Williamsburg, Brooklyn +Car Accident+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn +Car Accident+ A motor vehicle accident with one vehicle overturned on Wallabout Street and Marcy Avenue, all occupants are out, NYPD ESU responding to upright the vehicle.

Thompson, NY - Bungalow Ban Casuese Huge Stir

Thompson, NY - Earlier this week, the Town imposed a six-month ban on building in bungalow colonies. And the news is spreading like wildfire in the Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities downstate, appearing in Yiddish papers in Brooklyn. And Supervisor Tony Cellini has been inundated with calls.

The town is considering zoning changes that will effectively ban the building of seasonal homes and new bungalow colonies. Rabbi Abraham Spira said the community is watching the move closely. "There is a suspicion there is a bias," said Spira, who is serving as a spokesman for many of the bungalow colonies.
"If it is a normal recommendation required to achieve safety, it will not be viewed as bias. If it goes way far out as to what the surrounding towns are doing, then it could easily be viewed as bias. It will be challenged also, in every angle and possible way."

Spira also said that many bungalow owners don't understand why the town imposed the ban now, at the beginning of construction season.
It basically means nobody will be allowed to improve or add onto bungalows this year.

Willamsburg, Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+

Willamsburg, Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident Shabbos morning with a pedestrian male that was struck on Williamsburg Street West and Bedford Avenue, Hatzolah on the scene requested Medics to respond, aided was transported to Belvieu Hospital with non life threatening injuries.

Borough Park, Brooklyn +Fire Private Dwelling+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Fire Private Dwelling+ A fire in a 20x40 2 story private dwelling at 1431 50th Street at the home of Klosenborger Rebbe was quickly put under out and is under control no one injured.

Brooklyn, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Brooklyn, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A MVA on the Prospect Expressway close to 4th Avenue, Hatzolah on the scene, no serious injuries reported.

Freehold, NJ +Aircraft Incident+

Freehold, NJ (Monmouth County) +Aircraft Incident+ A Black-Hawk Chopper made an emergency landing in a residential area in a yard at 1236 Allentown Yardville Road, no report of any injuries.

Albany, NY - Senator Is Summoned to Court on Coffee-Throwing Charge

Albany, NY - A summons was issued for State Senator Ada L. Smith of Queens, ordering her to appear in criminal court here next month to answer charges that she threw hot coffee in the eyes of a member of her staff.

A staff member, charged in a complaint that the Senator threw the coffee and pulled a hairpiece from her head, causing injuries to her eyes, shoulder and back, according to court papers.
The complaint accused the Senator of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Senator Smith, a nine-term Democrat, denounced the accusations as lies in a statement she issued, and suggested that they were politically motivated.

Monroe, NY - Police Department Gets Rave Reviews

Monroe, NY - Three cops hired by the state to evaluate the Monroe Police Department concluded their three-day review by raving about the professionalism of its officers.

The assessors announced they will recommend that the state renew Monroe's accreditation, a mark of prestige worn by only three other Orange County departments - Woodbury, New Windsor and Cornwall.

The state Department of Criminal Justice Services accredits police agencies that meet 130 professional standards and then re-evaluates them every five years for renewal. Monroe first got its accreditation in 2001.

London - Anti-Semitic Incidents On The Rise

London - The number of anti-Semitic Anti-Jewish incidents continued to rise in London last year, bucking the national trend, concludes an annual audit of racism.

Chile - S. Florida Rabbi Races To Return Bodies Of Crash Victims

Chile - Fort Lauderdale Fla. Rabbi Leibel Miller came to Chile to deal with the return of the bodies to the United States, on the request of the cruise liner - and the ticking clock of Jewish law.

Miller, of Hallandale Beach, Fla., was in the desert "in the middle of nowhere," he said, rushing to get the dead home to New Jersey following Wednesday's accident when 14 Celebrity Cruise ship tourists in a van careened off a Chilean mountainside. A dozen died and two were injured.
Miller was working to bring the bodies home before the Shabbas beginning.

Miller worked with the Chilean District Attorney's Office on Thursday to facilitate the paperwork for the flights home. Then, he convinced the Chilean government to allow shipping the bodies without embalming, according to Jewish law and tradition. Embalming is usually required by some countries for shipment.
In Chile, he rented refrigerated containers to store the bodies before he was able to seal them in caskets.

Late in the day he was still working with the police to release the bloody clothing, needed according to proper Jewish burials. And two chartered planes are expected to transport the remains at 3 a.m. Friday.

