Welcome Back! First Official Day Of The New Z'man

VIDEO of BMG's first official day of the new Elul Z'man. The official 'Tumult' day is expected to take place on Sunday.

Last Day Of Shiva For Gordie Mandel Z'L

Today is the last day of Shiva for Gordie Mandel Z'L, who was Nifter last Shabbos at the age of 72. The last T'filah, Mincha will be held today at 1:45 p.m. at the home of Goldie Mandel, 150 Village Path. 'Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sh'ar Aveilei Tzion Ve'yerushalyim'.

PRV Development Age Restriction Lifted

JUST IN: The age restriction lifting on the PRV (Pine River Village) development was passed unanimously this evening at the township meeting with a compensation of $850,000.00 to the township-as a lump sum payment. At the last meeting which took place on August 6th, the PRV developers offered $5,000 compensation per unit. However, the ordinance was not immediately passed and was brought back for a final hearing-this evening-after professional appraisals could be completed. The compensation per unit is approximately double than originally offered. However, building cannot commence until final approval from the planning board, since the development which was originally approved as a senior development must now be adjusted for a younger community-which includes recreation space etc. (TLS)

VIDEO: Shimi Illuzini Performance

VIDEO clips of illusionist Shimi Illuzini's performance this afternoon in Bais Yaakov-which was watched by hundreds of children and adults.

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK: Hatzolah was just dispatched to Westgate for a pedestrian struck. As we post this Hatzolah has not yet arrived to the scene. We will keep you updated.
U/D 7:03 p.m Units on scene are requesting PD to respond as well.
U/D 7:06 p.m. Injuries are minor and Hatzolah is leaving. The scene is being handled by PD.

Send In Your BMG App Before September 1st

If you or one of your sons are planning to attend BMG for this coming winter Z'man, BMG is requesting you send in your application prior to September 1st in order to give the Yeshiva ample time to get the State Grant. If Yeshivah does not receive the Federal Student Aid application by the above mentioned time, it can result in a great Hefsed for the Yeshivah. For a Financial Aid application, you can call 732-367-1060 ext 243.

$4.8 Million Headed To N.J. Transit

New Jersey is getting another installment of economic stimulus money, this time to buy buses. NJ Transit will use the $4.8 million to buy 39 buses, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today. The money is part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package President Barack Obama signed into law in February. Of that amount, $48 billion has been set aside for road, transit, bridge, airport and other transportation projects. Thus far, $25 billion has already been allocated for 7,700 projects. Nearly $6 billion worth of grants has been distributed just for transit projects nationwide, LaHood said in a statement. APP

Camp Bracha V'hatzlacha Summer Memories

PHOTOS. Over 250 photos from camp Bracha V'hatzlacha's day camp '09 highlights.

Most Teachers `Highly Qualified'

Nearly all of New Jersey's 88,000 public school teachers meet the federal definition of "highly qualified." State Education Department officials say only 263 failed to qualify. Federal law requires public school teachers to be properly certified and have documented expertise in the subjects they teach. Officials also say teacher quality is improving in the state's disadvantaged school districts. AP

Illusionist Shimi Illuzini In Town Today

VIDEO below. The world famous illusionist Shimi Illuzini will be performing in Lakewood today. There will be two shows-both for men and women-with separate seating at Bais Yaakov High School on James Street. The show times are 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ten dollar entrance fee.

Things Looking Bright For Christie

Republican Christopher Christie is leading in four legislative districts Democrat Jon Corzine carried easily four years ago, according to a poll conducted for the Assembly Republican Victory '09 Committee. The poll also shows Republicans with an opportunity to pick up State Assembly seats in districts 1, 4, 14 and 19. In District 1, Christie leads Corzine by 25 points, 55%-30%. In District 4 he leads 52%-32%, in 14th District 43%-38% lead and in the strongly Democratic 19th district in Middlesex County, Christie has a 12 point lead over Corzine, 45%-33%. AP

New Home Depot Opens In Brick-Welcomed By Corzine

Governor Jon S. Corzine welcomed the opening of the new Home Depot in Brick yesterday and the more than 180 jobs it will bring for local residents. The store is one of only five Home Depot stores being launched nationwide in 2009. "This is good news for the Garden State and supports employment trends we have seen over the past three months that are leading to increased private sector job growth,” Governor Corzine said. “I want to thank the Home Depot organization for their confidence in the New Jersey market. The company’s investment here is evidence that even during a global economic recession, this state remains a desirable location for business growth and expansion.” Politicker.

