Whitestone Bridge +Traffic Alert+

Whitestone Bridge +Traffic Alert+ At the Queens bound Whitestone Bridge a man had a seizure and crashed into the jersey barrier.

Mayor Bloomberg Visits Williamsburg

Late last night Mayor M. Bloomberg, came for a special private meeting to the Sukkah of Popa Rabbi, Penn Street corner Bedford Ave was shut down for traffic.

Brooklyn +Building Collapse/People Trapped+

Brooklyn +Building Collapse/People Trapped+ A building under construction collapsed at 924 Lafayette Ave between Lewis and Stuyvesant Ave. with people trapped, ESU enroute, EMS requested.

U/D: 10:19
Three victims have been removed with a 4th still trapped, Trk-8, A-8, B-8, A-6, B-6, U-3 and K-9 all enroute.

U/D: 10/23/05
The accident is now under investigation.

Subway Station Evacuated Because Of A Smoke Condition

The West 4th Street subway station is being evacuated because of a
smoke condition that began on the mezzanine level in the area of 8th Street and Sixth Avenue. NYC Transit officials said B, D, F and V subway trains were skipping the W. 4th Street station.

Judge's Decision On Kiryas Yoel Pipeline Will Sway Voters

It's a sure bet that there'll be political fallout from Judge Stewart Rosenwasser's decision yesterday on the Kiryas Yoel pipeline, in which he dealt the village a setback in its effort to tap into New York City's water supply.

Rosenwasser is an Orange County Court judge who's running for state Supreme Court. Election Day is Nov. 8.
On the one hand, Rosenwasser's decision might cost him thousands of votes in Kiryas Joel, where voter turnout is huge.
On the other hand, he might have gained thousands more votes from voters who think it's about time that someone shrugged off the consequences of messing with KY's politically powerful leadership and dealt them a shot right in the kishkes.

Sullivan Candidates Courting Chasidim

Eastern Sullivan County - In the latest example of the growing presence of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the elections, four candidates traveled to Brooklyn to meet with about a dozen community leaders.

At least 1,000 Chasidic second-home owners are registered to vote in Sullivan County, They also gave thousands of dollars to several candidates for county and local offices.
The Chasidim focus on several issues like police protection during the summer and traffic control for huge gatherings like on Tishah b'Av.
"And kosher food in the jail," said Rabbi Bernard Freilich, who serves as a liaison to the state police.

First Rabbi Picked For Polish City in Krakow Since Holocaust.

WARSAW, Poland - The first rabbi to serve Krakow full time since the Holocaust has taken up his post, guiding a revival of Jewish life and helping a growing number of people through decades of communism.
Rabbi Avraham Flaks, a 38-year-old Russian-born Israeli, has been getting to know members of Krakow's small Jewish community over the past few weeks, but officially begins leading the community during the weeklong festival of Sukkot, which began Monday.
There are about 200 people registered with the community, but an estimated 1,000 Jews are believed to live in Krakow.

Brooklyn +Bias Crime To Sikkah+

Brooklyn +Bias Crime To Sikkah+ The Police Dept. of the 66th Pct. are investigating a bias incident that occured in a Sukkah at 1423 East 4th St between M and N.

Sukkas On A Maine Farm

JONESPORT, Maine -- In this remote region of the northern Maine coastline, two unlikely people are making a living from the land. Avraham and Dina Bracha Pearlman who left their jobs in Detroit and bought 20 acres in Washington County, the poorest and easternmost region in the state.

Using hand tools, the couple built a homestead on former blueberry land and named it the Crossroad Farm. Their house is made from stone and salvaged wood and sits near a well they dug themselves. They carved gardens out of the hard soil and a root cellar from the rocky hillside. They planted an orchard, prepared beds for strawberries and asparagus, and enriched the soil with fish waste. Today, they live without electricity or indoor plumbing, rarely go to the grocery store, and subsist on sales from their crop. They eat only what they grow.

Given the circumstances, it might seem difficult for the Pearlmans to keep to the Jewish dietary laws and celebrate Tishri. But the couple stops work for all the High Holy Days and every Shabbas; the holiday Of Sukkas is uniquely relevant to their rural life.

