New Jersey
See the ‘Saturday Night Live’ take on N.J.’s Spirit Halloween
Reanimated corpses are always a part of Halloween when a certain New Jersey-based seasonal retail chain comes a-haunting.
Because as we all know, Spirit Halloween sets up shop every year in the husks of big-box stores and other dearly departed businesses.
And, as a bit that aired in the season 50 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” notes, given the state of brick-and-mortar shopping, there are plenty of empty stores to inhabit across the country.
“When others leave, we show up,” Spirit Halloween community liaison Lauren Ashman, played by Heidi Gardner, says in the “SNL” bit (see video below). “We don’t see a dead-end town.”
“We don’t see an abandoned Kmart,” says another employee played by Michael Longfellow in the “SNL” sketch.
“We see a Spirit,” says Chloe Fineman, another Spirit staffer. “A Spirit Halloween.”
“Thanks to us, what used to be a condemned Auto Zone where a murder happened is once again a thriving business … where a murder happened,” Longfellow says.
Spirit Halloween has its flagship location in Egg Harbor Township, home to its corporate headquarters.
The chain, owned by Spencer Gifts, aka Spencer’s, since 1999, opened its first store in Castro Valley, California in 1983.
MORE: See ‘SNL’ premiere with Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as N.J.’s Doug Emhoff
Fineman goes on to expound upon the Halloween retailer’s offerings: “Wigs that give you a rash,” “single-use fog machines” and “costumes of famous characters tweaked just enough to avoid a lawsuit.” (Provided examples are “fat yellow worker” for the Minions, “candy slave” for Oompa Loompas and “blonde singing woman” for Taylor Swift.)
Ashman explains that Spirit Halloween also provides a crucial service by “creating six-week jobs for some of America’s hardest-hit perverts.”
Mikey Day plays a Spirit cashier who has to check the age of the person he’s ringing up (who wants to buy a “sexy nurse” costume).
Finding she’s under 18, he tells her he’s not legally allowed to help her.
Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
Do you have a secret spot in your home where you hide your valuables?
Do you think that it’s very safe and a would-be burglar wouldn’t think to check?
Unfortunately, that spot may not be as safe as you would hope. Burglars have a few spots in your home they will check first after they break in, and it very well may be your “super safe secret spot.”
Toru Kimura for Unsplash
Do you hide things in your sock or underwear drawer?
It may be a good way to hide things from your kids, but obviously, a burglar is going to check there first.
Keep Scrolling to Find Out The Other 9 Places
How Common is Burglary in New Jersey
The majority of crimes in New Jersey are property crimes like burglary and vehicle theft. In 2021, NJ residents reported 103,761 property crimes.
This breaks down to a property crime rate of 11 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Though this crime rate is below the national average, you still have a 1-in-89 chance of becoming a victim of property crime. Criminals in New Jersey often target homes to steal electronics, jewelry, and other expensive items.
Reconsider Where You Are Hiding Your Valuables
I hope you are never the victim of a burglary, but if you are, at least you can make it a little harder for a crook to find your valuables.
Reader’s Digest recently talked with Chris McGoey of McGoey Security Consulting and Robert Siciliano, a security analyst with Hotspot Shield.
Using information from these two experts, the magazine determined that these are the 10 spots burglars are most likely to check.
Andrey Pipov for Unsplash
10 ‘Secret Spots’ Burglars Check First When Invading New Jersey Homes
Gallery Credit: Eddie Davis
Local Favorites: Top 10 Atlantic City Casino Restaurants
Gallery Credit: Eddie Davis
ATLANTIC CITY (WABC) — A mom from New Jersey brought home more than flowers for Mother’s Day, raking in a jackpot worth over a hundred thousand dollars at a casino in Atlantic City over the holiday weekend.
Jacqueline B, a mom from Toms River, NJ, placed a $5 bet on a Dragon Link slot machine at Ocean Casino Resort on Saturday.
She hit the jackpot, winning $101,566.53 to be exact.
The jackpot paid out $101,566.
Jacqueline hasn’t yet revealed how she plans to spend her newfound cash.
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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Powerball winning numbers are in for the Saturday, May 9 drawing with a jackpot that reached an estimated $47 million ($21.0 million cash option).
The winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing are 15, 41, 46, 47, and 56, with Powerball number 22. The Power Play number is 2.
Did anyone win the Powerball jackpot?
No one won the Powerball jackpot.
When is the next drawing of the Powerball?
The next Powerball drawing is Monday. Drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
How late can you buy a Powerball ticket?
In New Jersey, in-store and online ticket sales are available until 9:59 p.m. on the night of the draw.
What does it cost to play Powerball?
Powerball costs $2 to play. For an additional $1 per play, the Power Play feature can multiply nonjackpot prizes by two, three, four, five or 10 times.
Are you a Powerball winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All New Jersey Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.99. For prizes over $599.99, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at New Jersey Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to New Jersey Lottery, Attn: Validations, PO Box 041, Trenton, NJ 08625-0041.
Winners can drop off their claim form and winning ticket in person at the New Jersey Lottery office where a secure drop box is available. Claim forms are also available at the office. Hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Lawrence Park Complex, 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle, Trenton, NJ 08648.
To find a lottery retalier, you can search the NJ lotto website.
What is the Powerball payout?
The complete guide to winnings is:
- Match 5 White Balls + Powerball: Jackpot
- Match 5 White Balls: $1 million
- Match 4 White Balls + Powerball: $50,000
- Match 4 White Balls: $100
- Match 3 White Balls + Powerball: $100
- Match 3 White Balls: $7
- Match 2 White Balls + Powerball: $7
- Match 1 White Ball + Powerball: $4
- Match Powerball: $4
- Match 5 White Balls with Power Play: $2 million
- Match 4 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $200,000
- Match 4 White Balls with Power Play: $400
- Match 3 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $400
- Match 3 White Balls with Power Play: $28
- Match 2 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $28
- Match 1 White Ball + Powerball with Power Play: $16
- Match Powerball with Power Play: $16
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The overall odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 292.2 million.
How do I find the Powerball winning numbers?
Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also lived streamed on Powerball.com. The winning numbers are posted to the Powerball and New Jersey Lottery websites.
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