinger was the presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed chief federal law enforcement officer in the state. He oversaw a wide range of important federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation for the state and managed 165 prosecutors and 120 staff members.

Under Sellinger’s direction, the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office achieved international prominence in fighting cybercrime; reached landmark corporate criminal and civil resolutions; and aggressively prosecuted securities fraud, insider trading and market manipulation, public corruption, money laundering, fraud against government and private health care plans, government contract and customs fraud, unlawful kickback schemes, violent crime, and civil rights violations. He created the first standalone Civil Rights Division at any U.S. Attorneys’ Office and created a Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit.

Sellinger also served as chair of the Department of Justice’s E-Litigation Advisory Council, vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s Civil Rights Subcommittee, and a member of both the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s White Collar Crime Committee and Corporate Criminal Enforcement Working Group, which authored a voluntary self-disclosure policy that set a nationwide standard detailing the circumstances under which a company will receive credit for disclosing misconduct.

Sellinger said he is thrilled to return to the firm.

“Serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has been the privilege of a lifetime,” he said. “I am now thrilled to return home to Greenberg Traurig, an exceptionally dynamic law firm that truly embodies my commitment to legal excellence and the highest level of client service. Certainly, the firm’s presence in most major financial centers across the globe and vast array of practice expertise provides a platform that will greatly benefit the clients I expect to serve.”

At Greenberg Traurig, Sellinger will focus on high stakes complex trials and litigation in a wide array of areas, including government and internal investigations, white collar, class action defense, financial services, and technology litigation.

Lori Cohen and Masoud Zabeti, co-chairs of the practice group, welcomed him back.

“We are thrilled to once again be able to benefit from Philip’s considerable knowledge and skill as both an extraordinary litigator and leader,” they said in a joint comment. “We look forward to working closely with him to continue to grow our award-winning global litigation practice around the world.”

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Community Response | Cherry Hill Township, NJ

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Community Response | Cherry Hill Township, NJ

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Traditional Policing

Traditional Policing is described as the response to calls for service, the investigation of crimes, and arresting individuals during and after the process. This method alone does not reduce crime, address public safety issues, or deal with community problems.

No single policing agency can solve complex social problems by itself, so the need to build partnerships between the Police Department, community members and local government is imperative. Using this Community Relations strategy increases public safety through information and awareness programs resulting in a higher quality of life for our residents.

Keeping the Community Involved

There is a shared responsibility between the police and community members in encouraging a problem solving partnership. Assigned to the Community Response Unit, our officers work closely with Township residents and business owners keeping them notified of crime trends, proactive police responses, and preventive measures to address crime in their neighborhoods.

The focus is on improving the 2-way communications between the police and the community to help the residents develop rapport and participate in the crime prevention process. The exchange of information between the community and the police is essential in the prevention of crime that traditional policing methods do not address.

This communication also helps redirect the many calls to the Police Department that should be handled more efficiently by other agencies for problem solving resolutions. This allows our patrol officers more time to focus on our residents and proactive crime deterring methods in all of our neighborhoods.

Camden County Special Needs Registry

This form can be accessed here on Camden County Prosecutor Office’s website: https://camdencountypros.org/community-page/41

The Cherry Hill Township Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutors Office has a registry for individuals with Special Needs and disabilities in efforts to give police quick access in an emergency to critical information about a person who is registered. The registry can provide police with emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines, favorite attractions, or the needs of an individual with Special Needs and other disabilities such as: Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Down Syndrome or any other endangered individuals.

This information can greatly assist police officers when time is essential in communicating and dealing with an emergency situation involving a person with Special Needs and disabilities. The online registration asks for valuable information that the police officer may need when helping individuals with Special Needs and disabilities. We ask that all questions be filled out completely and a current photograph be provided, which can be submitted online on Camden County Prosecutors Office Special Needs Registry here: https://camdencountypros.org/community-page/41

The information you provide is confidential and will only be used by our police officers. If any of the information on the registration changes you are encouraged to re-register as soon as possible.

If you have questions please contact our Community Relations Unit at copps@cherryhillpolice.com or call 856-488-7813.

Community Groups

Presently, several neighborhood and civic groups in our Township are in contact with the Community Response Unit. All receive monthly crime stats for their respective area. If you are interested in joining one of the existing groups or setting up your own group, please contact the Community Response Unit. Civic groups also can schedule a community meeting and request an officer to attend to discuss topics.

Kid Card ID

The Cherry Hill Police Department is proud to present this Child ID program to any child free of charge at township events. The Cherry Hill Kid Card is an identification card parents will have as a quick reference should your child be reported lost or missing. The card will include a photo and physical description of your child. Additionally, the information on the card meets the criteria needed for identifying and entering the child into the Amber Alert System.

Personal Safety

Officers will speak about how you can help avoid becoming the victim of a crime. We can provide information of crime prevention, personal safety, senior safety, Internet safety, and identity theft safety.

Crime Prevention for Business

Officers will speak about deterring crime within the business community conducting instruction on robbery, shoplifting, theft, and credit card fraud prevention.

School Safety

Officers will speak with students and parents about a variety of topics including Internet safety, bullying, and bike safety. week 7 (1)

Bike Registration

Enter your bike information into our database via the Internet. This data will be stored and available to every Cherry Hill Police Officer. If your bike is stolen this information can be extremely helpful to the investigation.

Contact Information

For more information, contact the Community Response Unit at (856) 488-7813 or by email. Temple

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Matt Gabe ’05 is the driving force behind a cool new Hot Wheels car

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Matt Gabe ’05 is the driving force behind a cool new Hot Wheels car

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Speed over to your closest toy aisle and look for the Kei Swap — a new Hot Wheels car with ties to TCNJ.

Designed by Matt Gabe ’05, lead packaging designer at Hot Wheels, the car is a throwback to the ’90s and was created from nearly start to finish by Gabe.

A lifelong appreciator of cars, he’s had the Hot Wheels gig since 2009, designing the look of both large-scale playset packaging and individual die-cast car packages for the brand. Last fall, he was recognized as the guest of honor at the 38th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention in Los Angeles.

Here, we get behind the wheel with Gabe as he talks about his toy car creation and his time as a graphic design major at the college.

Thumb and index finger grasping a red toy car — Gabe displays his creation: The Kei Swap. Photo credit: Alyson Hendrix

Q: Start our engines, what is the Kei Swap all about?

A: I usually do the artwork for HW packages, but the design team knows that I’m a bit of a car guy. The team wanted to do a small ’90s Japanese van and asked if I would be interested creating an original Hot Wheel. I have a special place in my heart for small Japanese cars, so I said ‘yes’ before even knowing what goes into designing a car.

After a good amount of help from our design team, I worked with our in-house sculpting team to make the drawing into a 3D digital model. Then it was time to decorate. The car is part of a mini-collection called “Art Cars,” but the only direction I was given was to pick an art style and design my van around that. After a little brainstorming with the graphics team, we landed on ’90s pop art. I started with a red exterior and pulled some inspiration from Trapper Keeper binders and the intro from “Saved by the Bell” — SUPER ’90s. I also wanted to give the van a reason for having the graphics on it, so I decided to make it the shop van of a design shop. I lent my name to it and added “MattGabe! Designs” to the front doors.

The interior of the van is filled with extra details I wanted, too — an extra set of tires, a boombox (with my initials on it), and a BMX bike.

Q: Tell us about the process of going from a design on paper to casting an actual car.

A: The process was a lot of things. Exciting, stressful, but mostly very fun. After the team fully approves the design of all the individual pieces, we give the approval to “cut steel” and make the molds. After the molds are made, they produce a small run of cars to confirm that the finished product looks good.

The next steps are designing the package, coming up with a name, and writing copy for the package — all of which I offered to do. In fact, I did almost everything myself aside from going to the factory and running the machines. But I did offer to do that, too!

Q: We hear you were the guest of honor at the 38th annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention. Tell us about that.

A: The HW Convention is an annual gathering of Hot Wheels superfans of all ages that takes place over five days in October. People come from all over the world to attend, and I’ve met so many fun and interesting people over the last few years. There are custom car contests, coloring and drawing contests, seminars about collecting, autograph and Q&A sessions with Hot Wheels designers, a charity auction, and a sneak peek at upcoming releases with the Hot Wheels team. The guest of honor is always a Hot Wheels team member who has had an impact in the world of HW. I was genuinely shocked when I was asked to be the guest of honor this year, as it is usually reserved for the car designers, not the packaging team.

Q: Take a lap around memory lane. What was your time at TCNJ like?

A: My professors, classmates, and Holman Hall were the glue that held it all together. Professors Chung Sum “Fanky” Chak and Anita Allyn instilled a strong foundation for my graphic design skills. I was also had an on-campus job as a graphic designer for the Art Gallery, creating booklets and mailers for art openings at the gallery. The hands-on experience of creating art and prepping it for actual production gave me a leg up in design work. Lots of late-night shenanigans with friends in the art studios and computer labs of Holman Hall were had while designing logos, magazines, and posters — and sometimes there were chair races in the hallway!

