OMG! Famed Lobster House In Cape May Flooded!

Floodwaters have made their way into The Lobster House in Cape May. No word yet on whether the lobsters used this as their escape plan. Be on the lookout. 🦞😂 📸 Dave Coskey pic.twitter.com/m9oOl4PL95

— PhillyChitChat (@HughE_Dillon) September 26, 2026

Matt & Dan: Together Again At NJGOP Summit!

https://t.co/t84HfI7dCX

— Matt Rooney (@MattRooneyNJ) September 18, 2026

Summertime: Fish Are Jumpin' In NJ!

Dolphins 🐬 Jumping in LBI 😍 pic.twitter.com/or5lsz1j5F

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) August 10, 2026

AND It Continues Well Into The Night!

Ever been to Night in Venice at OCNJ?! Well during the day people are partying it up on floaties in the bay, looks like an absolute blast pic.twitter.com/NtvxNZ6mlE

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) July 25, 2026

 

Complete with beautiful sunsets over the bay!

We Couldn't Agree With Tulsi More; She's Right!

What do you think, Should the beaches in New Jersey be free?

"It's principally wrong to charge people to go to the beach," @TulsiGabbard "The ocean belongs to everyone." pic.twitter.com/meS8ul11Rg

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) July 18, 2026

What You Need To Know About Memorial Day

Think you know all about Memorial Day? 

Think again!

It's Memorial Day weekend and we hope you're  having a great time.

This year Memorial Day is observed six days before the day's actual, traditional observance day, May 30.
This year, we hope that you take time to remember those who have protected us and who have made (and continue to make) our freedom possible. Because Memorial Day is all about those who gave their lives defending our country.  They made the ultimate sacrifice. In this way Memorial Day differentiates itself from Veterans Day which honors all veterans.

Now, let's get to the business at hand:

1) Not everyone will spend the long weekend at the Jersey shore, especially this year with the weather so uninviting. The media would have you believe that everyone is headed to the shore but that's just an easy way for the media to not report real stories over the weekend while at the same time nurturing the myth of the Great Shore Exodus. In fact, people enjoy the weekend in many different ways at many different places. We know we do -- and will.

2) Summer doesn't begin on Memorial Day. Summer begins on June 21, the summer solstice. And summer doesn't end on Labor Day. Summer ends on September 22 when autumn begins. The media and the travel industry concocted the idea that summer lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It doesn't.

3) As we noted, Memorial Day is actually May 30. Congress changed the day around to make it a three-day weekend in another attempt to rob a fine holiday of its true meaning. So, Memorial Day is now the last Monday in May which means it can come as late as May 31 or as early as May 24. Leave it to the government to mess things up.

4) Memorial Day didn't become Memorial Day until 1966 when President Johnson officially renamed it. Prior to that it was widely known as Decoration Day - the day when Americans decorated the graves of the fallen. At it's core it's a somber day.

5) The artificial boundaries of Memorial Day and Labor Day mean absolutely nothing even though many people perceive these boundaries to coincide with the school year. Most children go to school well past Memorial Day. Many children (particularly in southern states) return to school well before Labor Day. Others return several days after Labor Day.

6) This year Memorial Day actually arrives close to the traditional date and Labor Day (the first Monday in September) is September 4. So, the stretch between the two is about average -- mixed news for vacation and travel vendors.

But, remember: Memorial Day isn't when people say it is. The summer hasn't begun - yet. It won't end on Labor Day. Many people will get through the whole summer without ever going to the Jersey shore. They will have a wonderful time nonetheless.

The Memorial Day and Labor Day boundaries are totally imaginary!

So, there you have it.
Enjoy what's left of spring.

And don't say "Happy Memorial Day" as the day is actually a solemn day set aside to remember and honor those who died defending our freedom. Pause. Reflect. Pay homage.
Then, go ahead and enjoy summer all the way through till September 22.
In fact, enjoy each day as a blessed gift. Savor every day, no matter the season.
Don't be cheated.

