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Dress the kids in their best green threads and head to a St. Patrick’s Day! Hear traditional music, wave Irish flags and cheer for your favorite floats. Be sure to check the time, route and weather before heading out.

Atlantic City, March 9, 1 pm

Brigantine Beach, March 16, 1 pm

Bergenfield: March 10, 2 pm

Mount Holly, March 2, 1 pm

North Wildwood: March 16, 12 pm

Sea Isle City: March 16, 3:30 pm

Newark: March 15, 1 pm

Nutley: March 2, 1 pm

West Orange: March 10, 12:15 pm

Gloucester City: March 3, 1 pm

Bayonne: March 17, 1 pm

Clinton: March 10, 3 pm

Hamilton Twp.: March 9

South Amboy: March 17, 2 pm

Woodbridge: March 10, 1:30 pm

Asbury Park: March 10, 1 pm

Belmar: March 3, 12:30 pm

Freehold Borough: March 17, 12:30 pm

Highlands: March 23, 2 pm

Keansburg: March 24, 1 pm

Keyport: March 23, 1 pm

Rumson: March 10, 1 pm

Morristown: March 9, 12 pm

Seaside Heights: March 9, 12 pm

Ringwood: March 23, 1 pm

Somerville: March 10, 1:30 pm

Newton: March 16, 11 am

Union Twp.: March 9, 12 pm

Hackettstown: March 10, 3:30 pm

See where the fun is at this weekend by visiting our Instagram page for a parade video.

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Read More: Strike Gold With These St. Patrick’s Day Events Oh Lucky Day! Leprechaun Tricks for St. Patrick’s Day

Bernie Taupin, best known as Elton John’s longtime songwriting partner, will sign copies of his new memoir, “Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton & Me” (Hachette, 416 pp., $32.50), Sept. 13 at the Books & Greetings bookstore in Northvale (Bergen County).

For information, visit booksandgreetings.com.

According to promotional material for the book, which is scheduled to be published on Sept. 12:

From his childhood in the East Midlands of England whose imagination was sparked and forever informed by the distinctly American mythopoetics of country music and cowboy culture, to the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of ’70s and ’80s Beverly Hills, “Scattershot” is simultaneously a “Tom Jones”-like picaresque journey across a landscape of unforgettable characters, as well as a striking, first-hand account of a creative era like no other and one man’s experience at the core of it.

Taupin writes about encounters with famous musicians (John Lennon, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra) and famous non-musicians (Graham Greene, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí). According to the promotional material, the cast of characters includes “scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. Even if they’re not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as ‘Tiny Dancer,’ ‘Candle in the Wind,’ ‘Bennie and The Jets,’ and so many more.”

In a promotional blurb for the book, Elton John raved, “This is the most glorious of books. I am besotted by the life I never knew he had.” And Pete Townshend said every page of the book “is a delight, a joy, a name-dropper fan’s delight. Divine. I couldn’t put it down.”

In addition to writing songs with Elton John, Taupin has written lyrics for songs recorded by artists such as Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Ringo Starr and Marianne Faithfull; recorded as a solo artist and a member of the band Farm Dogs; published a book of poetry; and displayed his visual art.

Visit scattershotbook.com for a list of all of Taupin’s United States book signings.

Now is a great time to put your money in a certificate of deposit (CD). Interest rates have been going up over the past two years, and CDs currently offer some of the highest rates available—much higher than you’ll get with a traditional savings account.

Not sure how to find the best CDs near you? Don’t worry, we did the heavy lifting for you. In partnership with Curinos, a leading provider of banking data and analytics, we analyzed more than 20,000 data points to find the best CD rates in New Jersey and the U.S.

Keep in mind that our assessment of each institution isn’t exhaustive and our rankings focus solely on the APY.

Best CD rates in New Jersey overall

Compare rates from our partners

New Jersey has some of the best CD rates available today, but you don’t have to stop your search here. We curated some of the top CD accounts available nationwide from our partners.

Best CD rates in New Jersey by term

We worked with Curinos to identify the best CD rates in New Jersey by term, including 6-month, 1-year, and 5-year CDs.