And quick shoutout to my high school graphic design teacher (and TSC alum) Lloyd Taylor who first got me interested in design and photography and opened the door to a career path I didn’t even know existed!

Do you have a story to share? Submit your class notes online!

— Corinne Coakley ’25 and Emily W. Dodd ’03

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Mairo Named Chair of Gibbons’ Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Group

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Mairo Named Chair of Gibbons’ Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Group

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New Hire/Promotion

On Jan 17, 2025

Newark-based law firm Gibbons P.C. has appointed John S. Mairo as chair of the Financial Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights (FRCR) Group. Mairo, whose practice focuses on commercial litigation, workouts, financial reorganizations, and creditors’ rights, was most recently with Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., serving as both chair of the Commercial Practice Group and co-chair of the Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Department.

At Gibbons, Mairo takes the baton from Robert K. Malone, now FRCR chair emeritus, who has led the group since 2019. In his new role, Mairo will apply his proven leadership skills to continuing the practice’s notable growth under Malone and building on the group’s proficient teamwork.

“Gibbons is a great and well-established firm, and I am excited and honored to receive this wonderful opportunity to join its legal team and take its Bankruptcy practice to even greater heights,” said Mairo. “I have worked with many Gibbons attorneys over the years and look forward to working more closely with them, particularly those in the firm’s Corporate, Real Property, and Litigation practices, which complement the FRCR Group.”

Mairo has represented an extensive slate of clients that comprises debtors, secured lenders, creditors’ committees, landlords, administrative agents for syndicates of lenders, foreign representatives, and more. Throughout his decades-long career, he has handled mid-size to multibillion-dollar bankruptcy matters on both national and international scales, securing favorable settlements, proposing beneficial recovery plans, and successfully litigating cases that have enabled his clients’ businesses to thrive and prosper. His significant experience has included complex restructuring cases and antitrust multidistrict litigation.

Mairo is an INSOL International Fellow and committee member of the INSOL Insolvency Practitioners Group and is one of only three bankruptcy attorneys in the Third Circuit selected for induction this March as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for Business/Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Thomson Reuters New Jersey Super Lawyers®; and The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, and Commercial Litigation. In 2020, Best Lawyers® featured him as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation/Bankruptcy in the Newark area.

“We are thrilled to welcome John on board, and I am very pleased to pass the baton to him,” remarked Malone. “I have known John for many years, and he is a tremendous addition to our firm. I look forward to working with John, and I am confident he will excel as the Group’s new leader in advancing the goals and objectives of the Bankruptcy practice for years to come.”

Added Peter J. Torcicollo, Gibbons’s managing director, “We are happy to welcome John to the Gibbons family. With his extensive experience and broad knowledge, he is highly qualified to steer the FRCR Group as it enters a new era of leadership.”

In addition to his previous roles with Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, Mairo’s background includes associateships at several private practices, as well as a clerkship with the Hon. Rosemary Gambardella, Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey. He is an appointed mediator for and a member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, which has recognized him for his pro bono service. Additionally, Mairo is certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification.

Mairo earned his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School, where he was managing editor of the Seton Hall Journal of Sport Law, and a B.A. with honors from Boston College. He is admitted to practice in the states of New Jersey and New York, as well as the United States Supreme Court and various New Jersey and New York district courts.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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Breaking Down the State Revolving Fund – Recommendations and Changes

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Breaking Down the State Revolving Fund – Recommendations and Changes

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December 2nd, 2024 by Jessika Sherman

This blog is a follow-up to New Jersey Future’s November 2023 report Improving a Program That Works: Recommendations to the New Jersey Water Bank for Advancing Equity. Please see page 1 of the report for a list of acronyms.

Over the next 20 years, the United States must spend $625 billion to fix, maintain, and improve water infrastructure. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, New Jersey alone will need to spend at least $12,252,800,000 on drinking water infrastructure and $19,352,000,000 on clean water infrastructure over the next 20 years to make all necessary improvements and repairs. The predominant sources of water infrastructure funding and financing for all 50 states are the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF – wastewater treatment and stormwater management) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF – safe and reliable water supply). These State Revolving Funds (SRFs) are financial assistance programs that provide low-interest loans to support critical water infrastructure projects essential for protecting public health and the environment.

The New Jersey Water Bank (NJWB), a partnership of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank), manages New Jersey’s State Revolving Funds. NJWB’s financial support to New Jersey wastewater and drinking water systems has generated significant savings through principal forgiveness (PF – grant-like funding) and low-interest loans. Disadvantaged communities (DACs) served by small and medium-sized systems face increased challenges in accessing SRF funding, particularly struggling to reach the initial application stage due to the high costs associated with planning and design. Larger water utilities tend to receive disproportionate awards, while smaller, fiscally distressed DACs lag behind, highlighting a significant equity concern. In Improving a Program that Works: Recommendations to the New Jersey Water Bank for Advancing Equity, released in November 2023, New Jersey Future (NJF) and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) primarily recommended policies to improve access to the SRFs for water systems serving DACs through a more robust method for identifying disadvantaged communities, maximizing pre-construction support, expanding principal forgiveness funds, and providing 0% interest loans.

Annually, the NJWB is required to develop Intended Use Plans (IUPs) for the DWSRF and CWSRF, laying out the policies, funding packages, and project priority ranking methodology for the corresponding state fiscal year. Over the last few years, NJF has reviewed New Jersey’s IUP policies and submitted comments concerning the amount of state and federal funding used to address the needs of water systems serving disadvantaged communities. NJDEP, which sets policy for the NJWB, has been open to feedback and working with stakeholders to improve the IUP policies.

Of the ten recommendations made in Improving a Program that Works, NJDEP has implemented the following:

NJWB has made progress in expanding set-aside activities for technical assistance and support for DACs, particularly for pre-construction needs. Project sponsors who meet the affordability criteria are eligible for the New Jersey Technical Assistance Program (NJTAP), a free technical assistance program for drinking water projects. Additional planning and design grants and principal forgiveness are also available.
Increased flat caps in all drinking water SRF categories that will result in more subsidies for small water systems, lead service line (LSL) projects, and DAC systems.
NJWB implemented a tiered funding structure to direct a greater share of financial assistance to DACs with the greatest financial need.
The most recent IUP clarified the I-Bank’s creditworthiness policy.

NJF is excited to see all the improvements that have been made and hopes to see the following changes made in the future:

As a key first step in refining its criteria for dispersing principal forgiveness, NJDEP implemented a two-tiered system based primarily on median household income (MHI).To maximize equity, NJDEP should adopt the model established by several other states (e.g., Wisconsin) that incorporates more tiers and indicators (e.g., family poverty, population trend). The combined effect directs a larger share of aid to the state’s neediest communities.
MHI is still the primary criterion for calculating an affordability score for water systems serving DACs in the Intended Use Plans. NJF and EPIC recommend utilizing the Department of Community Affairs’ Municipal Revitalization Index score, a multidimensional tool comprising ten factors in five broad categories. Alternatively, NJDEP could consider using a water affordability index, such as the one developed by Dan Van Abs (Professor of Practice for Water, Society, and the Environment at Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) for Jersey Water Works, for distributing funds to those in greatest need.
NJDEP should significantly expand the use of 0% interest loans to advance critical, high-priority projects in the most distressed DACs. NJDEP only increased these loans for investor-owned systems in the most recent IUP.
Significantly increase the ranking points awarded in the Project Priority List for “gainsharing” initiatives that benefit both the water utility and the state, such as water affordability programs (which support appropriate rate setting while protecting low-income customers), asset management plans, and regionalization of water assets.
NJDEP should repurpose a modest portion of loan repayments to increase principal forgiveness to DACs. NJDEP could use this approach to develop a funding source for galvanized water service lines within DACs, which may not be eligible for federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Galvanized service lines are required to be removed in NJ by 2031 since they can be a source of lead in drinking water.
Legislation to improve creditworthiness for severely distressed DACs.

The report also identified the need to address congressionally directed spending, or earmarks. Congress has diverted SRF funding to earmarked projects, and the concern is that earmarked projects circumvent the normal priority-setting process where projects determined to be of the highest priority score the most points. In addition, communities with median household incomes (MHI) above the state average, including some of New Jersey’s wealthiest areas, have received nearly half of the earmarked funds. Meanwhile, less than a third of these funds have gone to disadvantaged communities (DACs). Discussions with New Jersey’s congressional delegation are ongoing, but no definitive changes have been made to prevent federal water infrastructure funding from being derailed by earmarks. Governor Murphy, according to NJDEP, sent a letter to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation expressing concern over this issue.

