Lakewood township is in serious negotiations with the New Jersey Devils to build an arena costing $40 million to $50 million within walking distance of FirstEnergy Park that would be the new home of the franchise's minor-league affiliate.

Such a deal under quiet discussion since the spring but first confirmed by those involved Thursday would move the team into a 7,000-seat arena to be built opposite the parking lot of FirstEnergy, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, an affiliate of baseball's Philadelphia Phillies.
The arena would host 40 hockey games a season and could be a partner with the Devils' $310 million home under construction in Newark. Because the Devils would operate both venues, any concert, circus or entertainment event held in Newark could also be held in Lakewood, said Sen. Robert W. Singer, R-Ocean, who is helping negotiate the deal.
Singer is "hoping within the next 30 days we have a signed agreement," although Devils co-owner Jeff Vanderbeek described the talks as "preliminary discussions."Vanderbeek added he will "very, very seriously consider" any written proposal.

Still, local negotiators see the deal as a spark plug for millions of dollars in tax ratables for Lakewood and a chance for the Devils to solidify their fan base by shuttling the minor-league River Rats from their current home in Albany, N.Y., to the Jersey Shore.
More important, those advocates say, the arena also would bring mainstream concerts, hockey tournaments and national circus tours to Ocean County creating a new tourism draw for a seaside county already known for its beaches.
"The opportunities are endless," Singer said.

Before hockey fans start sharpening their skates, though, the ambitious plan has several major obstacles.
First, Lakewood no longer has development rights to the 7 acres on which it would build the stadium. That land is under contract to ( Govoha's) Cedarbridge Development Corp., which has a deal in place with the township to create a high-tech office park next to the BlueClaws' ballpark at Cedar Bridge and New Hampshire avenues.
Second, the township has to figure out how to pay up to a $50 million price tag, which is roughly double what it cost to build the baseball stadium.

From The Original TLS

Dear Senator Singer:
I hope this letter being posted on the TLS makes its way to you as I am aware that many politicians in Lakewood visit TLS every day to hear the Voice of some of the people of Lakewood. I am also sure that you are aware that a man by the name of Herschel Hershkowitz has decided to challenge you for your township committee seat in this upcoming Republican Primary election. As a voter who still hasn’t decided on who to vote for. I was hoping you could take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to address TLS. Can you please briefly mention some of the things that you have done for Lakewood during your 26 years in office as a township committeeman. I know that you probably don’t have time to debate all the points that Herschel has brought up in his criticisms of the current Lakewood Township Committee, but would you be willing to publicly debate Herschel or do you feel he isn’t worth your time to acknowledge as even running against you. Finally, I was curious in general as to why you supported Chris Christie for governor when part of his platform involved condemning NJ politicians who hold dual offices as corrupt. Can you explain to me whether you agree with Governor Christie, but believe you are an exception to the rule and if not why don’t you believe holding dual offices isn’t a corrupt practice.

I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to listen to one of the voices of the great town that you represent and hope you will find time to respond.

Sincerely,
A Lakewood resident.

The VAAD's endorsement letter neglected to mention the two people running in column C opposed to Bob Singer and Sheriff Mastronardy.

Oh, say, can you see?

There’s no Column C!

On the ballot you printed in BP Weekly…

You must have left it out inadvertently!

Certainly, there was no conspiracy…

To keep voters ignorant of Column C!

Ok, BP, it’s time for correction

Let your readers know there was no intention…

To interfere with a free and fair election!    

The BP Weekly which is owned by Vaad member Ben Heineman, Yes the very same Ben Heineman that tried to get the Township to build a seven story parking garage in his honor, published an ad showing the Vaad and Rabbi Shenkolewskis suggestions whom to vote for. 

Yes the very same Shenkolewski that was indicted for accepting a 500 thousand dollar bribe and together with Singer put the biggest producer of pollution,  the Cogeneration plant in the middle of Lakewood for all of our children to inhale. He also received a minivan for his cooperation.  


So now it seems these obviously self serving people along with other Vaad members such as the main Racketeer Aaron Kotler who has no problem destroying innocent children to further his agenda. Who has no problem destroying an entire town full of children to further his agenda,  has forgotten to show column C on the ballot. 


What a compliment. What they are admitting is that if there were any choice to their incumbent cronies,  they might lose. Or perhaps they are only afraid of me specifically. Whatever the reason. Please let's go out and vote en masse and send these guys packing with their Meshumad friend Bob Singer. 


By the way if you have a Rabbi that is not politically Involved or scared of these idiots,  ask them if one is allowed to give any support to a man that is a textbook meshumad. You may be surprised at the answer and wonder how those that represent our torah true community can do such a thing. 


According to Jewish law they all should be shunned from the community. And to those that say I am speaking loshon hora,  if someone were giving you a black eye punching you for twenty years and you spoke up to stop the abuse,  would you call that loshon hora? 

I rest my case. 

HAROLD HERSKOWITZ
STATE SENATE 30TH DISTRICT 
COLUMN C!!!!!

From the original TLS

The following are some of the answers from GOP Candidate Harold Herskowitz in response to the questions submitted by TLS readers. We have not yet received any response from Senator Bob Singer. 1. Q: Why do you oppose a retail district around blue claws stadium? A:I never said I opposed such a plan. There never was such a plan. It may have been someones pipe dream. There were no big retailers interested. The commercial real estate market has not hit rock bottom yet, and analysts say it will not recover for ten more years at least. If you would read the booklet called, A Case for a Minor League Stadium,  you would see that the stadium itself is supposed to be profitable. Sometimes communities combine the stadium witha downtown area in order to bring business to their central district.  Even  in large cities withmajor league teams stadiums do not partner withretail establishments. I don’t know the exact dynamics, but it is well known that game attendees do not go shopping before or after a game. I do not propose we be left with a concrete elephant, or albatross, as you say. I simply would like to see it at least pay for itself, and not cost our town millions each year in maintenance costs. As I pointed out before,  the owners of the Blue Claws own a team in Lehigh Valley and pay 1.3 million dollars a year to lease the stadium. 2. Q:Do you think having another frum person on the committee will cause more hatred towards the orthodox community.
A: Not in this case. If you mean pure antisemitism, Singer is seen as Jewish according to most non Jews. If you mean hatred towards the orthodox, you should just know, I have the support of leaders of the African American community, I have a large support base among the seniors as well. I hope I have proven to all people of Lakewood that I will be an impartial, honest, and fair voice for everyones’ concerns. The non Jews in Lakewood know who controls the committee already. I don’t think they care what religion the person is, as much as whether they are honest, and above reproach.

Lakewood’s GOP Candidate Requests Public Debate With Incumbent Singer Apr 15 2010 9:16 am

Lakewood’s GOP candidate, Harold Herskowitz has requested a debate with incumbent Senator Bob Singer. “After seeing the many requests on the TLS from Senator Singer’s small group of staunch supporters, I feel now would be a good time to publicly reach out to him” he said. “If he would be interested in a public debate, with questions posed from local citizens, at the venue of his choice (strand theater?),  I would be honored to debate him”.

It seems that the all too common practice among some people in the Orthodox community to not give their children the proper vaccinations is causing more problems now spreading to Monsey. 

From Yeshiva World News

As we reported last week, last week an alert was issued naming Hatzlacha Grocery Store. Now, Toys 4 U and Supreme Health Food Store have been added as locations that an infected individual was at.

Read the alert just sent to YWN Monsey from the Rockland Health Dept.