Passaic, NJ - Kosher Meals Stopped At Jail

The Passaic County Jail has stopped serving kosher meals to inmates, breaching federal immigration detention regulations.
The jail had recently been ordering prepackaged kosher meals on a trial basis, but had stopped because it was deemed too expensive.
Officials said the jail will now make its own kosher meals by adding two layers of plastic wrap to the tray - one under the food, and one over the food.
But inmates said the two sheets of wrap does not meet their religious standards.
"They think putting Saran Wrap on the food makes it kosher," an inmate said.
A hunger strike is going on until the jail reinstates kosher meals, said some inmates participating in the strike.

Monroe - Developer Has Plan For The Old Bowl-o-Rama On 17M

The Village of Monroe Planning Board began reviewing plans for a 45,000-square-foot, two-story commercial building that would house a furniture store and other retail uses, offices and a conference room, for Zigmond Brach a Brooklyn businessman involved with the opposition movement in neighboring Kiryas Yoel, who might be the buyer.
The lot is the old Bowl-o-Rama next to the Sunoco station across Route 17M from Crane Park in downtown Monroe.

The sale price is unknown. Three years ago, the owners were asking $1.2 million.

Ramapo Yeshiva's Plans For A Catering Facility Opposed

RAMAPO - A neighborhood association is opposing a catering facility of Yeshiva Spring Valley on College Road, which is planning to build a boys school near Rockland Community College, and is seeking to include a catering facilities with 600 seats and parking for 276 cars, according to town records.
Sheldon Eisenberger, who lives near the proposed yeshiva, wrote to the town
that it appeared to be a commercial venture designed to draw large wedding receptions and other events.

Bronx +Traffic Major Deegan+

Bronx +Traffic Major Deegan+ An MVA with multiple aided at the Major Deegan Expressway and George Washington Bridge is causing traffic delays in the area,EMS on the scene.

A Saddam Lawyer Kidnapped

Lawyer involved in Saddam trial and seven others have been kidnapped.

U/D: 10/21/05
The lawyer representing one of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants has been found shot dead, a day after being kidnapped, Iraqi officials say.

Brooklyn +MVA+

Brooklyn +MVA+ An accident at East 10th St and Ave. O with a confirmed pin. FD and PD on the scene.

Rockland +Palisades Parkway Traffic Alert+

West Nyck, Rockland +Palisades Parkway Traffic Alert+ A serious accident with a car vs a tree on the Palisades Parkway southbound near exit 8 with one aided injured and traped, West Nyck FD and Nanuet Ambulance Corp with Rockland ALS units are all responding, heavy traffic delays.

Judge Slows Down Kiryas Yoel Pipline Project

A judge today dealt a setback to the Village of Kiryas Yoel, ordering the Hasidic enclave to take a harder look at its proposal to build a 13-mile pipeline to tap New York City's Catskill aqueduct.

The Court issued the decision that the Village of Kiryas Yoel did not take a hard look at the environmental issues raised by the County.

The decision doesn't in itself stop the project, but it requires Kiryas Joel to prepare an additional report – known as a supplemental environmental impact statement – that provides a fuller analysis of those issues.
Opponents of the water project were jubilant. "I'm thrilled at the outcome," said county Legislator Roxanne Donnery, a Highland Falls Democrat. "I'm not surprised."

Manhattan +Westdide Highway Shut Down+

Manhattan +Westdide Highway Shut Down+ Due to an accident with 10 injured on the Westside Highway and 56th St, PD shut down the roadway at 79th St. Expect major delays.

Goshen - Decision Imminent on suit vs. Kiryas Yoel Pipeline

The much-anticipated decision on a lawsuit filed by Orange County against the Village of Kiryas Yoel over its proposed connection to New York City's aqueduct could come as early as today.

Chester - Hasidic group says yeshiva wouldn't serve as launching pad for future expansions.

Chester - Members of Yeshiva Toras Chemed a Westchester Chasidic group announced last night that they had no plans to use a proposed yeshiva in Chester at their 18-acre property on Route 17M as a launching pad for future expansions into the town.
"We're not looking to expand anything at all except the school in the already approved buildings," said an administrator.