As last year’s report title states, NJDEP’s CWSRF and DWSRF programs are generally effective and have provided significant funding to improve water systems since their inception; however, as New Jersey faces the daunting challenge of aging water infrastructure and its extreme costs, ensuring equitable access to funding is critical. DACs served by small- to medium-sized water systems face the most barriers to accessing the financial resources needed to repair and upgrade water systems. Though progress has been made, significant disparities remain. NJWB should continue to refine its program to target funding to New Jersey’s most distressed communities, most of which lack the resources to provide safe, reliable water services for the future. Without a greater commitment to both equity and funding, the gap between resource-constrained DACs and other water utilities will continue to grow, undermining efforts to build resilient, sustainable infrastructure across New Jersey.

Posted in State Planning, Water and Sewer, Water Infrastructure

Tags: clean water, Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, financial assistance, state funding, State Planning, state revolving fund, water infrastructure

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Passionate short Mad Clean screens on opening day of the New Jersey Film Festival

Don Lichterman

19 January 2025

Passionate short Mad Clean screens on opening day of the New Jersey Film Festival

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By Anran Li

originally published: 01/19/2025

It is not every day that you get to watch a movie starting with only close-ups of everything. I suppose that is quite a clever gesture to introduce a manic character without saying the exact words – we get to see through her eyes, enter her mind; we feel her fear. The short film Mad Clean opens strong: a forcefully worded argument in which we only see the seemingly stubborn, and struggling sister unwilling to step out of her excluded apartment cell. We are immediately trapped in this claustrophobic space with the protagonist, Leanne, who so fiercely closed the door against the rest of the world as what seems to be a self-protecting attempt. The movie seems to be tinted with an unwavering gray hue until accompanying the upbeat music. Ebony, the cleaning lady, interrupts the melancholic scene wearing a bright cloud of baby-blue.

The story takes a genre trope and adds an empathetic twist by joining the conflicted, one mentally and the other economically, characters and thus collide into a heartfelt moment as the latter somehow invites a glimpse of light into the former’s physical and spiritual spaces. Despite being a short production, it manages to create possibilities for humane concerns for underrepresented groups in various demographics. But instead of using powerful persuasive skills that would risk turning itself into a total commercial, it still preserves the artistic voice through subtle cinematic touches: from the details of mise-en-scene such as the egg cartons on the wall and yellow-tinted paper on the window to the actresses’ more prominent facial expressions, characters exceed their prototypes and outlines a brewing friendship.

My favorite scene of the movie, however, is the somewhat unnerving dread of men wearing chemical suits creeping out from their hiding places within Leanne’s cell (or imagination). There is an inherent invasion of comfort with the surrealist, dreamy imagery of a threat that already exists inside our homes – representing us – something that I wished the filmmakers could sustain in the latter sequence. In fact, the impression of this sequence haunts me so much that I even generated several versions of dark interpretations of the latter scene, something I’d be glad to hear about similar viewing experiences.

There is a great filmmaking voice that enhances the rather simple and linear plot, something we ceaselessly look for from thoughtful filmmakers and more. The passion, effort, empathy, and concern for the overlooked and underappreciated is what makes individual filmmaking the resourceful mine that would always convey surprises. The endeavor is contagious, and it would certainly inspire more to pick up a camera, and for more to be seen and heard.

Mad Clean screens as part of Shorts Program #1at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25. The film will be Online for 24 Hours on this show date and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ.

Tickets are available for purchase here: https://watch.eventive.org/newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025/play/670d1f59ca3a0a0064271dcf/670ac53e5f12070033c51ffa

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The 43rd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 24-February 21, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as it will be presented online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VoD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. Plus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, February 21 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Renee Maskin concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program.

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome

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How Andy Kim Emerged as a Ray of Hope for NJ Democrats

Don Lichterman

18 January 2025

How Andy Kim Emerged as a Ray of Hope for NJ Democrats

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By almost any measure, 2024 was a horrible year for New Jersey Democrats. United States Senator Robert Menendez resigned after he was caught pocketing gold bars and $500,000 in cash from foreign nationals. Governor Phil Murphy twisted in humiliation after his wife, Tammy, dropped her short-lived campaign to replace Menendez. Donald Trump turned Democratic counties red all over the state on November 5.

But then there was Andy Kim.

The soft-spoken foreign-policy geek from Burlington County emerged as a singular ray of hope in the Election Day gloom that settled over Jersey Democrats. On a night when Trump and company were rolling up big numbers almost everywhere, Kim won a decisive victory over Cape May businessman Curtis Bashaw to become the first Korean American in history elected to the U.S. Senate.

Kim’s win was a political slap in the face to the big-money donors and party bosses that have held sway in the Garden State for decades. More than 90 percent of the $12 million that donors sent his way came in contributions under $100, data shows. Kim rejected corporate PAC money, too.

“We showed that politics isn’t just some exclusive club for the well off and the well connected,” Kim told supporters at his election-night victory party. “We built something that epitomizes the grassroots.”

For a politician who took on the governor’s coalition and other Democratic titans to win the Senate nomination, Kim spoke with a humility that first won over voters six years ago, when he was elected United States Representative in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District. He verged on tears recalling how his mother and father had emigrated from Korea before he was born, and how he began to pursue the American dream in New Jersey. He addressed much of his victory speech to his wife, Kammy, and the couple’s two young children.

“I know this has been tough, and I know there have been moments when I haven’t been there for you, and I am sorry,” he said, embracing his children. “I hope you understand why I did it.”

Kim, 42, still lives just down the street from the Moorestown home where he grew up. Born in Boston, he moved with his family in 1987 to Camden County, where his father began work as a cancer researcher. His mother, also from Korea, was a nurse.

He graduated from the University of Chicago and earned a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University. He worked at the State Department, the Department of Defense and the White House Security Council during the Obama administration.

After winning election as a U.S. representative, Kim became a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, marriage equality and military aid to Ukraine.

Kim’s political profile rose dramatically in 2023, when he announced his U.S. Senate candidacy the day after Menendez was indicted for bribery. He made his move without waiting for Democratic party leaders to weigh in on who might replace the damaged Menendez.

Kim further irritated party leaders by filing a lawsuit to reform New Jersey’s primary election system and the infamous “party line” ballots that favored candidates chosen by local political bosses. Kim’s insurgent attack on the party-line system put him in direct opposition to Murphy’s wife, Tammy, a political novice who was also running to replace Menendez and was rolling up endorsements of local bosses.

Tammy Murphy was forced to withdraw amid widespread criticism that the governor was strong-arming party members to support her. “Andy Kim is a committed reformer and a genuinely nice guy,” says Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Center for Politics at Rider University. “But to some extent, he became the champion he is because he was pushed into a bad place. To his credit, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Jeff Pillets is a journalist based in Trenton who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2008.

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Plant Biology Professor James White and Team Recognized by Rutgers with Agriculture Innovation Award : Newsroom

Don Lichterman

18 January 2025

Plant Biology Professor James White and Team Recognized by Rutgers with Agriculture Innovation Award : Newsroom

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L-R: Prabhas V. Moghe, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer; Michael E. Zwick, senior vice president for Research; Ag Innovation Award team members Ivelisse Irizarry and Kathryn Kingsley; Ag Innovation Award winner James White; Deborah Perez Fernandez, executive director of Technology Transfer; and Vincent Smeraglia, executive director of New Ventures. Photo credit: Rutgers Office for Research.

James White, Professor in the Department of Plant Biology, was presented with the Agriculture Innovation Award at the first-ever Rutgers Innovation Awards that recognized researchers who have demonstrated excellence by developing a breakthrough idea, process, or technology that has the potential to improve lives and create economic value.

White was honored along with members of his research team, Kathryn Kingsley, former graduate student and current manager in the White lab; Kurt Kowalski, wetland ecologist and research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Xiaoquin Chang, post-doc in the White lab; Matthew Elmore, associate extension specialist in weed science, Department of Plant Biology; and Ivelisse Irizarry, former graduate student and now Assistant Professor at InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico.

Professor James White speaks after being presented the Agriculture Innovation Award.

“I am surprised, pleased and honored that we are receiving this award on innovation in agriculture,” said White. “We conducted this research to have a positive impact in agriculture and conservation biology. This innovation award is an indication that we are in fact having a positive impact. The entire research team is grateful for this award.”

The Rutgers Office for Research celebrated the awardees, who were either nominated by their peers or self-nominated and then reviewed by external experts. The inaugural event also celebrated current Rutgers inventors who were issued U.S. patents during the fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway opened the event with a video tribute, followed by speakers that included Prabhas V. Moghe, executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer, and Michael E. Zwick, senior vice president for Research.

“Today is a day for highlighting the best of the university and honoring those who work so hard to achieve these innovations – research faculty, staff, postdocs and students alike,” said Holloway. “Across Rutgers, we see breakthrough research, award-winning scholarships, and deeply inspiring creative endeavors. I am proud of the nearly 150 applications we received and the fantastic work that stood behind each of them. I salute those who won awards, those who were recognized for patents issued over the past two years, and those who completed technology transfer training. Together, you give us countless reasons to take pride in Rutgers research and innovation.”