Wild Night Last Night In NJ Beach Town!

Long Branch NJ:

🚨HOLY CRAP!!!

Over TWO-HUNDRED police officers in RIOT SHIELDS had to lock down an ENTIRE NEW JERSEY BEACH TOWN...

...because HUNDREDS of out-of-town "teens" began BEATING EACH OTHER IN THE STREETS, JUMPING ON CARS AND STEALING THEM!!!

The city had to declare an emergency 8… pic.twitter.com/S5Lg37WLVv

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) May 21, 2026

Seriously wonder what goes through someone's head to think this is acceptable behavior?

Long Branch NJ had to have a curfew put into place because of the chaos that unfolded last night https://t.co/q14V4P8iFt pic.twitter.com/ifouZTDxii

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) May 20, 2026

A BIG Change For The Wildwood (NJ) Tramcars!

"Watch the Tram Car, Please" - 3 Tram cars in Wildwoods will be Volvo electric vehicles this year

Whose American company HQs is in NJ & an executive ties to the Wildwoods, donated the cars, free of charge

Only thing I'm curious of, how does this vehicle make that U-Turn to go… pic.twitter.com/k6vv85aMxs

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) May 16, 2026

The 1980s In Atlantic City: A Golden Age?

Trump Economy: Shore Rentals Picking Up This Year!

Seems like Jersey shore renters booked shorter stays and waited longer to commit this year

All I want is it to be cheaper down there, it's so expensive now to have a vacation at the NJ beach towns 😢 https://t.co/LeBerQ8GHt pic.twitter.com/lruVuGk515

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) February 18, 2026

You Don't Wanna Miss This Event!

 

Testa Property Tax Relief Bill Gets Key Nod

Yesterday, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee passed Senator Michael Testa’s (R-01) bill to allow the City of Wildwood and the Borough of Woodbine to qualify for urban aid by designating them as urban aid municipalities.

“Far too many communities in South Jersey are battling high taxes and long-standing economic challenges, and they deserve a fair shot at real relief,” said Sen. Testa. “By ensuring that our most distressed municipalities qualify for critical State aid, this bill delivers targeted assistance where it’s needed most, moves us closer to lowering property taxes, and helps hardworking families make ends meet.”

Specifically, the bill amends the definition of "qualifying municipality" so that certain municipalities facing economic or fiscal challenges are eligible for additional State funding, such as municipal, housing, transportation, and redevelopment aid, which may help to provide property tax relief and support essential services like infrastructure, public works, and community development.

You can read the full bill, S-4749, here.

This Interminable Project Drives Us MAD!

🚧 The NJ 295/42 Direct Connection Project: A Modern-Day "Big Dig" Nightmare? Why Is This Highway Interchange Taking FOREVER? 😤🗞️

If you're a South Jersey commuter stuck in the eternal traffic jam at the I-295/I-76/Route 42 interchange in Bellmawr, you know the pain. This… https://t.co/oEno9Nisbn pic.twitter.com/W7V2HnYhVq

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) September 1, 2025

The following is from Wake Up NJ:

The NJ 295/42 Direct Connection Project: A Modern-Day "Big Dig" Nightmare? Why Is This Highway Interchange Taking FOREVER?

