This year for our Casino Night fundraiser, being held on June 11th at The Conservatory at The Sussex County Fairgrounds (check out our Casino Night tab on our website for tickets), we were graciously donated a Traeger Ironwood Pellet Smoker Grill! It’s a 6 in 1 BBQ smoker grilling combo. You can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and BBQ all in this one unit! We will be holding a raffle for the smoker/grill as well as a bag of pellets to get you started valued at $2,000 the night of Casino Night. At the event, participants will be able to purchase a ticket for $20 or 6 for $100.

This got me thinking about grilling and smoking. When you search the topic the first match is “Smokin & Grillin with AB”. Who is this you say? Well, Aaron “A.B.” Brown is a self-taught culinary creator and the face behind Smokin and Grillin with AB. He has one of the most influential food channels on YouTube, with over 3.6 million subscribers worldwide and 2+ million followers on Facebook with over 1 billion views! That’s a lot people interested in grilling and smoking and obviously the numbers don’t lie…AB is your guy!

So, come to Casino Night you’ll have a great time with professional casino tables and chance(s) to win many fabulous prizes and the opportunity to win our Traeger Smoker Grill Raffle! Just in time for peak “smokin and grillin” season here in Sussex County. Why do I have a sudden urge to grunt like Tim Allen did on Tool Time!

Check out the grill here: Amazon.com : Traeger Ironwood XL Wood Pellet Smoker Grill, 924 Sq In Cooking Area, WiFIRE Smart Temperature Control, Up to 500 Degrees, Super Smoke Mode, 6 in 1 Outdoor BBQ Electric Smoker and Grill : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Buy your 2026 Casino Night tickets here: Event Registration – Family Promise of Sussex County

Every year on April 22nd, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. The first one was held in 1970, which many say was the beginning of the environmental movement. The day serves as a reminder of everyone’s responsibility to protect our natural resources for future generations.

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Our Power, Our Planet”. What are some things we can incorporate into our everyday lives to help ourselves and our community? Please see a list below that I saw in the Sussex County Division of Health’s April Newsletter.

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle

2. Conserve water by fixing any leaks and using less when possible

3. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use

4. Use reusable bags, bottles and containers

5. Limit single-use plastics

6. Walk, bike or carpool instead of driving alone

7. Plant trees or support local green spaces

8. Buy local and sustainable products

9. Dispose of waste properly, including hazardous materials

10. Educate others about environmental health and sustainability

I remember a time when if a customer had a bad experience, the employee on the receiving end always acknowledged it and usually said, “I’m sorry.” That rarely happens anymore if at all. It’s not just me, “In a June 2023 study from Customer Contact Week Digital showed that 57% of customers surveyed thought that customer service had gotten worse in the last year, with a quarter of all respondents saying it had become much worse. A mere 4% thought customer service was much better.”

Some argue this declining trend is by design, as a way to cut costs and for those in a subscription type service an impossible way to cancel, thus increasing the bottom line for the businesses as well as the frustration for the consumers paying for their products and services!

I recently had a horrible experience trying to change my cell phone provider working with three large Fortune 500 companies. The first agent from company #1, when he heard I had an older model phone, asked me to confirm in disbelief and then laughed at me. Another one from company #2, asked if I needed directions to the Rockaway Mall?! Seriously, I just gave him a look which I actually felt coming across my face. I remember when the mall was built! Lastly and probably worst in this incident was another rep from company #3, said to me over the phone, “just shut up”. I replied shocked, “you just told me to shut up?” No response, followed by a hang up.

A little politeness, validation, goes a long way. It’s OK to say, “I’m sorry” and it’s not an acknowledgment of fault. It’s a way to show empathy, that you understand and for me at least goes a long way in how I ultimately feel about that business.

Our largest fundraiser of the year, Casino Night, Betting on a Better Future: All-In to End Homelessness, will be held June 11th at The Conservatory at The Sussex County Fairgrounds. Please visit our Casino Night tab on our website for more information and to buy tickets.

This got me thinking about the origin of casinos. The word casino comes from Italian with the root word casa meaning house. In 1638 Venice Italy the first known gambling house was called, Ridotto, meaning private room in Italian. During the 19th century the word casino was used to describe public buildings where fun activities occurred.

In the United States, initial gambling sites were known as saloons and in the early 20th century were outlawed until 1931 where gambling was legalized in Nevada. It was in 1976 when New Jersey allowed gambling in Atlantic City, making it the 2nd largest gaming city in the United States.

While our casino uses play money with an opportunity to win fabulous prizes, guests can still enjoy classic casino games on professional tables. Whether you are experienced or not, all are welcomed and encouraged to play. Hope to see you at our house in June!

You can purchase your tickets to our 2026 Casino Night here:
Event Registration – Family Promise of Sussex County