“Empowered through scholarship and novel endeavors, the Rutgers Innovation Award honorees are model innovators whose work seeks to transform lives and address some of the most pressing challenges facing society today,” said Moghe. “Their commitment to advancing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of science and technology reflects the highest ideals of academic excellence and serves as an inspiration to all of us. I congratulate each honoree on this most-deserved recognition.”

Attendees at the inaugural Rutgers Innovation Awards in 2024 hosted by the Rutgers Office for Research.

“The winners of the inaugural Rutgers Innovation Awards have made remarkable inventions and discoveries, and they represent why we are all here: to translate our research into solutions for societal challenges, and to change the world,” said Zwick. “The incredible researchers being recognized tonight are why Rutgers continues to become an ever greater 21st century research and innovation powerhouse. Their inventions improve our increasingly interconnected and complex world, and I congratulate them on being honored for their contributions.”

Teams of experts in each award field scored winners based on metrics such as novelty, competitive advantage, impact, utility and socio-economic value of the innovation, and significance of the problem solved.

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Projected Lineups for the Flyers vs Devils – 1/18/25 – The Hockey Writers – Projected Lineups

Don Lichterman

18 January 2025

Projected Lineups for the Flyers vs Devils – 1/18/25 – The Hockey Writers – Projected Lineups

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The Philadelphia Flyers take on the New Jersey Devils this afternoon at the Prudential Center. Here are the projected/expected lineups sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents, and others.

FLYERS (20-20-6) at DEVILS (26-15-6)

12:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NHLN, NBCSP

Flyers projected lineup

Owen Tippett — Morgan Frost — Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster — Noah Cates — Bobby Brink
Joel Farabee — Sean Couturier — Matvei Michkov
Olle Lycksell — Scott Laughton — Garnet Hathaway

Cam York — Travis Sanheim
Egor Zamula — Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler — Jamie Drysdale

Samuel Ersson
Ivan Fedotov

Scratched: Erik Johnson, Aleksei Kolosov

Injured: Nicolas Deslauriers (upper body), Ryan Poehling (upper body)

Status report

Poehling will not play after being hit by New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov in the first period of a 5-3 win Thursday; the center will be replaced in the lineup by Lycksell.

Latest for THW:

Devils projected lineup

Ondrej Palat — Jack Hughes — Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier — Nico Hischier — Dawson Mercer
Paul Cotter — Justin Dowling — Tomas Tatar
Kurtis MacDermid — Curtis Lazar — Nathan Bastian

Brenden Dillon — Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler — Jonathan Kovacevic
Luke Hughes — Brett Pesce

Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom

Scratched: Brian Halonen, Colton White

Injured: Santeri Hatakka (shoulder), Erik Haula (ankle), Stefan Noesen (illness)

Status report

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said Thursday there is an illness going around the team, which could result in some game-time decisions. … Haula, a forward, was placed on injured reserve Friday. White, a defenseman, was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League on Friday.

Latest for THW:

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Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 1/16/2025

Don Lichterman

16 January 2025

Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 1/16/2025

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Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We have not had a second-term governor with popular approval for quite some time. He’s not looking for election. He’s not looking for his wife’s election. He’s not looking for his next job. He’s in this position in which voters are probably happy with, which is: ‘What can I get done?” – Rider University’s Micah Rasmussen on Governor Murphy’s State of the State

TOP STORY: Bhalla Enters Assembly Race

Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Rising Generations publication.

Governor Murphy is looking to partner with incoming President Trump in his final year, according to Politico NJ.

President-elect Trump’s Transportation Secretary nominee has a record of voting against funding for the Gateway Tunnel project, according to NJ Spotlight.

The NJDOH and Rowan University partnered to enhance mental health services at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital.

Some school districts are already banning cellphones in classrooms, according to NJ.com.

A North Jersey rabbi will deliver a blessing at President-elect Trump’s inauguration, according to NorthJersey.com.

A new public health institute in the state is taking shape, according to NJ Spotlight.

Burlington County appointed a law firm to review the 2024 election.

The proposed Essex County $874M budget includes a 1.99% tax hike, according to NJ Hills.

An Ocean County sheriff’s officer spoke out about a sex assault suit that brought a $177M award, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Rep. Van Drew promised to fight ‘tooth and nail’ against offshore wind, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Rutgers University announced the inductees into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

ICYMI: Murphy delivered SOS address, mentioned ‘elephant not in the room‘, laid out priorities including removing cellphones from classrooms; NJDOL reported NJ leads Northeast population growth; state announced a historic low in gun violence

Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Retrospective/2025 Advance publication.

Rep. Gottheimer was endorsed for Governor by mayors in Rep. Sherrill’s district, according to NJ Globe.

Former Senate President Sweeney launched his first digital ad for his gubernatorial candidacy, according to NJ Globe.

In LD4, Melinda Kane is joining the Assembly, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In LD32, Hoboken Mayor Bhalla launched his Assembly candidacy, saying ‘Trenton needs more mayors who get things done’. Assembly candidate Katie Brennan raised $85k for her campaign.

In LD35, a new Senator and Assemblymember will be chosen at a convention today, according to NJ Globe.

MAD Global expanded their Ohio operation.

ICYMI: Sumter, Wimberly collision course; Insider NJ sits down w/ Spiller; Sweeney announced campaign manager; Fulop released primary education video; look ahead at guv race; NJGOP announced Gonzalez as ED; Bramnick made reorg rounds

Senate President Scutari wants to look at consolidating watchdog agencies, according to NJ Globe.

Assemblywoman Munoz released a proposal for paid parental leave.

‘Fake farmers’ in the state could soon lose a tax break, according to MyCentralJersey.

ICYMI: Legislature devised interim solution to legal ads

In Jersey City, mayoral candidate Councilman Solomon raised over $800k.

In Bound Brook, the town will lose library services until further notice, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Camden, a proposed building would become the tallest tower in the city, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In Newark, a unreleased report found students at a school endured anti-black racism, according to NJ Monitor.

In Ocean City, police are preparing for four years of disruption, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In Old Bridge, a development may bring 2,400 residents into town, according to MyCentralJersey.

In South Amboy, a new apartment building may come to town, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Toms River, the council clamped down on how long people can speak at meetings, according to the Asbury Park Press.

ICYMI: In Parsippany, Bergen endorsed Barberio, in primary w/ Mussella; in Hoboken, Jabbour announced for mayor as Bhalla won’t seek re-election; in Jersey City, Akaezuwa announced council candidacy

AROUND THE WEB:

Here comes Trump 2.0 and with it, no matter what, some weirdness

Jeff Edelstein, The Trentonian

Remember the scene in “Frozen,” when it’s Coronation Day? (What? I have two daughters. I’ve seen “Frozen” 47 times.) Anyway, it’s a thrilling song. Anna is thrilled because her sister Elsa is about to be crowned Queen (or something, I don’t know, I’m usually looking at my phone and not the movie).

With 76ers’ arena out, a modest proposal for Camden | Editorial

South Jersey Times Editorial Board

Now that the dust has settled, and the Philadelphia 76ers will not be taking up New Jersey’s generous offer to build their new arena in Camden, here’s a more modest proposal than New Jersey’s standard deal, “How much tax-free public money do you want? We’ll pay it.” Let’s build an arena in Camden, anyway.

Recapping (and analyzing) Murphy’s State of the State address

Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com

Gov. Phil Murphy has done enough State of the State addresses to know the deal: highlight your successes – and give a sneak peek of what may be coming in the more extensive budget address. Tuesday in Trenton, he didn’t disappoint.

N.J. teachers are ready, able, and properly certified | Opinion

Kwamé Floyd

New Jersey just took a giant step to strengthen our teacher workforce and knock down barriers to recruiting and retaining necessary talent. A new law that waives the Basic Skills Praxis exam for some aspiring teachers has been welcomed with disparaging headlines and social media posts intended to create controversy. A closer look, however, reveals a thoughtful effort to address teacher shortages and the redundancies of outdated certification practices while maintaining high standards for educator readiness.

Legislative Leaders, Advocacy Groups Respond to State of the State Address

Alex Connell, TAPinto Morristown

With Governor Phil Murphy’s annual State of the State Address over, legislative leaders gathered and shared statements outlining their views on the speech, and the agenda that was laid out for the final year of the current administration. Republican Senator Leader Anthony Bucco addressed the media shortly after, accusing Murphy of painting “a rosy picture about the state and how it’s stronger and fairer,” while questioning who it was stronger and fairer for.

Trump-allied think tank taps Donohue, Rooney to lead N.J. chapter

David Wildstein

America First Policy Institute, a national think tank formed to promote Donald Trump’s policy agenda, has formed a New Jersey state chapter with Cape May County GOP Chairman Michael Donohue as chairman and Save Jersey editor Matt Rooney as executive director.

The Inside Edge with David Wildstein: 35th District

David Wildstein

A look inside politics in New Jersey.

State Workers in New Jersey May Get 12 Weeks Fully Paid Family Leave

Eric Scott, NJ1015

Gov. Phil Murphy has counted on the support of public employee unions to advance his progressive agenda for the last seven years. During his State of the State address on Tuesday, Murphy offered a parting gift to state workers in form of 12-weeks of fully paid family leave.