If you're a South Jersey commuter stuck in the eternal traffic jam at the I-295/I-76/Route 42 interchange in Bellmawr, you know the pain. This "Direct Connection" project meant to fix one of NJ's most congested and crash-prone spots by building elevated bridges and direct ramps started construction in March 2013 That's 12+ years in (as of September 2025), with full completion now delayed to 2032. We're talking 19 years total for what should be a straightforward highway upgrade! Original plan? Done by 2021 But nope—utility issues, right-of-way fights, and a massive retaining wall collapse in 2021 (costing $90M+ to fix) have turned it into a black hole of bureaucracy and delays. At a cool $900 million (and climbing), it's already rivaling Boston's infamous Big Dig in absurdity But here's the kicker: Compare this to ACTUAL modern marvels built in under 15 years. These beasts involved insane engineering, harsh conditions, and billions in costs—yet they got done FASTER than our little NJ interchange! Check this out: - Channel Tunnel (Chunnel): 6 years (1988–1994), $21B. Digging a 31-mile undersea link between UK and France? Met in the middle despite floods and fires - Hoover Dam: 5 years (1931–1936), $1B (adjusted). Taming the Colorado River with millions of cubic yards of concrete in 120°F heat! During the Depression! - Millau Viaduct (tallest bridge on Earth): 3 years (2001–2004), $400M. "Rolling" a massive cable-stayed span over a windy French gorge - Mini Sky City(57-story prefab skyscraper): Just 19 days assembly (2015), $160M! Even ancient wonders like the Great Pyramid of Giza took only 10–14 years (~2580 BCE) with 20,000 workers and copper tools hauling 2.3 million stone blocks. No cranes, no computer, just ramps and grit. And the Colossus of Rhodes? 12 years for a 108-ft bronze statue on a tiny island The 295/42 project? It's "only" reconfiguring ramps and bridges for 150,000 daily drivers, improving safety (crunches are 7x the state average), and adding noise walls/utilities. Sure, it's in a tight urban spot near homes and a cemetery, but with modern tech, lasers, and endless funding—why 19 years? Delays from compressible soils, groundwater "boat sections," and that Wall 22 fiasco (slid due to sandy foundations) are legit, but come on, NJDOT— we've got robots building space stations faster! South Jersey deserves better. This endless construction is shaking foundations, clogging locals, and burning cash while traffic weaves at 35 mph. When it's done (if ever), it'll be great—direct 60 mph flow to Philly, Shore, and Delaware. But at this rate, my grandkids might be driving it

NJ: 50 Reasons Why It's Endlessly Fascinating!

50 New Jersey Geography Facts you probably never knew

Did you know any of these? pic.twitter.com/1EU5IBeJ0L

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) October 8, 2025

Paul Kanitra: An Exuberant Public Servant's Story

As New Jersey looks to a key statewide election Dan chats with NJ Assemblyman Paul Kanitra. Straight-talking, insightful and irrepressibly human, Paul is a rising political star and one of New Jersey's most dynamic new leaders. Watch as he discusses how and why he got where he is and what his hopes for the future are!

Mikie Sherrill Pretending To Be At Jersey Shore

 

From The President Of The United States . . .

 

Now THIS Looks Like A Terrffic Event!

 

Kanitra Battles For Jersey Shore -- And Beyond!

For Ciattarelli & Gannon: 14 Outside-The-Box Ideas!

New Jersey GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has picked his running mate and he and Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon (Jack & Jim) certainly seem to be within striking distance of toppling the Democrat party's grip on NJ's statehouse.

So, let's take a page from our optimistic friend Matt Rooney at Save Jersey and think about what a Red New Jersey should look like. Here are some audacious, outside-the-box ideas Jack and Jim might want to advance. These are ideas that go to the heart of our affordability crisis and put New Jersey and New Jerseyans first: 

Freeze salaries for all state employees. Freeze these now pending a complete budget review and thorough audit. Establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for New Jersey. Inefficient and unnecessary departments and agencies can and should be streamlined, consolidated or dismantled outright.

Free beaches for New Jerseyans, everywhere.  In the majority of our nation's coastal states citizens have unrestricted, free access to the beaches. Not so throughout much of New Jersey where access to many of the beaches can only be gained via a beach tag that you need to purchase. At least for all New Jersey residents (goodness knows we pay enough in taxes and fees) this practice should end. Beach tags should be free for those whose primary residence is in New Jersey. All others should pay for beach access where such fees are in effect. 

