Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Will Lakewood’s $14 million hazardous busing expansion actually go through?

And on the Lakewood Patch calendar - 10th Anniversary Ocean County Irish Festival

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Saturday September 12th Patch AM
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Hello again Lakewood! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will Lakewood's $14 million hazardous busing expansion actually go through?
  • How Lakewood's first responders honored 9/11's heroes 25 years later
  • How did Lakewood handle one of New Jersey's hottest summers?

Also on today's calendar: 10th Anniversary Ocean County Irish Festival and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the tractor say to the plow? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Sun giving way to clouds, with a high of 80 and low of 70 degrees.
  • Sunday: Some rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 82, low: 65.
  • Monday: Sunny and less humid, with a high of 81 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Lakewood Schools battle over public and non-public busing rights (app.com) — Lakewood families face major uncertainty as the school board's vote to extend hazardous-route busing to more than 12,000 private school students, at over $14 million a year, has been temporarily blocked by the state monitor. With courtesy busing already cut, township subsidies gone, and a massive state loan debt hanging over the district, residents could see big safety, budget, and transportation impacts while the state weighs a possible takeover.
   

2. Lakewood Township Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Honors Fallen First Responders (lakewoodalerts.com) — Lakewood Township officials and emergency services leaders gathered Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, lowering flags and honoring fallen first responders. Local police, fire, and EMS chiefs stressed educating younger generations and reaffirmed Lakewood's commitment to service, courage, and protecting the community while keeping the memory of the victims and heroes alive.
   

3. New Jersey's Summer Was Among the Hottest on Record, and the Shore Felt Every Degree (shorenewsnetwork.com) — Lakewood residents were part of one of New Jersey's hottest summers on record, with early-July heat waves, severe storms, and a flash flood warning that also covered Toms River, Brick, and Jackson. The season brought triple-digit heat, scattered power outages, localized flooding, and higher electric bills, underscoring how extreme weather is increasingly shaping daily life across Ocean County and the Shore.
   

4. NJ man in U.S. illegally gets 20 years for deadly Lakewood crash (nj1015.com) — A Lakewood mother and her 11-year-old daughter's deaths in a 2025 DUI crash were back in the spotlight as the Red Bank driver, Raul Luna-Perez, received two consecutive 10-year aggravated manslaughter sentences. The Lakewood crash, which prosecutors say involved alcohol and cocaine, has also fueled statewide debate over New Jersey's immigrant trust directive and how prior arrests were handled.
   

📸 Around Lakewood

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakewood

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Lakewood Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Monday September 14
  • Ridgeway Elementary School - Back to School Night
    Manchester Township School District, 2861 Ridgeway Rd, Manchester Township
    5:00 pm
  • Zoning Board Of Adjustment →
    Howell Township, NJ Calendar, 4567 Rt. 9 North 2nd Floor, Howell
    7:00 pm
    • Tuesday September 15
  • MTHS Back to School Night
    Manchester Township School District, 101 Hawks Wy, Manchester Township
    6:00 pm
  • Township Council Meeting →
    Howell Township, NJ Calendar, 4567 Rt. 9 North 2nd Floor, Howell
    7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Lakewood PatchAM possible:

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Cedar Grove Home Inspector Builds Free Property-Records Lookup for Every NJ Town
    An Essex County home inspector has built a free website that lets anyone look up the public records behind a New Jersey property — building permits... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • YMCA of the Jersey Shore Invites Community to "Passport to Wellness" Open House on Sept. 25 —YMCA of the Jersey Shore Read on Patch
  • Hi new to this app.
    Been having issues with the HOA. Any suggestions for a good HOA attorney that handles individual residents. Thx (Nextdoor Four Seasons)
  • Dollar General posted a job opening for ASST STORE MGR in LAKEWOOD, NJ S11916 in Lakewood. Apply here.
  • Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Cashier in Lakewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakewood here.

Ok Lakewood! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hold me close John Deere. (Thank you Jenny H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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