Retired Admiral elected chair of The Seeing Eye in Morris Township

The Seeing Eye

The Seeing Eye Board of Trustees elected Michael H. Mittelman, OD, MPH, MBA, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.), of Horsham, Pa., to serve as Chair during its December 2024 meeting. Mittelman, who joined the Board in 2017, succeeds Cynthia Bryant, who had served on the Board since 2011. “I am deeply honored to serve as the Chair of The Seeing Eye Board of Trustees, an organization whose mission empowers individuals to lead independent, fulfilling lives,” Mittelman said.

How every town in NJ voted in the 2024 presidential election

Rick Rickman, NJ1015

Surprising new data from the state Division of Elections reveals exactly how Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey’s 14 electoral votes in November’s presidential race. Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, said Democrats did better in certain parts of the state with more affluent communities and educated, suburban communities that have recently become cores for the party.

Did Phil Murphy just (accidentally) solve the Left’s biggest concern with voter ID laws?

Matt Rooney

If the Garden State just moved a little bit closer to having its own voter ID law, Save Jerseyans Governor Phil Murphy may be this all-important election integrity cause’s unlikely champion. A little context: fifteen U.S. states have some form of voter ID requirement. New Jersey isn’t one of them. For the longest time, the Left has complained that voter ID laws – which require voters to produce a legal ID card in order to cast a ballot – are discriminatory in large part because identification cards are allegedly hard to obtain.

County by county: Where your paycheck goes the furthest in NJ

Dino Flammia, NJ1015

The money you’re earning can be stretched a little further in some parts of the Garden State. Your purchasing power varies from county to county, according to a study from SmartAsset, a financial technology company. SmartAsset compared the per-capita income of each county with the cost of living for each county, to determine where folks may get more bang for their buck.

Trenton’s New Beginnings money pit gets more funding from City Council

LA Parker, The Trentonian

A New Beginnings Housing Program intended to offer homeownership to eligible candidates via renovation of abandoned properties needs reconsideration or termination. Created in 2022 then launched with righteous fanfare in August 2023, a remodeling of the house for Vanessa Solivan in the 600 block of North Clinton Ave. parallels a popular movie The Money Pit.

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Burlington County Institute of Technology

Don Lichterman

16 January 2025

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Our mission is to fully and comprehensively prepare adolescents and adults of Burlington County:

To respond to societal needs through the development of career and technical education programs reflecting the technological advances of the greater community while meeting the needs of both adolescent and adult learners.

To provide programs enabling all students to become productive, self-fulfilled, lifelong learners.

To develop and maintain reciprocal relationships with both civic and business communities.

To support community-wide social, cultural, counseling and career and technical education training programs, while jointly developing apprenticeship and occupational training programs with local businesses, industries, and educational institutions.

To position students for success in mastering the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Grades 9 through 12 in a safe, secure, and caring environment.

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Dystopian Feature Dead Community Guild screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25!

Don Lichterman

16 January 2025

Dystopian Feature Dead Community Guild screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25!

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By Anran Li

originally published: 01/16/2025

Three minutes into this film, I paused and texted my boyfriend, a huge enthusiast of creative thrillers, stunts, and cool fight scenes: “I think this is totally your thing.”

While Texas Chainsaw Massacre is almost THE horror film that would trigger the “You’ve NEVER seen this?” response, following its steps is hardly child’s play. I will not say Dead Community Guild is a textbook demonstration, yet it is rather straightforward and concise in what it conveys: a dystopia premise with the end-day desperation on the scorching Texas road. The opening scene well establishes how the worldview is built with a crisp and somewhat comedic confrontation. Just as such, we are informed of how, in the film, the human conflict is extremely exacerbated by the scarcity of resources that laws, civilization, and the goodness of human nature all cave in to the minimal animal instinct and the drive to survive. The radio broadcasting of the “welcoming” messages for survivors to join the community, despite the endearing tone, recurs in the film so often that it becomes creepy as a threat that we cannot help but assume the so-called community might be the climate of a bloodbath, just like the dawn of the Hunger Games.

Moreover, it is subject to personal interpretation why the center of the chaotic skirmishing is a pair of sisters nestled against each other for a tiny bit of warmth. Is it the hope that the bittersweet taste would mesh well with the dark coffee? Or is it an attempt to add their charm to this rough blend of madness? The savage beauty of two pretty women holding guns? Or is it for a different voice? Or, rather simply, the eyes of the newcomers?

No matter how I see it, I always appreciate the aesthetic of Western movies. From the breathtaking silhouette of the two sisters hugging in the sunset to dreamy, surreal sequences with almost poisonous-colored filters and empty shots of the no-man land, even the tiny breezes spread the drought. We can tell that these are well executed when we feel the overexposed images depriving every drop of water in our throat; still, the uniqueness and, sometimes, why we like Indies is how creative and wild they could be when they are free of the restraint of genres. The particularity of Dead Community Guild lies in the unexpectedly diversified color palette, time reversal, and experimental ghostly sequences.

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Some might categorize movies into two kinds: artsy productions that cater to those who consider themselves cinephiles, who would “appreciate, criticize, and analyze,” and the other kind for those who just want to have a good time. And some might think the former is for the “pensive viewers” who speak the language of films. Yet there are always those for both, or neither, that defy a stereotypical definition and show all there is to show about a good story, and present a chorus after which anyone, deep-thinker or not, could say, “That was a good one”, and I would say Dead Community Guild would count as one. Even without special emphasis on the scores, it isn’t surprising that the director, Emil Minasyan, is a musician, as we can identify the beats, chorus, and repercussions in the overall narrative and how neatly it climaxes and wraps up.

“So, is it good?” One might ask. Whether you’re looking for just a good time, something for reflection, or something for analyzing, I would probably have the same answer. “This could totally be your thing, but there is only one way to find out.”

Dead Community Guild screens at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25. The film will be Online for 24 Hours on this show date and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase here.

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome

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Jersey Talent Returns to State Theatre New Jersey on June 1, 2025

Don Lichterman

14 January 2025

Jersey Talent Returns to State Theatre New Jersey on June 1, 2025

Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Event Start Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: State Theatre New Jersey
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes (no intermission)

Central New Jersey’s premier community talent show for ages 8-25 is back! Jersey Talent provides an exciting platform for youth to express themselves through their art in a supportive and safe environment. This event, held at the historic State Theatre New Jersey, celebrates the incredible creativity and talent of young performers, and promises to be an unforgettable evening.

Auditions Now Open!

If you’re a young performer between the ages of 8 and 25, you can apply to be part of Jersey Talent! Whether you’re a singer, dancer, musician, or have another talent to share, we want to see what New Jersey has to offer. Simply complete the online application form and include a video link (no longer than 2 minutes) showcasing your talent. No prior experience is necessary, and we encourage all types of performances—solo or in small groups (up to 4 people). Please note, no live animals or pyrotechnics will be allowed, and businesses or professional acts are not eligible.

The application deadline is February 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM, and finalists will be contacted by February 25 for live callback auditions. Performers under the age of 18 must have parental or guardian approval.

The Program

Jersey Talent is a celebration of youth artistry, bringing together a wide variety of performances that highlight the rich artistic diversity of New Jersey. Ten finalists will compete in front of a live audience, showcasing their skills in music, dance, and beyond. The finalists will perform in the following order:

John Boudouvas – Tap dancer from Metuchen
Isabella DiStasio – Singer from Hillsborough
Victoria Wylde – Pianist and composer from Milltown
Emmanuelle Aria Castañeda – Singer from New Brunswick
Angelina & Marianna Berberich – Irish step dancers from Avon-by-the-Sea
Elizabeth Larsen – Singer from Elizabeth
Laura Rodriguez – Singer-songwriter-guitarist from Colonia
Cullen Hussey – Singer from Southampton, PA
Marissa Lazovick – Dancer from Branchburg
Crowfield – Band from Monmouth County

The Judges

The finalists’ performances will be judged by a panel of four experienced professionals from the New Brunswick community, who will provide feedback and select the top three. The judges include:

Carolina Moratti
Professor Bob Ramos
Jessica Trechak
Lindy Zeledón

The winner will be determined by audience applause, adding a fun and interactive element to the competition.

The Hosts

Guiding the audience through this exciting evening will be dynamic hosts Claudio Mir and Sarah Ferreira. Their engaging personalities and enthusiasm will keep the energy high as they introduce the young talent taking the stage.

About Jersey Talent

Jersey Talent was created with the goal of providing a platform for young performers to showcase their abilities in a supportive, non-competitive environment. According to Sarah Chaplin, President & CEO of State Theatre New Jersey, “There are so many talented kids in our region who are looking for an outlet, a place to perform outside their schools, and we wanted to provide that outlet with Jersey Talent.”

The finalists for Jersey Talent were selected after a rigorous process of video and live auditions. This event not only highlights the remarkable talent of New Jersey’s youth but also strengthens the sense of community by bringing together friends, family, and supporters to cheer on the next generation of performers.

