Thursday April 16 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: 89° Sun and clouds mixed. Another day of record heat is expected for New Jersey on Thursday before a sharp temperature drop brings the risk of frost early next week.

Allergies high pollen count today at 11.7 Top Allergens are Juniper, Maple, Elm

 There's no Yom kippur koton today erev Rosh chodesh Iyar since one does not fast during chodesh Nissan. 

- Concrete island  on Ridge Ave  to be removed. At the Lkwd Township Comitee meeting today a resident raised concerns about a concrete island installed in the middle of Ridge Avenue that was forcing cars onto the shoulder. The mayor and Committee members were asked to indicate whether they were aware of the installation, and they said they were not by a raise of hands. The mayor staed that the island would be removed ASAP explaining it was the result of a misunderstanding between the engineering department and the county road crew.

- During a hearing before the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee, Education Commissioner Lily Laux described the state's controversial school funding "S2" formula as "outdated" and committed to a comprehensive review.

- Trump: Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure. It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS “STUFF” JUST DOESN’T WORK. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT

- Rav Shaul Alter shlita R"Y of Ger will be coming to the US for a short visit to spend time with his chasidim in Boro Park, New York 

Important information about הפסח עליו שעבר חמץ at various establishments and

is the culmination of several months of research by AKO’s Post Pesach Committee. HERE

- Smash h house burger in Toms River soft opening under Tartikov Hashgacha

- Post pesach bakeries should have full stock of sourdough this coming shabbos

see here regarding sourdough that was sold last week erev shabbos if it was allowed to be sold.

- Honda is recalling 440,830 Odyssey minivans in the U.S. due to a software error that could cause the side and curtain airbags to deploy unexpectedly, Dealers will fix the issue by reprogramming the vehicle software. Affected vehicles include model-year 2018-22 Odys

- The U.S. dollar has dropped below 3 shekels for the first time since 1995, signaling a surging Israeli currency and causing major concern among exporters and business leaders in Israel, as businesses and tourism are getting hit hard.

- Today April 16, Wawa is celebrating its 62nd anniversary by offering Wawa Rewards members a free any-size hot coffee at all of its 1,200 stores nationwide. The promotion marks the anniversary of its first store, which opened on April 16, 1964, in Folsom, Pennsylvania.

- News in the world of Chazzanus its now official that R' Yitzchak Meir Helfgot will serve as the official chazzan at Yeshurun Synagogue in Yerushalayim, while Nissim Saal has been appointed as chazzan at the Great Synagogue of Yerushalayim for the upcoming Yomim Noraim and Sukkos, alongside the current chazan Tzvi Weiss.

- Giyus: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlita responds to the Bagatz hearing on drafting yeshiva students: There is a group sitting in Yerushalayim in the court who are saying that they will destroy the Olam HaTorah that is their exact language. They should know, and everyone should know, that it will not help them at all: ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper.’ The Olam HaTorah will continue on and on, and nothing will help them. We will stand strong and not be afraid of them, and you should strengthen yourselves in Torah and Yiras shamayim, and HKBH will save us from them and from anyone who thinks to destroy the Torah world.”

- Lakewood township committee meeting today 5:30 pm watch l;ivestream Here 

see agenda Here 

Items on the agenda 

-4 way stop sign coming to Forest ave and 2nd street 

-Sale of vacant parcel (Block 1051.09, Lot 10) through a public auction with a minimum bid of $373,500.Must be used only as a neighborhood clubhouse Ford ave and Providence rt 9 area

-Purchase or condemnation (eminent domain) of Block 452, Lot 3.off Prospect Street for a public park

- Shuttle Busing Liaison project, awarding up to $12,500 per month to help manage transit updates

The Public can submit comments during the meeting via comments@lakewoodnj.gov

- The Township of Lakewood Township approved raising its 2026 budget cap from the normal 2% up to 3.5%, allowing about $3.76 million in additional spending. This does not automatically mean a 3.5% tax increase, but it creates the possibility of higher property taxes since the town is allowed to spend more. If they don’t use the full increase, the unused amount can be saved and used to raise taxes in the next two years

- The former Wells Fargo building at 317 Main Street in Lakewood  was purchased last year by the Lakewood Township LDC for $2.5 million using taxpayer funds and later transferred to the Lakewood Industrial Commission (LIC) for $1. At the LIC meeting yesterday members stated that the property is now being appraised to determine its current market value and may be considered for future downtown redevelopment use, including potential public parking.

- Billionaire philanthropist Miriam Adelson has poured $40 million into Republican super PACs, giving a boost to GOP warchest as the battle for control of Congress heats up.

- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said claims that high taxes are driving wealthy residents out are overstated, arguing that the real problem is working-class residents leaving because they can’t afford the cost of living. He said past tax increases on millionaires did not reduce the number of wealthy residents, and that the city is instead seeing an “exodus” of those priced out.

- The Ocean County Board of Commissioners adopted a $655.7 million 2026 budget, with $544.6 million funded through taxes and $39.5 million from surplus. Despite the spending increase, officials said the property tax rate will remain steady at 28.2 cents per $100 of assessed value, citing a growing ratable base of $193.1 billion and continued growth management.

- Spirit Airlines could begin liquidating its assets as early as this week amid soaring jet fuel prices

- LPD: Before you go out, talk with your friends about who’s driving and how you’re getting home. Impaired driving crashes are preventable, and planning ahead saves live

- First Priority Group, a diversified manufacturer, upfitter, and dealer of emergency and specialty vehicles, today announced that it will transition its Remount and EMS operations from its Manchester, New Jersey facility to a new purpose built 75,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Lakewood, New Jersey in June 2026.