If there are special requirements that must be met in order to open an account, they’ll be indicated in the “Notes” column (keep in mind this field may be blank). We recommend contacting the financial institution directly to confirm account details and requirements before opening a CD.

A 6-month CD is Ideal for savers who don’t want to lock up their funds for long. Earn a great rate on your deposit and have your funds back within a few months to use as you please.

By keeping your money on deposit a bit longer, you may be able to earn an even higher rate. A 1-year CD offers a great balance between higher earning opportunities without locking in your funds for too long.

If you prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach to your savings, consider a 5-year CD. With a longer term, you can rest assured that your rate is guaranteed for next few years and your savings won’t be impacted by market fluctuations.

What is a certificate of deposit?

A certificate of deposit is a type of time deposit account offered by banks and credit unions. CDs often provide a higher interest rate in exchange for keeping your money on deposit for a predetermined period of time, known as the term. CD term lengths can range from a few weeks or months to several years.

The key feature of a CD is the fixed term, during which your interest rate is guaranteed and you agree not to withdraw your funds. If you do need to access the money before the CD matures, you'll likely face a penalty. Upon the CD's maturity, you have the option to withdraw your initial deposit, plus the accrued interest, or you can choose to renew or roll over the CD into a new term. CDs are considered a safe investment option, especially since they're typically insured by the government up to certain limits.

APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield. It represents the amount of interest you will earn on your deposit over a year, taking into account the effect of compounding interest. The higher the APY, the more interest you stand to earn.

CDs come in various types, each catering to different investment strategies and financial needs. Here are some of the most common types:

How to choose the best CD in New Jersey

There are over 50 FDIC-regulated banks in New Jersey and 150 NCUA-regulated credit unions. Here’s how to choose the right one for your needs:

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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Just as Pride Month begins, there's an uproar in a New Jersey borough after the district superintendent ordered a Pride lawn sign removed from school grounds.

The controversy centers on Westwood Regional Middle School in Westwood, a town where the LGBTQ signs depicting the Pride flag are displayed outside of homes. But around the corner at the school, the same signs were ordered to be taken down just a day after it was placed on the lawn.

"This is something that’s real, it’s something that’s OK," said high school senior MacKenzie Fox. "Just to have a sign out there tells us this is a safe space. That we do belong and our sexuality and our gender, whatever it is, is valid."

Fox is a student representative to the school board. She started an online petition asking the superintendent to bring back the sign and allow it on school grounds.

"I know I have the support of my teachers, students and classmates, I just wish the administration would do the same," said Fox.

So far, more than 1,000 people have signed the petition. Fox says the lawn sign was placed outside the middle school last week in preparation for Pride Month.

"He had told them the signs violated the flag policy and he has been the one to tell the principal to take them down," Fox said.

As pride month kicks off, some big corporations are finding themselves at the center of controversy when it comes to their support of the LQBTQ community. Rana Novini reports.

Last month, Westwood’s Board of Education passed a policy only allowing the American and New Jersey state flag to be displayed outside of schools. The policy does not prevent Pride flags from being displayed inside — as evidenced by multiple Pride flags being seen hanging on school windows on Friday.

Michael Pontillo, Westwood School Board President commented on the decision limiting what flags can be displayed last month during a board meeting.

"Nobody is up here saying to a principal ‘No, that flag will not fly in the school.’ Last year, there were flags all over the school and there’s nobody that’s going to prevent that from happening again this year," said Pontillo.

When reached, Interim Superintendent Kenneth Rota did not comment. The new policy doesn’t address banners or signs outside, but Fox told NBC New York that the superintendent told her a sign which depicts a flag falls in the same category.

"Lawn signs are not flags and it should not apply at all," Fox said.

The school board president told NBC New York over the phone that he deferred all questions to the superintendent for comment.

Living in New Jersey while working in New York City has its advantages. Among them are affordable housing, reliable transportation options into Manhattan, and easier access to parking for car owners.

Read below to learn more about the reasons why commuters might want to settle in New Jersey.

Housing Is Cheaper

New York City has some of the highest housing costs in the country, and prices continue to rise. As of June 2023, the average value of a residential house has risen to $1,174,530—a 5.3% decrease from 2022 levels.