Woodbury, NY +NYS Thruway Traffic Advisory+

Woodbury, NY +NYS Thruway Traffic Advisory+ A serious MVA earlier this morning on the northbound side of the New York State Thruway at MM 51.4 - north of the Toll Plaza - had the roadway closed down for traffic both ways for 40 minutes, with a one vehicle over the guardrail into the woods and one aided was pinned FD worked the scene, Medivac was launched and left the scene with aided on board, NY State Police are still working on the investigation, expect delays in the area.

U/D: Animals Crossing Through Midtown Tunnel

New York, NY - As was reported on VOS IZ NEIAS, The Ringling Brothers elephants, horses and other animals did come in to Manhattan from Queens on March, 20th, through the Midtown Tunnel, to spend a few weeks at Madison Square Garden.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck on Avenue "J" and East 16th Street, Hatzolah on the scene.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A MVA on East 7th Street and quinten Road, Hatzolah on the scene requesting an ambulance with additional units to respond.

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY +Vehicle on Fire+

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY +Vehicle on Fire+ A car on fire in Crown Heights section of Brooklyn at Montgomery Street and Brooklyn Avenue, Hatzolah on the scene.

Manhattan, NY +59th St Bridge Traffic Alert+

Manhattan, NY +59th St Bridge Traffic Alert+ A truck fire on the lower level of the 59th Street Bridge is blocking all lanes of traffic, expect delays through out the area.

New York - Court Orders Governor to Spend Billions on Public Schools

New York - A state appeals court in Manhattan has directed the governor and the Legislature to spend up to $5.63 billion dollars a year on New York City's public schools' to remedy "deprivations" that the students have suffered.

Washington Township, NJ - Synagogue B'nai Tikvah Expansion Advances

Washington Township, NJ - Congregation B'nai Tikvah wants to more than double the size of its synagogue at Fish Pond Road and Spring Lake Avenue. It now took another step toward that goal when the township planning board granted preliminary approval.

The synagogue -- the only one in the township -- would expand from 3,710 square feet to 11,370 square feet. The addition would house a combination sanctuary and social hall and free up space for Hebrew school classrooms, offices and two kosher kitchens. For the first time in the congregation's 34-year history, members would be able to celebrate bar mitzvahs and wedding parties at the synagogue.

The $750,000 to $1 million addition is envisioned as a simple, clean building with a hipped roof, said the architect. There would be a connector that creates a new arched entranceway, and the new sanctuary would feature "gently curved" walls to let in natural light. The exterior would include both stone and stucco finishes.

Gaithersburg, MD - City Hall Got Involved In A Man's Refusal To Give A Get

Gaithersburg, Maryland - The Gaithersburg City Council held a public hearing on an emergency ordinance that would restrict the protesters in front of the house of Gaithersburg resident Sam Rosenbloom, in the fight over his refusal to give his ex-wife a get.

But organizers of the regular Sunday morning demonstrations, which has been held periodically for almost two years, say that while they will conform to the law, the new regulations will not stop them from continuing their protests until Rosenbloom relents and grants Sarah Rosenbloom a get.

The protests averaging a dozen to 18 people held signs and chanted slogans such as "Unchain your wife" as a way to "apply social pressure to free" Sarah Rosenbloom from her marriage, said one of the protestors.

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Hatzolah Involved In MVA+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Hatzolah Involved In MVA+ Hatzolah ambulance B-04 was involved in an MVA at 15th Avenue and 44th Street while responding to an emergency. Hatzolah on the scene requesting ALS on a rush, one aided from the vehicle was injured.

U/D: 14:27
Aided is not seriously injured.

Manhattan, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Manhattan, NY +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A MVA involving a bus with three other vehicles near the 59th Street Bridge on the FDR Drive, Hatzolah on the scene.

New York NY - City Worker Admits Posing As Architect

New York, NY - A city Department of Education employee an assistant architect in the department's construction unit, pleaded guilty to pretending to be a licensed architect and falsely certifying building plans and permit applications.

James Arriaga will be sentenced to four months of weekends in jail, five months of probation and reparations of $10,000, and will be required to resign from his job.

Prosecutors said Arriaga used a fake architect's stamp and seal on documents he submitted to the Department of Buildings. He defrauded more than 150 people between April 1, 2001, and July 1, 2005, generally collecting $500 to $1,000 per job.

