Tuesday November 19 News Updates Lakewood

Weather 60° A mix of clouds and sun,rain in forecast for Thurs and Friday 

- Lakewood Wildfire update 7:30pm

35 acres burned

75% contained

Clearstream Road reopened

- Kremlin spokesman: The "red phone," the hotline between Moscow and Washington established after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, is now inactive.

- Senator John Thune: To our allies in Israel, and to the Jewish people around the world, my message to you is this: Reinforcements are on the way. In six weeks, Republicans will reclaim the Senate majority, and we will make clear that the United States Congress stands squarely in Israel’s corner.

- Giyus update: IDF issued 1,126 arrest orders for ultra-Orthodox who received conscription orders but did not show up at the conscription bureaus after receiving the first and second orders, this is out of 3,000 orders issued in the last few months. Once you are considered  a evader, it would delay in leaving the country or an arrest in every encounter with a police officer,"

- Free Palestine protesters are marching through a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, intimidating Jewish families outside their homes at night, while police are seen marching alongside them, watching the situation.(Awesomejew)

 -Jewish man beaten in Kings Hwy E. 29 st now # Breaking.(nycphotog)

-Rain tonight: A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

- East Ramapo School District in Monsey Reveals $30M surplus despite claims of financial crisis after raising taxes to pay for a deficit. Politicians demand answers and call for a refund to tax payers 

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- Violent protesters and Pro Hamas trying to destroy Jewish businesses now Kings Nostrand Ave and NYPD refusing to make arrests.(nyphotog)

- NJ Turnpike Authority officials approved a $2.7 billion 2025 budget Tuesday that includes the fourth 3% toll increase since 2020 on both the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. 

- Speaker Mike Johnson: "Let me be unequivocally clear. A man is a man and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman."

- Trump: I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground. Good luck to

Elon Musk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!

- Lakewood wild fire update as of 10am thi morning 

35 acres burned

 50% contained

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to make progress containing a wildfire burning in the area of Pine Park and the Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, Ocean County. 

Clearstream Road closed between Brewers Bridge and Hope Chapel Road

-Updated Levaya Information for Rav Meir Chaim Gutfreund ZT”L

The call in number for the levaya is 732-839-3003 IDnumber is 7763828466#. 

The levaya in Lakewood will be in Kamenitz 831 Ridge Avenue at 2:30 PM. Kevura in Lakewood. Shivah at 1938 53 Street in BP

- Trump selects Howard Lutnick for the position of Secretary of Commerce.

- At least 20 senior White House staffers sign letter dissenting on Biden's decision to walk back an ultimatum conditioning aid to Israel

-The White House National Security Council: The  US was not surprised by Russia's announcement of a change in its nuclear doctrine, and the US does not intend to change its position as a response accordingly

- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov threatened Ukraine at a press conference after a new missile attack: "This is a sign that they are looking for escalation. Putin has already published his warnings. Russia published its updated nuclear doctrine today. I hope it will be read well."

- Judge Merchan, overseeing President Trump’s hush money trial in NYC, just ADJOURNED President Trump’s November 26th sentencing date.

- Lakewood Zoning board approves Satmar women's mikva on East Kennedy Boulevard near their existing shul. Despite opposition from neighbors  the board approved to construct a 2-story, 16,017 sq foot women's mikvah building with 15 rooms

See full story at faa

- The LSTA Said  they will not be providing bus transportation on Thanksgiving. This is despite The contract for busing stipulates that any day that there's school from Sept 1 through June 30 the bus companies must provide transportation  holidays included.

-Lakewood township officials  had to remove a 4 way stop sign that was just installed at the Shemen Ridge intersection after the township approved it by the meeting Thursday night. Apparently they needed county approval which wasn't done. Furious neighbors and area residents said they were not consulted about putting up the sign which they say only backed  up traffic.

-The Lakewood Board of Education wants to reappoint its former state monitor to a $40,000 consultant position, claiming he knows the district better than the two new state monitors, but the new monitors blocked the reappointmen (App)

- Bnei brak officials insist the fallen missile yesterday was on the ramat Gan side of the street that borders both municipalities, keeping the promise of the chazon Ish and Rav Chaim Kanievsky that rockets won't fall in Bmei Brak. Some pointed out to the eruv on the street that survived the attack, yet a store that sells untznius objects was hit.

- Lakewood Vaad member doubles down with a follow up post on LinkedIn after he received backlash for the first post how Lakewood traffic is good. He. Blames the state for the traffic and calls those upset about traffic complainers

See post text below:

I wasn’t expecting that! A few days ago, I wrote a lighthearted post about looking at the bright side of situations. I used the Lakewood traffic as an example.

Sure, traffic can be frustrating, but I pointed out that it’s also a sign of a growing and thriving community. It was like I opened a can of worms.

Honestly, I can write an entire post about how the State promised multiple times to widen Rt. 9 and make it a full double lane, or how efforts are being made to push the County to widen other roads. But that’s not the point.

The post wasn’t about traffic, it was about perspective. Life always gives us two choices: to focus on the challenges or to find something positive in the situation.

It reminds me of a story from my childhood.

There was a member of our shul who always seemed to find something to critique—whether it was the chazzan’s pace, the length of the drasha, or even the room temperature. One day, frustrated, I asked my father why this person never seemed to have anything positive to say. His wise answer?

This man's father was the same way! My message to you- smile!

Look for the good, even when it’s hard to find. Life’s too short to spend complaining. And if you can’t do it for yourself- do it for your kids.🙂

 Are there aspects of everyday life you’ve learned to appreciate in new ways?

Some responded via comments on the post:

"Why are you blaming the state when the zoning board you control is approving a project 4-story office building at 685 River Avenue that will preclude the state from widening Route 9?"

"I’m sorry to contradict you on this, but you did not write “a lighthearted post about looking at the bright side of situations, using Lakewood traffic as an example.” You wrote a post specifically about the Lakewood traffic and how it was a good thing. Of course it’s important to look on the bright side of things. But you are talking about an unmitigated disaster that is only getting worse with every passing day, and it didn’t have to be like this. People are suffering, watching countless millions of their dollars in lost productivity going up in smoke. When someone’s house is burning and his values possessions are going up in smoke, we don’t lightheartedly tell him to look on the bright side. Especially if more could have been done to save his house."