In New Jersey, the value is only a fraction of that, at $457,045, and prices rose 5.1% over the past year.

You can get more house or apartment for a much cheaper price by heading to New Jersey, according to those figures.

You Can Take a Train to Work

It might seem odd to commute to work from another state, but if you live in the northern or north-central portions of New Jersey, work is only 30 minutes to an hour away. You can take a ferry across the Hudson River or transit trains into midtown's Penn Station, and you can get some work done on the commute.

If you would prefer to live further out and drive into the city, you may look at commute times of an hour to two hours or more. For example, Princeton, N.J., is about an hour and a half from Manhattan, which isn’t so bad. You could spend nearly that long on subways and buses getting to work from Queens or Brooklyn.

If you decide to commute, you need to factor in the cost of each weekday ride, but some employers offer a pretax way of paying these amounts.

But don't be fooled, there are downsides to a Jersey commute. For example, during spring 2017, there was an unusual number of signal problems, derailments, and other issues, creating a number of massive delays in Penn Station that turned commuting into a nightmare.

It's Easier to Have a Car

Having a car in New York City is expensive, just parking your car in a garage could run between $250 and $500 or more monthly.

Add about $80 for insurance and gas and you could easily pay $700 or more per month. In addition, getting around New York City by car can be daunting, and finding a parking spot can be difficult. Traffic and a shortage of street parking are just two of the problems.

Many parts of New Jersey have more of a suburban feel. Depending on where you live, you can park your car in your driveway or apartment parking lot for free, head to the grocery store, or take the kids to baseball practice.

Lower Taxes

Did you know that, in addition to New York state taxes, New York City levies a city tax? The lowest tax rate is 3.078%, and it goes up to 3.876% if you earn more than $50,000 per year.

Living in New Jersey eliminates that city tax for most employees, but the state tax can be expensive. The New York state tax starts at 4% and goes as high as 10.90%, while in New Jersey rates start at 1.4%, though they go as high as 10.75% if you make more than $1,000,000.

Notably, sales tax in New York City is 8.875%, while in New Jersey the statewide retail sales tax is 6.625%.

In East Orange, N.J., the sales tax is only 3.3125%.

More Public School Choices

If you have kids, you want them to attend the best schools. New Jersey has the second-highest high school graduation rate. In the 2018–19 school year, the most recent year for which data is available, 90.6% of public high school students in New Jersey graduated.

Although New York City is home to many superior public schools, placement into them depends on a myriad of factors, from high test scores to a student's location.

Plenty of Scenery

New York City has Central Park, architectural gems like the High Line walkway and the Empire State Building, and plenty of other attractions, but New Jersey has a diverse portfolio of beautiful places as well.

There are some heavily industrialized areas that aren't so scenic, but with 127 miles of ocean coastline, plenty of scenic driving routes, state parks with hiking trails, and a stunning view of New York City from across the Hudson River, there’s a lot to see in New Jersey if you’re looking for natural beauty.

Is It Cheaper to Live in New Jersey or New York?

Most cost of living points—housing, food, taxes, and most utilities—are cheaper in New Jersey than in New York City.

Is Income Tax Higher in New Jersey or New York?

Income taxes are higher in New York City than in New Jersey. Even though New York's state income tax rate isn't much higher than New Jersey's (New York state income taxes range from 4% to 10.90%; New Jersey's range from 1.4% through 10.75%), New York City comes out higher, as the city levies a city income tax that ranges between 3.078% and 3.876%.

Do You Pay Double Taxes If You Work in New York and Live in New Jersey?

In general, you do not pay double taxes if you work in New York City and live in New Jersey. While you are required to file a non-resident in New York tax return and also a resident tax return in New Jersey, you will receive a New Jersey tax credit for, generally, the same amount you paid in New York taxes. As a New Jersey commuter, you are also exempt, in most cases, from paying New York City income tax.

The Bottom Line

Commuting to New Jersey is something to consider if you want to pay less rent and have more space. The state itself offers a lot of natural beauty as well as smaller cities that may appeal to urbanites.

Like anywhere, there are downsides to living in New Jersey—the cost of commute and higher property taxes—but New York's neighboring state has a lot to offer.