The city is re inspecting the properties Arriaga certified.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Construction Worker Fall Victim+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Construction Worker Fall Victim+ A construction worker that fell off a scaffolding at Lorimer Street and Bedford Avenue has serious head and arm injuries, NYPD of the 90th Pct on the scene requesting EMS and ESU to respond.

U/D: 12:29
ESU has the aided extricated, and is now being transported by EMS.

Brooklyn, NY +25 Houses Sold Daily+

Brooklyn, NY +25 Houses Sold Daily+ A new report shows that on an average 25 houses are soled each day in Brooklyn, calculating to the hard-to-believe number of $5.4 billion.

Miami, FL - +Fatal Cruise Ship Fire+

Miami-Dade, FL - +Fatal Cruise Ship Fire+ Carnival Corp. One person died in a fire aboard the Star Princess cruise ship in the Caribbean.

The ship left Fort Lauderdale on Sunday and was enroute to Jamaica to the Port of Montego Bay, with 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew members on board. The fire which is suspected that it started from a cigarette approximately 03:10 this morning, affected 150 passenger cabins, decks 9 through 12.

Israel - Kosher Phone Line To Be Launched

Israel - Fixed-line phone operator enters negotiations with rabbis on designating special fixed-line service for ultra-Orthodox sector that will block erotic calls.

Fixed-line provider Hot was recently approached by the rabbis committee for communication affairs and asked to provide the Orthodox Jewish sector in Israel with a 'kosher' phone line service.

The proposed fixed-line service will be blocked for erotic calls, a blocking that will be implemented using a "black list" of phone numbers that the rabbi committee will provide for Hot.

In return, the committee will grant Hot with an official certification that will allow it to operate a phone line for the ultra-Orthodox population.

Brooklyn, NY +B.Q.E. Traffic Alert and Road Closure+

Brooklyn, NY +B.Q.E. Traffic Alert and Road Closure+ A serious MVA between two trucks on the B.Q.E. Westbound near Metropolitan Avenue with all traffic closed off by FD, requesting EMS for two injured and ESU for one of them pinned, also reporting a fuel spill.
All emergency responders to come in from the wrong way up the Metropolitan or Marcy Avenue's ramp and onto the highway.

U/D: 09:17
PD requesting 3 ambulances for 3 injured, non of the EMS units arrived yet.

Albany, NY - Queens Senator Accused of Throwing Coffee at Aide

Albany, NY - The state police are investigating an allegation that State Senator Ada L. Smith of Queens threw coffee at a member of her staff and pulled the staff member's hair.

Willamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Car on Fire+

Willamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Car on Fire+ A car on fire in front of 110 Throop Avenue in Brooklyn between Brartlett Street and Whipple Street, in front of a Yeshivah Shool, Hatzolah requested, noone trapped.

U/D: 08:33
Hatzolah canceling all units, no one trapped.

Brooklyn, NY - City Unveils New 25¢ Toilet Stop

Brooklyn, NY - The first of 20 new public toilets, which will soon offer New Yorkers relief for the price of a quarter, was unveiled in Brooklyn.

The toilets which look more like elevators from the outside, are self-cleaning and dispense liquid soap and hot water. They are part of the city's joint campaign with a Spanish company to spruce up the streetscape with new 330 redesigned newsstands and 3,500 bus shelters.
Outside the chambers, a bank of lights near the coin slot signal the toilet's status: green for vacant; red for occupied; white for out of order. A yellow light indicates the daytime-only stations are closed for the night.

Twenty-five cents buys 15 minutes, and a recording gently warns users when it's time to get off the pot.

Brooklyn, NY - Meningitis Scare On The Rise

Brooklyn, NY - The city Health Department is quietly sounding the alarm over troubling new meningitis cases in Brooklyn, warning doctors about a bacterial strain of the disease that has already killed four people in less than three months.

Meningitis is an infection of the tissues and fluid that cover the brain and spinal cord, and can be fatal. The bacteria spreads between people in close contact, but victims can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early enough.

City officials said the first case was diagnosed Dec. 21 and that a new strain of meningitis is circulating within the community. Officials said the victims range in age 5 to 80. And although the meningococcal meningitis is contagious, city officials said that most of the incidents diagnosed so far appear to be drug-related like from crack, cocaine, heroin, or having been in contact with people who report using these drugs."