The Prize

The winner of Jersey Talent will receive the incredible opportunity to perform as a featured artist at the New Brunswick Heart Festival on August 10, 2025. This high-profile performance offers the winner a chance to take their talent to a larger audience and further their artistic journey.

Join Us for the 2025 Jersey Talent Show!

Don’t miss the chance to see the next wave of New Jersey’s brightest stars in action. Whether you’re a fan of music, dance, or other forms of performance, Jersey Talent offers something for everyone. The event promises to be a thrilling celebration of creativity, showcasing the diverse artistic spirit of New Jersey’s youth.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit State Theatre New Jersey.

Devils’ Mid-Season Report: 5 Factors to Maintain Playoff Spot – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

Don Lichterman

14 January 2025

Devils’ Mid-Season Report: 5 Factors to Maintain Playoff Spot – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

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After the first half of the season, the New Jersey Devils have emerged as a dark horse in the Eastern Conference. Following a dreadful campaign in 2023-24, general manager Tom Fitzgerald set the team up for success with offseason acquisitions to address their shortcomings.

The Devils have made it clear that they are playoff contenders, starting with back-to-back wins at the Global Series in Prague. Since then, they have become an increasingly quick, physical, and determined team.

Ranked near the top of the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey has 56 points thanks to solid defense, goaltending, and special teams. So far, this team is reminiscent of their 2022-23 counterpart, which set a 52-win franchise record. Here’s a mid-season report on everything that’s gone right and what needs some improvement as the Devils attempt to clinch a playoff berth.

Devils Goaltending Greatness

Jacob Markstrom has all the qualities of an elite starting goalie, in stark contrast to last season. He seems to be making highlight-reel saves in every game, and his hard work has not gone unnoticed. Since acquiring him from the Calgary Flames in June, Markstrom has recorded a .911 save percentage (SV%) and is tied for second in wins with a 21-8-3 record.

Surprise, surprise…

Jacob Markstrom with yet ANOTHER unreal save 😱 pic.twitter.com/aZHNS5e0jC

— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2025

This season, he has made 162 high-danger saves, which puts him in the 89th percentile among NHL goalies. Markstrom also has a 1.09 goal differential in 60 minutes of play, compared to the league’s 0.12 average.

He has been a monumental part of the Devils’ success this season and has become a Vezina Trophy favorite. He earned recognition last week against the Seattle Kraken when the NHL awarded him all three spots for ‘Play of the Night.’ The Devils are a far cry from the team that finished last season with the league’s sixth-worst goaltending, and Markstrom’s role cannot be understated.

Johnathan Kovacevic: Unlikely Hero

Johnathan Kovacevic is this season’s unsung hero so far. Playing a key role on the Devils’ blue line, it’s hard to believe that the team only surrendered a 2026 fourth-round pick to acquire him during the offseason. Paired with Jonas Siegenthaler, he has made a positive impact and established himself as a top-four defenseman.

Kovacevic leads the team with a plus-15 rating and ranks third in points among Devils defensemen. He has scored 12 points and is on pace to reach 22 points this season, which would be a career-high. He has a 58.33 goals for percentage (GF%) and has helped create 123 high-danger scoring chances. With 57 hits and 59 blocked shots, Kovacevic has helped the team’s new-and-improved physical game.

He has been an exceptional shutdown defenseman, and the Devils’ goalie tandem has a 92.83 save percentage (SV%) when Kovacevic is on the ice. Combined with his penalty kill success, he has become an all-around stellar defenseman. Management should re-sign him after an outstanding performance this season.

Devils’ Special Teams Dominate

Part of what makes the Devils so dangerous is their special teams. The team’s power play ranks third in the NHL with a 28.3% success rate, while their penalty kill ranks eighth. The Devils have the talent to back up their power play and penalty kill, but they must find a way to keep executing in high-pressure situations.

New Jersey Devils Celebration — New Jersey Devils celebrate a goal (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

The power play has been hit or miss recently, scoring just five goals in their last ten games. But the Devils made sure to end their power play drought Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stefan Noesen scored the game-winning goal in overtime, which was the perfect redemption after a devastating loss to the New York Rangers.

The Devils’ penalty kill has also been an important factor in their success. With an 82.5% success rate, they have shut down their opponents and limited scoring chances. The team also ranks in the 90th percentile in neutral zone time on the penalty kill. As it stands, their high-powered special teams units should be a big advantage in the playoffs.

Devils Veterans Raise the Bar

Noesen and Ondrej Palat have stepped up their game with 47 combined points this season. Reuniting with Noesen during the offseason was the right call since his playmaking abilities continue to benefit the team. He is on pace to score 51 points and surpass the 30-goal mark, both would be new career highs.

With 17 goals, including eight on the power play, Noesen has been crucial for the Devils. He has become a reliable goal scorer, which the team needed in their bottom six. In a recent interview, Jack Hughes praised his netfront presence, as well as how Noesen can turn a broken play into a scoring opportunity.

After netting the opening goal against the Lightning, Palat became the eighth Devil to hit the 10-goal mark this season. He is also in the middle of a three-game point streak, scoring six goals and four assists in the last month. He has earned his spot on the first line alongside Hughes and Jesper Bratt, improving significantly since the start of the season to a 54.2 on-ice goals percentage. Palat is also crucial in creating high-risk scoring chances, and the Devils have scored 13 high-danger goals with him on the ice.

Noesen and Palat have been instrumental to the team’s success, and they will lead the Devils’ playoff momentum during the second half of the season.

Can Jake Evans Improve Secondary Scoring?

Even with Noesen, the Devils need to shake up their bottom-six. Their third and fourth lines have gone ice-cold and have become a liability, especially while Erik Haula remains out with an ankle injury. Against the Lightning, the bottom-six managed only one shot on goal throughout the game.

In order to remain in a playoff spot, the Devils must improve their secondary scoring. According to reports, management has expressed interest in trading for Jake Evans from the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old center would add depth to the roster with 10 goals and 13 assists this season – Evans’ 23 points are more than Nate Bastian, Tomas Tatar, and Curtis Lazar have combined.

Evans would offer a bottom-six upgrade who can kill penalties, take faceoffs, and score goals at even strength. Between injuries and a scoring drought, the Devils must make a change to keep their playoff hopes alive, and Evans could be the short-term answer they need.

Devils Playoff Push: Looking Ahead

The Devils had an impressive first half, but they need a better effort from their bottom six to maintain a playoff spot. While many things have gone right, they need to address their weaknesses. But with a spectacular starting goalie and a roster filled to the brim with offensive talent, the team could reach new heights during the postseason.

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Masterful short Supercritical screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25, 2025

Don Lichterman

14 January 2025

Masterful short Supercritical screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25, 2025

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By Yuri Kim

originally published: 01/14/2025

“We have just learned of a massive release of nuclear warheads, authorized by the United States.”

Those are the grim words uttered at the beginning of the short Supercritical. Heightening our anxiety (and our blood pressure), the stakes continue to stack, as we see names and faces being crossed out in red, and radio static cutting into the broadcast as the sound of sirens close in on us. Heavy sighs are emitted, temples are rubbed, and we see a lone scientist stooping over a tape recorder with a defeated look in her eyes.

The scientist clicks on a tape recorder. “Official Entry for Shelter 0126M.” She already sounds so tired. “Logging the date as, uh… July 7th. Two months to the days that the bombs fell.” As she continues to list off the facts of the situation, it seems that the world as portrayed is getting more hopeless and hopeless. Depleted stores. Toxic fumes on the surface. Failing employee retention rates. Can there be any spark of light in this demoralizing time?

What happens next is hilarious, but I can’t tell you about it. It would spoil the surprise. Instead, I will tell you this.

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Supercritical is the debut short film from southern-born director, writer, and editor John Osment. Osment graduated from the Oregon College of Art & Craft with a BFA in Fine Art and a minor in Photography, and is currently a video editor in New York City. I have to say that for a debut short film, Supercritical is masterfully executed. The amount of care that’s put into the production design and mood setting shows a high level of craft. Even the smallest detail, like the crumpled up quality to a piece of paper, adds to the story in a way that puts a smile to my face. Perhaps it has something to do with Osment’s previous work in the commercial industry, working with clients like Netflix and Apple – where every second counts, as short as they are. Indeed, it almost feels like a pilot sketch for a TV series you would watch on Hulu – it’s just quick, snappy, to-the-point, and fun. Not a second is wasted – there is no single shot that lingers on for longer than it should.

What inspired such a short? In a director’s statement from Osment, he says, “I have a lot of love for snappy comedies and wanted to bring something traditionally experienced in our day jobs into an interesting setting.” Elaborating, he goes on to state, “It’s a not-so-subtle play on what it feels like to be bothered by nonsense while dealing with… everything.” I have to say, the satire of Supercritical is well-supported by the current atmosphere of things. Every day we seem to learn about a new world-ending tragedy, and our choices are just… to deal with it. To actively put our heads in the sand. To whistle and pretend like everything is a-ok, and to only pay mind to the small things that we can handle, because the big things are too much. Supercritical feels like one of those shorts that appears at the right time in the right place – that reassures us that we are seen, and we are heard, while giving us a little noogie on the head along the way.