Williamsburg +Traffic Problems+

Williamsburg +Traffic Problems+ For the next few days traffic problems are expected in Williamsburg, Marcy Ave to Hopper St due to the funeral of the priest, plane accordingly.

Blooming Grove - Judge To Refuse Himself From Chasidic Cases

Blooming Grove - Longtime town judge James E. Kenealy said he's recusing himself from any cases involving Chasidic Jews because recent statements by the town supervisor might call into question his own impartiality.

It all started because of a construction dispute in Blooming Grove in which developers were suggesting town officials had treated them unfairly because they're Chasidic. Supervisor Bohan, said that if Chasidic developers from neighboring Kiryas Yoel were going to make such claims, then, "The war is on." 
Bohan called Kenealy's statements "outright slander or libel" and said he's asking the state Commission on Judicial Conduct to investigate Kenealy. He also suggested the judge's clerk put him up to writing the memo because of a long-running salary dispute. But Kenealy said his recusal "has nothing to do with that at all."

Bronx, +Six-Alarm Fire Rages+

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Bronx, +Six-Alarm Fire Rages+ A 6-Alarm fire is raging in the Bronx at 1364 Jerome Ave between Elliot Place and Marcy Place, heavy fire in several stores running the entire city block, PD calling for a level one mobilization, point will be at 15 Marcy Place, Fire is very D/W/H.

U/D: 08:54
The FDNY is on fall back step 3, due to this major fire.

U/D: 09:10
Services on the #4 train has been suspended.

U/D: 12:34
Is classified as suspicious.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - New Casualty Figures From The South Asian Earthquake.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Regional officials say new casualty figures from the South Asian earthquake have pushed the death toll to more than 79,000.

Queens +Level 3 Mobilization Yesterday For Bridge Fire+

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Queens +Level 3 Mobilization Yesterday For Bridge Fire+ A level 3 mobilization was called yesterday for a large 3 alarm fire involving the scaffolding and netting on the Queensboro Bridge upper level, from a sandblasting and painting operation which was done by a Hicksville, NY, company, which also has the contract for the George Washington Bridge job as well as a contract to paint the Williamsburg Bridge.

Baltimore, MD +Two Tunnels Shut Down Yesterday+

Baltimore, MD +Two Tunnels Shut Down Yesterday+ Due to a security terror concern in which" the National Homeland Security Dept. has received a possible terrorist threat, has caused the closing of both I-95 and I-895 tunnels through Baltimore, Maryland yesterday, for a few hours".

New Square +Man That Collapsed In Synagogue Saved By Portable Defibrillator+

A 62-year-old man collapsed during service inside the New Square synagogue with 2000 worshippers looking on at noon Saturday, and was revived by paramedics in the congregation.

While the worshippers looked on in shock,
Several members of Hatzoloh Volunteer Ambulance Corps rushed to aid the victim, giveing him cardiopulmonary resuscitation as well as oxygen. And others had run to Hatzoloh, which is across from the synagogue, and returned with a portable defibrillator. They immediately put it to use.
After some tense moments, the man began to breathe on his own and was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern.

Kiryas Yoel +Fire On 2nd Night Of Yom Tov+

Kiryas Yoel +Fire On 2nd Night Of Yom Tov+ At midnight the 2nd night of Yom Tov a fire broke out in Kiryas Yoel, Monroe at 4 Krolla near Satmar Drive.

Queens +Jewish Center Evacuated On First Day Of Yom Tov+

Queens +Jewish Center Evacuated On First Day Of Yom Tov+ A C.O. Reading of over 200 PPM at the Jewish Center on Audley St. in Kew Gardens, Queens, had the FD evacuated over 90 people from the center on the first day of Yom Tov, Con-Ed and the NYPD also responded.

New Square +Sukkah Fire First Night Of Yom Tov+

New Square +Sukkah Fire First Night Of Yom Tov+ At midnight on the first night of Yom Tov a 1 alarm fire broke out in New Square in a private dwelling at 27 Truman Ave.