New York City, NY - Mayor Bloomberg Claims Because He Is Jewish, He Has A Better Perspective Of Muslim Community

New York City, NY - Mayor Bloomberg insisted he was right not to fire an imam who works in the city jail system - invoking his Jewish heritage to explain the decision.

Claiming that since he's a Jew, "it may be easier for me to approach these situations with the Muslim community." That, he said, is because his religion gives him a better perspective on what the imam said.
"I was in a difficult position," said Bloomberg, "but I felt like I did the right thing."

Last week, Bloomberg slapped Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil with a two-week unpaid suspension for delivering a speech in Arizona in which he referred to "Zionists of the media" and "terrorists" in the White House.
Bloomberg said the imam was qualified for his job at the Correction Department because he had once been in jail himself.
The mayor also said "you can't fire someone for things they do outside the office."

Iraq - Military Operation Frees Western hostages

Iraq - Two Canadian and one British hostages held in Iraq for nearly four months in captivity, have been freed by multinational forces in a carefully planned military operation.

Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, were freed along with Briton Norman Kember. All three were members of an international peace activist group.

The U.S. military says the rescue of the three hostages was based on information provided by a man captured Wednesday night.

Borough Park, Brooklyn +Fire in Private Dwelling+

Borough Park, Brooklyn +Fire in Private Dwelling+ A fire was just knocked down in the ceiling of the basement of a 3 story private dwelling in Boro Park section of Brooklyn at 1451 47th Street.

Chile - +American Tourists Die In Bus Crash+

Santiago, Chile - +American Tourists Die In Bus Crash+ A bus carrying tourists from a cruise out of Miami, Florida. a Jewish group on vacation from Connecticut and New Jersy, on a B’nai B’rith trip, plunges off a cliff in northern Chile, killing 12 passengers.

New Springville, NY - Another Bias Incident

New Springville, Staten Island, NY - Police and fire officials are investigating a fire that erupted in the offices of a New Springville counseling and social-work agency.

The fire, which reportedly started in a filing cabinet, is the latest in a series of mysterious blazes, bomb threats and anti-Semitic vandalism aimed at the Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, Inc.

Kiev - Skinheads Threaten Yeshiva Student

Kiev - A group of neo-Nazis gathered outside Brodsky synagogue, where they threatened and insulted a yeshiva student. The brazen incident took place in front of numerous witnesses.

The neo-Nazis surrounded the student and screamed antisemitic slogans at him, before being scared off by police. Police detained one of the neo-Nazis, who was found in possession of an antisemitic newspaper (“Personnel Plus”) published in Kiev by the Interregional Academy of Pesonnel.

New York City, NY - Dirtiest Air In Nation, EPA Says

New York City, NY - When it comes to dirty, cancer-causing air, New York City is the worst of the worst: the city with the greatest risk, in the state with the dirtiest air, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

New York is followed by California, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey for the dubious distinction of having the worst air, according to the EPA's data. The best air was in Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana.

Borough Park, Brooklyn +Kitchen Fire+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Kitchen Fire+ Fire Department using 2-2 for a kitchen fire at 1692 47th Street and 16th Avenue, fire is out primary and secondary searches are negative, except one elderly female being treated for smoke inhalation.

Kiryas Yoel, Monroe +MVA Rollover+

Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY +MVA Rollover+ A motor vehicle accident with the aided pinned inside a vehicle that rolled over on Forest Road and Van Buren Drive near the KJ Shopping Center, Kiryas Joel Fire Department requesting the Jaws, Hatzolah requesting ALS on a rush.

U/D: 16:17
One aided with minor injuries being transported by Hatzolah ALS to Trauma Center, the other aided is RMA.

New York, NY +Bouncer Indicted On Student's Murder+

New York, NY +Bouncer Indicted On Student's Murder+ A bouncer at The Falls bar has been indicted for first-degree murder in the brutal killing of a New York City graduate student.

Blood found on the plastic ties used to bind strangled student Imette St. Guillen, 24, has been matched to prime suspect Darryl Littlejohn, 41. Also did witnesses reported seeing Littlejohn and St. Guillen leaving the bar together and records put his cell phone near where her body was found.

Albany, NY - State Assembly Bans Hamas Aid

Albany, NY - In a rare move, the New York State Assembly unanimously ruled that New York State residents will not help the Hamas-led Palestinian government. The Assembly quoted a similar law passed by the Washington State Senate which banned direct assistance to the Palestinian government.