This is all to say, you should go watch the short for yourself. I’m not joking! You really should! Don’t just sit here and read me waxing poetic about this all day. Go take the 7 minutes out of your day to see what the hype is about for yourself. I promise that it will be worth it.

Supercritical screens at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25. The film will be Online for 24 Hours on this show date and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase here.

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome

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Attracting Diverse Talent: A Guide for New Jersey Employers

Don Lichterman

13 January 2025

Attracting Diverse Talent: A Guide for New Jersey Employers

Hiring for diversity and inclusion is essential for businesses aiming to foster a dynamic workforce. To achieve a truly diverse and inclusive environment, employers must adopt deliberate strategies throughout their recruitment processes. These strategies ensure a broader range of perspectives and experiences within the team, enhancing overall creativity and problem-solving abilities. Today, we’ll cover several actionable steps that can help integrate more diversity and inclusion into your hiring practices.

Crafting Inclusive Job Descriptions

Your job descriptions should communicate clearly and appeal to a diverse range of candidates. Avoiding biased language is crucial; instead, focus on the qualifications and skills necessary for the job. Use language that promotes inclusivity, ensuring that potential applicants feel welcomed regardless of their background. This not only increases the range of applicants but also positions your company as an inclusive and attractive place to work.

Setting Diversity and Inclusion Goals

You need to define what diversity and inclusion specifically mean within your organization. Setting these goals involves understanding the demographics you aim to represent and how inclusive practices can be integrated into your organizational structure. By clearly defining these objectives, you ensure that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but actionable targets that impact recruitment, retention, and corporate culture.

Working with Nonprofits

Working with nonprofits can be a great way to benefit your community while spreading the good word about your business. For instance, nonprofits in New Jersey focusing on diversity and inclusion have access to valuable funding opportunities that can help expand their impact. Diversity grants provide crucial financial support for initiatives aimed at promoting equity, cultural understanding, and representation in underserved communities.

Implementing Blind Hiring Practices

To reduce unconscious bias during the hiring process, consider removing identifying details from resumes and applications, such as names, gender, age, and educational background. This focus on skills and experiences can help in evaluating candidates more objectively. Implementing such practices demonstrates your commitment to fairness and can lead to a more diverse workforce.

Understanding the Paperwork

For businesses, understanding tax paperwork is essential to maintaining compliance and avoiding costly mistakes. Key forms, like the W-9, play a crucial role in collecting accurate information from contractors and ensuring proper tax reporting. Understanding the purpose of W-9 forms helps businesses prepare accurate 1099s, track expenses, and stay on top of IRS requirements. Clear knowledge of tax documentation streamlines operations and reduces financial risks.

Expanding Recruitment Channels

To reach a diverse audience, utilize a broad array of recruitment platforms. Beyond mainstream job boards, include platforms dedicated to underrepresented groups. This approach not only widens your talent pool but also signals to potential employees that you are serious about diversity and inclusion. Engaging with diverse job boards and forums can also help you gain insights into the needs and expectations of different demographic groups.

Diverse Interview Panels & Standardizing Interview Questions

Ensure that your interview panels reflect the diversity you seek. Including panel members from various backgrounds can add different perspectives and reduce bias in the selection process. A diverse interview panel not only provides varied insights into candidate suitability but also showcases your organization’s commitment to diversity to potential hires.

Using a consistent set of questions for all candidates ensures that the interview process is fair and comparable across all applicants. This standardization helps mitigate bias and makes the evaluation based solely on the candidate’s responses and suitability for the role. Fairness in the interview process reinforces your organization’s dedication to equity and inclusion.

Promoting Your Diversity Commitment

Highlight your commitment to diversity and inclusion on your company’s website and in your job postings. This visibility not only attracts diverse candidates but also sends a strong message to clients and competitors about your values. Publicizing your efforts can enhance your brand’s reputation as an equitable and forward-thinking employer.

Adopting a strategic approach to diversity and inclusion in hiring can transform an organization’s culture and drive innovation. It requires a commitment to continuous improvement and an openness to change existing recruitment practices. By embracing these principles, companies not only enhance their competitive edge but also build a more cohesive and inclusive workplace. Effective diversity and inclusion strategies are not just beneficial; they are essential for any forward-thinking organization.

Discover the best of the Garden State with Explore New Jersey, your guide to adventures, attractions, and hidden gems!

Catching Up With Promising Devils Prospect, Herman Träff – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

Don Lichterman

13 January 2025

Catching Up With Promising Devils Prospect, Herman Träff – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

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In the third round of the 2024 Draft, the New Jersey Devils selected Swedish winger Herman Träff. He turned 19 on New Year’s Eve and has already found success playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Sweden’s highest level of pro hockey.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound winger is not afraid to get involved physically, often scoring his goals in and around the blue paint. Despite very limited ice time playing for HV71 in the SHL, he’s scored seven points in 19 games, a per-game pace comparable with some first-round picks in the same draft class.

He cracked the roster for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships (WJC) in Ottawa, scoring two goals on his birthday against the Czechs. It will be music to Devils fans’ ears that they were both power-play goals, one with a wicked wrist shot and the other by crashing the net.

Happy Birthday Herman Traff! Swedish player breaks the ice on his 19th birthday.🇸🇪🎉@trekronorse #WorldJuniors #SWECZE #IIHF pic.twitter.com/DjpZbIgF21

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 31, 2024

While Sweden unfortunately fell to Czechia in the bronze medal game, The Hockey Writers caught up with Träff afterwards. Here are some key quotes.

On Making Team Sweden

“I mean, it means a lot,” Träff said. “(There’s) many good players in my country, and I’m just happy to be a part of this group.”

On Two Birthday Goals vs. Czechia

“We had a good time with the team after, and of course, it was a great (feeling), to score two goals on my birthday. I was super happy.”

Connection with Devils & Season in Sweden

Träff said the Devils wished him luck heading into the WJC. Then he spoke about his pro season: “It’s been good. Good games in HV71, and good coaches and good practices,”

At one point, he was on loan for three games to the Nybro Vikings (Hockeyallsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league), where he notched a goal and an assist. “I felt like when I came home (to HV71) after that, I was flying. So that was really good for me and my career, to get more playing time, find more confidence in my game, and (continue to) play against men,” he said.

Herman Träff New Jersey Devils — Herman Träff, New Jersey Devils (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Any Plans to Come to North America Yet?

“No, (right now) I’m just going 100% with this team, then we will see how it’s going to be in the future.”

Does Träff Follow the NHL Devils?

“Yeah, a little bit,” he said. “I love the team. I love the people there I met that week (at Development Camp). They have really good coaches and (I made) new friends. I stay in good contact with my friend Kasper Pikkarainen from Finland. I’m looking forward for the summer to come back and be there again.”

Any Other Devils Prospects He’s Close To?

“It was a lot of guys (at Development Camp). (I) talked much with (Anton) Silayev. I hope he’s a little bit better in English now,” Träff said lightheartedly. “But yeah, it was fun to meet him.”

Thoughts on Devils Fans

The Devils opened a couple days of Development Camp up to their season ticket holders. “Yeah, it was fun,” he said. “You know, really good fans, and you can see they love hockey.”

Look Up to Any Current Devils Players? (+ Shocking Fact)

“I would say Jack Hughes or Jesper Bratt…I watched (Bratt) a little bit when I was a kid. I know when he played in Allsvenskan, he played with a lot of confidence, and I like his game. He’s so fast, and I mean, he’s so skilled too, and also that he’s from Sweden.”

So, THW asked Träff how old he was when Bratt played pro there. “I don’t remember,” Traff said. “I was young, so I don’t know.”

After looking it up, Träff was eight, nine and ten years old when Bratt played parts of three pro seasons for AIK in the Allsvenskan. It seems like almost yesterday that Bratt made his NHL debut.

On His Physicality

“It means a lot to win (many) more pucks when you use your body,” he said. “Yeah, I’m (always) trying to play physical and use my size.”

Plans for Rest of the Season

“We’re just going home now and then we’re going to play with HV71 again,” he said. “Of course, this sucks to take fourth place (at the WJC), so (I’ll) just take it easy tonight and be with the group. Then take the next step with HV71.”

MAKE THAT 2 for HERMAN TRAFF!!!!!!!

SWE 2-0 CZE#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/xmZpH267vC

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2024

Träff‘s NHL Future

Träff looked confident throughout the WJC, often helping create long shifts in the offensive zone by using his forechecking skill and physical strength. While his ceiling is probably a middle-sixer in the NHL, he can fulfill a role similar to Stefan Noesen, where he’s a menace on the power play.