Westgate Shul And Homes Targeted In Burglaries

Two burglaries, an attempted burglary and an act of vandalism were reported in Westgate between 6:32 and 9:51 a.m. this morning, police said. The first incident reported was at the Bais Medrash, where someone entered through an unlocked rear window, disturbed several Sforim and took loose change, said Lt. William Addison. The second burglary was reported at 8:27 a.m. at 18 Kingsfield Drive where a person entered the home through a back window and took $42 in cash and coins. An attempted burglary was discovered at 22 Kingsfield Drive and was reported at 9:26 a.m. A window was partially opened but no one entered the home, Addison said. A vandalism report was taken at 9:51 a.m. at 20 Kingsfield Drive where a window was broken, Addison said. Officer Lynn Miller investigated the four incidents. APP/TLS-CCP

Weintraub / Feiner Vort

PHOTOS & VIDEO below of the Weintraub/Feiner Vort now taking place. The Choson is the son of R' Yaakov Feiner and the Kallah is the daughter of long time Hatzolah member R' Yankel Weintraub. (Video of Harav Meir Reuven Berkowitz Shlita-Rov in Whispering Pines-dancing with the Baalei Simcha.)

VIDEO

Looking To Return To Kollel ?

The grand prize in the Mega Millions multistate lottery game is going even higher, now up to $207 million for the next drawing on Friday. The jackpot has been rolled over because no player matched all the winning numbers in Tuesday's $170 million drawing. The winning numbers from Tuesday were: 4, 5, 26, 37 and 56. The Mega Ball number was 25.

NJ's Jobless Rate Inches Up In July

New Jersey's unemployment rate remains at a 32-year high. However, state officials say job gains in July reversed a 17-month trend. The jobless rate last month inched up one-tenth of a percentage point from 9.2 percent in June to 9.3 percent. Preliminary estimates from the state's Labor and Workforce Development Department show the state's economy added 5,900 jobs for a total of 3,936,100. The department says six of ten private industry supersectors recorded gains while three saw losses. Gainers included the leisure and hospitality, construction and manufacturing sectors. Trade, transportation and utilities saw the greatest losses of 4,500 jobs. Since December 2007, New Jersey has lost 150,100 jobs. AP

Library Gets New Director

Susan Quinn has been named director of the Ocean County Library. Quinn succeeds Elaine McConnell, who served in the position for 25 years. Quinn began her career as a children's librarian in Lakewood. She has served as branch manager at Berkeley and at the main library in Toms River. Quinn is a graduate of Gettysburg College. She earned a graduate degree in library and information services from Rutgers University. She assumed her new job as head of the 21-branch system Monday. APP

Reader's Scoop: Shocked And Disgusted

(Click on letter to enlarge). (for those who can't enlarge it, this is the exact context of the letter sent to the Readers' Scoop writer : I am writing to you because I realize what great parents you would be. I promise you that if you accept upon yourself to wear much longer skirts and to always dress in loose (even baggy) clothing whether pregnant or not, Hashem will bless you both with children. Dear husband, it is your obligation to compliment your wife on how beautiful she looks this way. As it is truly beautiful to keep her real beauty just for you personally. You will both be blessed with children.)

I was hoping you can post the attached letter on your blog. I don't know any other way I can express my frustration of inconsiderate and down right rude and thoughtless people. Attached is the letter and this is my comment: We've been married 2 years now, have no children and spend our time running to different specialist and undergoing fertility treatment. For some anonymous person to bud into my personal life and tell me he/she knows the answer to all our problems is wrong on every level. There is no rav, no person with brains (read more)

Man Steals Grand-Shvigger's Jewelry

A man was charged with six counts of receiving stolen property in connection with the theft of jewelry valued at more than $10,000 after the victim found her pilfered treasures for sale in a Brick jewelry store, Detective Steven Wexler said. On June 5, the grandmother-in-law reported to police the theft of several pieces of jewelry, Wexler said. The woman continued to investigate on her own and learned the jewelry may have been sold to a store that purchases gold in Brick. The woman called police to report that she located the jewelry, and records at the store led police to her granddaughter's husband, Valez, Wexler said. Valez was being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. APP

Davidovitz And Goldbaum Attacked Because They Are Orthodox

A 20-year-old Lakewood man has admitted violently robbing two men he said were targeted for the crimes because they are Orthodox Jews. Devon Hardy of McArthur Street pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of armed robbery and two counts of bias intimidation related to crimes in Lakewood on May 25 and July 8 of last year. In entering his guilty plea before Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl, Hardy said an alleged accomplice, Jose Diaz, selected the Orthodox Jewish men as victims because he knew them to be easy targets. "It wasn't a hate crime, but they were selected because of their religion," said First Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Ronald DeLigny. The first victim, David Davidovish, 38, was visiting from Israel when he was robbed on May 25, 2008, as he sat in a car in front of a convenience store on Route 9, police said. DeLigny said Davidovish was assaulted with a bat. He suffered a broken nose and required stitches, DeLigny said. Read full article in APP here.