Free access to state parks, lakes, etc. for New Jerseyans. Except for overnight accommodations for cabins, etc. all fees for state parks, lakes and other facilities should be eliminated for New Jersey residents. We don't even have that many state recreational facilities so those that we have should be free. Out-of-staters of course would still have to pay where such fees are applicable.

End the onerous automatic gas tax hikes. Somewhere along the line, though a complicated formula enacted when no one was looking, an automatic gas tax hike was approved by the state legislature. This is a copout and it should be sunsetted. 

Raise the speed limit.  The maximum speed limit on most New Jersey highways is 65 mph. On roads such as the Garden State Parkway, the Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike that limit should be raised to 70 mph which is the standard in 23 other states. Right now, 39 other states have a higher speed limit than New Jersey -- some as high as 75 mph or even 80 mph!

End the automatic toll hikes. Similarly automatic hikes have been enacted on toll roads. Not only should those automatic hikes be sunsetted but, with EZ Pass, tolls should be halved for all New Jersey residents all the time. It's time to give something back to the beleaguered  tax and toll plagued residents of this state!

No property tax for seniors below a certain income level who have already paid New Jersey property taxes for 30 consecutive years or more. Above the income level, and with the same consecutive year stipulation, property taxes can be reduced on a sliding scale up to a certain percentage.

Pump your own gas? Let the people decide! Currently, New Jersey is the only state in the US where it is illegal to pump your own gas. Oregon used to be the other state with this restriction, but it lifted its ban in 2023. It's time to put this up to a vote and let the people of New Jersey decide whether or not they want to pump their own gas, perhaps with the stipulation that the savings accrued by eliminating attendants be used to lower gas prices.

Take a closer look at marijuana legalization. The use of recreational marijuana in New Jersey and its repercussions remains an area of critical concern. The whole system seemed to be adopted far too quickly and maybe even capriciously. A "marijuana lounge" will now open near me and increasingly I hear of marijuana users driving under the influence. It all seems to be far too accessible especially when you consider that a majority of the states do not permit recreational marijuana use. Plus, the long term medical effects of such use are troubling. Legalization should be revisited without delay.

Permit the widespread sale of beer and wine in supermarkets and convenience stores. No, this does not negate or contradict what I've observed about marijuana. In many states where pot is still illegal, beer and wine are readily available in supermarkets and convenience stores. Alcoholic beverages have been legal since the end of prohibition in 1933. But in New Jersey, convenience stores generally cannot sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption. State law limits the number of retail distribution licenses that can be held by a single entity, typically restricting these to liquor stores and, in limited cases, supermarkets. While some legislation has been proposed to enact a broader sale (as is the case in many other states) it has not been enacted in New Jersey. It's time to enact that legislation. 

End the plastic bag ban. The ban is stupid and cosmetic. It's virtue signaling, pure and simple -- nothing more! And, carting your own sloppy bags around is an unsanitary nuisance. Jack Ciattarelli says he will end the ban on Day One if he's elected. We should hold him to this and in the meantime he should press his opponent on this issue.

Free public transportation for seniors. In nearby Pennsylvania (which enjoys much lower property taxes) fixed-route local public transportation is free for all senior citizens. If they can do it, why can't we? Let's enact this free service for seniors now.

End the tax funded four day teachers' holiday. Under NJ state law public school teachers are given paid time off in November to attend the annual New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) convention in Atlantic City. Since the free days are Friday and Saturday, this gives the teachers a four-day weekend and effectively closes all public schools. It also needlessly interrupts the classroom schedule and extends the length of the school year. The NJEA is a radical, far left, partisan political organization and should not be subsidized in this way by taxpayers. Furthermore, teachers can easily avail themselves of  the professional enrichment they need either online, in the summer or during other non-school hours. This law should be repealed.

If you've lived in New Jersey for any length of time you know that there are lots of people waiting to tell us why any (if not all) of these things cannot be done. Excuses, excuses! That's nonsense! What we need is bold leadership that shows us how they can be done. It's time!