Portion Of Eastern Parkway In Brooklyn To Undergo Transformation.

Mayor Bloomberg announced that beginning in 2007, the area of Eastern Parkway between Washington Avenue and Grand Army will undergo a transformation, creating more pedestrian space.
The $5.9 million plan calls for benches, landscaping and new lighting.

Manhattan +FDR Traffic Alert+

Manhattan +FDR Traffic Alert+ A MVA involving 4 cares on the FDR Drive northbound and 96th St. is causing heavy delays in the area.

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Nazi Guard

WASHINGTON - Former Nazi concentration camp guard Adam Friedrich lost a Supreme Court appeal over the government's decision to revoke his U.S. citizenship.
His attorney argued that he has led a model life since coming to the U.S. from Austria more than 50 years ago.
This means the government could begin proceedings to have him deported.
Friedrich is a retired St. Louis, Mo., clothing manufacturing worker. He has never been criminally charged and now lives in a nursing home.
He reported for duty as an armed guard in January 1943 at the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, according to court records, and about 1,500 of the camp's roughly 100,000 prisoners died during his first five months there.

DALLAS - Driver Of Bus That Caught Fire, Charget.

DALLAS The driver of the bus that caught fire while carrying people fleeing Hurricane Rita has been charged with criminal negligent homicide in the deaths of 23 passengers.

Brooklyn +Major Accident+

Brooklyn +Major Accident+ Belt Parkway eastbound near exit 9 Kappe St exit, a two car MVA with overturn and possible pin, Hatzolah, PD and ESU are requested.

U/D: 12:11
Hatzolah ALS also requested.

Brooklyn +Traffic Advisory+

Brooklyn +Traffic Advisory+ An overturned auto at Bedford Ave and Sullivan Place, FD and EMS on the scene with multiple injured.

Williamsburg Bridge +Traffic Advisory+

Williamsburg Bridge +Traffic Advisory+ A MVA between two cars on the Williamsburg Bridge Manhattan bound, PD responding

Yom Kippur Chickens Seized In Brooklyn

Authorities have seized more than 100 chickens from a Brooklyn construction site lot at Coney Island Ave. And Ave. L, where the flock of foul-smelling birds were kept over the High Holy Days.

Things got out of hand after two days when passersby complained about the smell, possibly because some chickens died.
It was unclear last night whom the chickens belonged to, and no one was charged. The birds were taken to an ASPCA center.

"It's just a misunderstanding," said a Rabbi.

Monroe +Overturned Truck+

Orange County, Monroe +Overturned Truck+ Route 208 on the ramp to Route 17 eastbound exit-130 an overturned truck with entrapment, FD and EMS are requested, ramp blocked causing delays in the area.

U/D: 08:02
PD and EMS BLS on the scene requesting ALS and a Medivac to the scene, expect heavy delays in the area.

U/D: 08:18
O/T is a milk tanker. Medivac has been launched, L/Z will be on Route 17.

U/D: 08:32
Hazmat requested for fuel spill, that's leaking into the storm drain.

Brooklyn Bridge +Traffic Delays+

Brooklyn Bridge +Traffic Delays+ A EDP on the Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan bound is causing some delays, PD and ESU are on the scene.

U/D: 06:56
Aided in custody by ESU, still some delays, Aviation above.

Kosher Wines Are Commanding New Respect

Kosher wine tastes great.

If you find that statement unbelievable, you're probably a.) not Jewish or b.) Jewish and still drinking Manischewitz.

But if you happen to be sipping a 2003 kosher cabernet, you're probably thinking: So what? This is news?
One thing is certain: The kosher wine industry has been on a steady road to viticultural excellence for years.

This summer, Herzog opened a new kosher 77,000-square-foot winery in Oxnard, Calif.

And American Airlines this year picked a Herzog Reserve Chardonnay to serve its first class and business class passengers.

Williamsburg +Hostage Situation+

Williamsburg +Hostage Situation+ PD of the 90th Pct. on the scene at 85 Taylor St and Wythe Place for a drug bust, and are now requesting ESU A-8 for a hostage situation at the location also calling for the Hostage Negotiation Team.