If you’re a Devils fan, keep an eye on Träff. Elite Prospects’ 2024 Draft Guide said, “Träff forechecks with pace and intensity. He hits and works to get the puck back. And he takes the puck to the net every chance he gets. When in doubt, he bets on his size and strength and mobility. Not only is he already fast for a 6-foot-3 player, but he hits most of the right notes in his posture. His knees bend at the right angle and advance past his toes and his back conserves the appropriate angle with the ice.”

It could be a few years before Träff makes the jump to North America, likely to the Utica Comets (American Hockey League) first. But once he does, he could become very valuable to the Devils.

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A Look At Upcoming Family Events at MPAC taking place this Winter

Don Lichterman

13 January 2025

A Look At Upcoming Family Events at MPAC taking place this Winter

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originally published: 01/13/2025

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — Get out of the house this winter and take the kids to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) for fun shows for all ages! Here’s what is in store for January through March 2025.

Please note that several performances are “Sensory Friendly,” in which modifications have been made so children with sensory sensitivities may share in the experience. MPAC offers quiet rooms, fidget toys and noise-reduction headphones for these events.

Mike Super – Magic & Illusion | Saturday, January 25 at 3:pm & 7:30pm. As the winner of NBC’s hit TV show Phenomenon, Mike Super is the only magician in history to win a live magic competition on primetime TV and to be voted “America’s Favorite Mystifier!” Mike has also been a Top Finalist on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Tickets range from $37-$57 (includes all fees)

Pinkalicious the Musical | Sunday, January 26 at 1:30pm & 4:30pm (Sensory friendly). Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. Tickets range from $21-$26 (includes all fees).

BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular! | Sunday, February 16 at 3:00pm. BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular! celebrates Hip Hop dancing. Featuring a cast of supremely talented artists from the world of “B-Boying,” “Locking,” “Electric Boogaloo” or “Popping,” Power Tumbling, as well as DJ-ing and Bucket Drumming, BREAK pays tribute to this urban American art form. Tickets range from $35-$67 (includes all fees).

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The Gazillion Bubble Show | Saturday, February 22 at 11:00am, 2:00pm & 5:00pm. Prepare to be amazed by the world-famous Gazillion Bubble Show! This mind-blowing show combines the beauty of bubble artistry, the wonders of soapy science, and interactive fun for the whole family. With mesmerizing bubble magic, immersive lights and lasers and high-energy music, it’s a spellbinding experience for all ages. Don’t miss the spectacular celebration of bubbles, science, and family fun at the Gazillion Bubble Show! Tickets range from $31-$58 (includes all fees).

A Year with Frog and Toad | Sunday, March 9 at 1:30pm & 4:30pm (Sensory friendly). A hit on Broadway, A Year With Frog And Toad was nominated for 3 Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s books and featuring a jazzy, upbeat score by Robert and Willie Reale that bubbles with melody and wit, this whimsical musical follows two great friends — the cheerful, popular Frog and the curmudgeonly Toad — through four, fun-filled seasons as they celebrate and rejoice in their differences that make them unique and special. Tickets range from $26-$43 (includes all fees).

Sesame Street Live! Say Hello | Saturday, March 22 at 2:00pm & 6:00pm (Sensory friendly). Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to your neighborhood to say hello! At Sesame Street Live! Say Hello, sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide-and-seek. So put on your dancing shoes and make your way to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street! Tickets range from $47-$79 (includes all fees).

Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is located at 100 South Street in Morristown, New Jersey. MPAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2024-2025 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.

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Today in Hockey History: Jan. 12 – The Hockey Writers – Hockey History

Don Lichterman

12 January 2025

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 12 – The Hockey Writers – Hockey History

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Jan. 12 had some big moments from some of the greatest players in National Hockey League history. One legend returned to where he made a name for himself, another became the first to reach a new plateau, while a third had to step away from the game. Plus, there were memorable nights in New Jersey, Calgary, and Chicago. The hockey time machine is fired up, so let’s take our daily trip back through the decades.

Mr. Hockey Returns to Detroit

The great Gordie Howe stepped onto the ice in Detroit for the first time in nearly nine years on Jan. 12, 1980, when the Hartford Whalers traveled to the Red Wings. He retired from the NHL and Red Wings in 1971 after 25 seasons, 786 goals, and 1,809 points with the team. After six seasons in the defunct World Hockey Association, he was back for one final tour of duty in the NHL during the 1979-80 season.

The Whalers ended their nine-game winless streak with a 6-4 victory over the Red Wings. There were three members of the Howe family in the Hartford lineup; Gordie and his sons Mark and Marty. Mark was the only Howe to find the scoresheet with a pair of assists. He eventually played the final three seasons of his career with the Red Wings.

Lemieux Steps Away

On Jan. 12, 1993, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that star forward Mario Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Thankfully, the disease was detected early. He has a large lymph node removed from his neck and undergoes radiation treatment which caused him to miss nearly two months of the season.

This didn’t slow down Super Mario in the least. He returned to the Penguins lineup on March 2, 1993. In the final 19 games of the season, Lemieux had 15 games with at least two points, including six with four or more. Despite missing 22 games, he still won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league with 160 points.

Another First for Gretzky

We would need to take off our shoes to count all the feats in NHL history that Wayne Gretzky was the first to accomplish. On Jan. 12, 1994, he scored a pair of goals in the Los Angeles Kings’ 6-4 win over the Whalers to become the first player in league history to score 2,400 career points. His pair of tallies also made him the seventh player to score 200 goals as a member of the Kings.

Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings — Gretzky hit 2,400 points on this date in 1994. (Photo By Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Gretzky scored another 457 points before retiring in 1999. No other player in league history has ever scored 2,000 points. Jaromir Jagr is second in all-time scoring with 1,921 points. The Great One had 1,963 assists.

Devils Make History

Before the Russian Five made their debut in Detroit, the New Jersey Devils made history on Jan. 12, 1992. This was the night they had defensemen Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov and forwards Valeri Zelepukin and Alexander Semak in the lineup during their 5-2 win over the visiting Kings.

Teemu Selanne #13 of the Winnipeg Jets — Selanne’s career got off to a historic start. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

Substack The Hockey Writers Hockey History Banner — Selanne’s career got off to a historic start. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

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3 Takeaways From Devils’ 3-2 OT Win Over the Lightning – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

Don Lichterman

12 January 2025

3 Takeaways From Devils’ 3-2 OT Win Over the Lightning – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

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The New Jersey Devils headed home for their first home game of 2025. They were on a six-game road trip and only came away with one win under their belts. They looked to turn over a new leaf when they hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 11, and their mission was secured. It was a close game when the Lightning forced it to go to overtime, but it was the Devils who prevailed, winning 3-2.

Noesen with the OT Winner

Heading into the third period, the Devils had the lead, 2-1. Towards the middle of the third, the Lightning were able to score to tie the game up. With no more goals, it forced the game to head into overtime, the sixth time this season for New Jersey. For the second time this season, the Devils were able to come away with the OT win, thanks to Stefan Noesen.

The Devils were able to earn a power play when Nick Paul tripped Jack Hughes. They were not going to let this extra man opportunity go to waste. Jesper Bratt skated up to the left face-off circle, taking a shot. Noesen was in front and tried to tip it into the net, but Andrei Vasilevsky denied his chance. Jack Hughes recovered the rebounded puck by the boards and skated around. He took another shot from the same face-off circle Bratt was in. It was once again denied, but Noesen was up in front to try and make a scoring chance. Luckily, this time the puck went in the net to end the game and give the Devils the win.

Markstrom Continues to Stun

If Jacob Markstrom is not in contention to win the Vezina Trophy, he should be now. He made excellent saves throughout the game to put the Devils on top.

Jacob Markstrom New Jersey Devils — Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Brayden Point, from directly in front of the net, took a shot at what was an open space of the net. Markstrom made a lunge for the puck, putting his arm directly in line with where it was going. He made sure that the puck was not finding its mark.

Markstrom made 23 saves this game, giving him a save percentage of .920. This game marked win 21 for him out of 32 total games played this season. His overall save percentage sits at .911 with a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.19. His performance has been stellar this season, with this being his lowest GAA in his career.

His save on Point’s shot was not the first incredible save he has made this season, and there’s a good chance that it is not his last. As his performance continues to get even better, Markstrom should be in the talks for the Vezina Trophy for the 2024-25 season.

Home Ice Territory for the Win

After a six-game road trip that resulted in only a single win, the Devils were able to win their sixth straight game at home with this game. This home win streak stretch started back on Dec. 12, when the Devils defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. They were unfortunately unable to repeat this when they played Los Angeles in their home arena on Jan. 1 to ring in the new year.

The Devils clearly perform better when they play on home ice. Their record at home is currently made up of 13 wins and nine losses, three of which were in overtime. Their away record is currently comprised of 13 wins and 10 losses, one of which was in overtime. Although this is a narrow margin of just one game, that still puts the Devils above in terms of home games versus away games. Hopefully, they can keep that home-ice momentum up and look to get a better away record.