U/D: 23:56
Hostage Negotiation Team is reporting that they have one under without any injuries to anyone.

Flatbush +P/D Fire+

Flatbush +P/D Fire+ Fire in a 2 story 20x50 private dwelling on East 3rd St and and Ave I, fire is DWH, primary serches are negative, 2 lines are stretched.

Queens +L.I.E. RMP MVA+

Queens +L.I.E. RMP MVA+ East bound of the Long Island Expressway at 108th St, Highway PD Unit 310's RMP was rear-ended, officer has minor injuries, EMS requested.

U/D: 20:01
Civilian has also minor injuries.

New York Becomes Sixth Safest State

FBI statistics released today show New York state is now the sixth safest state in the country, up from seventh place last year.

Brooklyn +FD MVA Traffic Alert+

Brooklyn +FD MVA Traffic Alert+ A major MVA on Ave P and West 6th St between Fire Truck E-330 and a civilian vehicle while the F/T was responding to a fire, one civilian injury repoted, traffic delayed in the area.

NYFD Response Times Slower Than Before

The latest report from the FDNY shows the department responding a little more slowly.
The average time to reach structural fires in September - was four minutes and 35 seconds. That's nine seconds slower than the year before.

New York Most Popular Sukkos Destination For Chol Hmoed

New York is the most popular Sukkos holiday destination, according to a survey of 500 travellers. The second most popular destination is Antalia, Turkey, followed by London; Paris; northern Italy; Berlin; Thailand; Varna, Bulgaria; Spain; Greece; and Cyprus, in descending order.

Williamsburg +Foundation Collapse+

Williamsburg +Foundation Collapse+ One side of the new footing/foundation and retaining wall of the upcoming new Shul at Lorimer St corner Lee Ave, has collapsed over the weekend, due to the heavy rain washing away the backfill, Building Department was notified, and noted there is no direct threat to people.

Something Strange Happened In NYC. The Sun Came Out.

But now gusty winds are coming, beware of that. The winds gusts might be as high as 40 miles per hour. 66 degrees for the high temperature.

Williamsburg +O/M Dwelling Fire+

Williamsburg +House Fire+ Fire at 395 Broadway between Keap St and Hooper St. fire is in an occupied 20x40 multiple dwelling unit, with Alfonso's Grocery Store on the first floor, two lines are stretched, primary searches are negative.

Nazi Doctor ‘Dr. Death' Who Killed Hundreds, Located Hiding In Spain

Spanish police located the hiding place of Aribert Heim, also known as "Dr. Death," one of the most-wanted Nazi war criminals still living, who has been a fugitive since 1962.

He became a camp doctor at the Sachsenhausen, Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany and Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, where he conducted "medical experiments" on Jewish prisoners, earning his reputation as one of the most cruel SS officers. His patients underwent surgery without anesthesia to test their endurance to pain; others were injected with poison, lethal drugs and benzene, while Heim observed them and timed their deaths with a watch.

Hundreds of prisoners were murdered in this fashion.

This Sukkas, No Specials On Lulavs

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The Egyptian government, which controls the area where most lulavs are harvested, has sharply reduced its exports, saying that harvesting the fronds harms the trees on which they grow, as reported previous on VOS IZ NEIAS.

But they did released 100,000 lulavs to the United States, at the urging of Jewish leaders and American government officials. But that is 400,000 fewer than it normally sends. Retailers have been trying to make up the shortfall with lulavs imported from Spain, but those are too few and too expensive to close the gap.
The announcement sent small shock waves through Jewish neighborhoods.

In response to the shortfall, the wholesale price of a lulav has rise sharply, to $10 or more; in previous years, the price was $2. Rather than giving them away, some are charging $15 apiece for the fronds this year.

New Orleans - Torah Scroll Get Jewish Burial

New Orleans - Working alone with a shovel in her back yard two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, a Christian woman honored Jewish tradition and carefully buried the ruined sacred Torahs of a flooded New Orleans synagogue, to the relief of its distressed members who could not care for the scrolls themselves.