Vilnus, Lithuania - Former Cleveland Man Accused Of Helping Nazis Goes On Trial

Vilnus, Lithuania - An 85-year-old man deported from Florida went on trial in his native Lithuania on charges of helping Nazis round up Jews during World War II.

Algimantas Dailide is accused of being a member of the Nazi-sponsored Lithuanian Security Police, known as the Saugumas, which took part in the arrests of Jews during the war, contributing to the Nazis' European-wide Holocaust.
Dailide, who moved to the U.S. in 1955 and lived there until he was deported in 2003 for lying about his wartime past, denied the charges in the Vilnius District Court.
"I worked as a clerk for the Lithuanian police force, not the Nazis," Dailide said. "These accusations sound like a fairy tale (and) absolute nonsense to me."

Bronx, NY +Serious MVA Involving NYPD+

Bronx, NY +Serious MVA Involving NYPD+ At the 44th Pct area a MVA involving a NYPD Traffic Agent that was struck with serious injuries at Jerome Avenue and E. Clark Street, MOS being transport to Lincoln Hospital, NYPD Highway Units to the blood bank, and one Highway Unit to One P.P. Units advising its a confirmed A.I. Job.

Washington, DC +Suspicious Package Near White House+

Washington, DC +Suspicious Package Near White House+ Police have sealed off the front NW gates of the White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, due to suspicious package that was thrown over the fence onto the north lawn by a Frenchman.
The Secret Service also secured the White House and raised its internal alert system by one level during the incident, and reporters, cameramen and photographers were told to remain inside the briefing room while officers investigated.


U/D: 11:34
Bomb detecting robot on the scene to investigate, the president just left in his helicopter from the South Lawn.

U/D: 11:59
One suspect a French national is in custody, PD still investigating the package.

U/D: 12:33
Inceident terminated, item declared safe, all units to take up.

New York State Thruway Ranked Among The Nation's Safest Routes

More than 115 people die on the nation's roads every day.

Most people hardly give those numbers a second thought - until tragedy hits close to home, like some Rockland residents have been left shaken and on edge after three fatal crashes - two last week - in the past five weeks on a five-mile stretch of the New York State Thruway, which many residents use to go shopping at Woodbury Common, visit family upstate or vacation in the Catskills.
Nine people - five of them children - died in the crashes.

But as tragic as those accidents were, they were the exceptions. That portion of Thruway along the Rockland-Orange border had only three fatal accidents on it from 2003 through 2005. And statistically, the Thruway is one of the safest highways in the country.
According to data from the state Thruway Authority, 2004 was the fifth-safest year in the Thruway's 50-year history, more than 281 million vehicles traveled some 11 billion miles.

"The carry-home message is, we're doing pretty good in spite of the fact that these things happen," said Lynne H. Irwin, a Cornell University professor who teaches highway engineering.

Monroe, NY +Route 17 Traffic Alert+

Monroe, NY +Route 17 Traffic Alert+ sTate Police on the scene Westbound of Route 17 near Museum Village Road working to clear a rolledover vehicle, no one seriously injured.

'One Third of French are Racist'

One in three French people say they are at least somewhat racist, an opinion poll suggests.

The figure shows an eight percentage point rise in those who said they were racist in a similar poll last year.

More than three in every 10 said they were "a bit racist" or "somewhat racist". Only 32% of people said they would notify police of racist behaviour they witnessed, compared to 50% in the previous year.

San Diego, CA - Synagogue's Request To Add Eruv Approved

San Diego, CA - The La Jolla Shores Advisory Board has approved Adat Yeshurun Synagogue's request to add an Eruv on its property.

"There simply is no way to push a stroller, to wheel a wheelchair and still be in compliance with Jewish law," said Michael Rosen, of Adat Yeshurun. "An Eruv is a simple mechanism that enables us to do what everyone else is able to do already on the Shabbas."
But opponents said it would divide the community. Supporters claimed virtually no imposition on neighbors. "This is something that helps people tremendously who are of the Orthodox Jewish faith," said David Kupferberg, of Adat Yeshurun Synagogue. "Quite frankly, we feel that it is quite consistent with requirements that it should have community benefit."

Since the border would be on public property, the synagogue needs to obtain a right of way permit. The motion will now go to the city planning commission.

Far Rockaway, Queens +Yeshiva Vandalized+

Far Rockaway, Queens, NY +School Vandalized+ The Bnos Bais Yaakov Yeshiva School of Far Rockaway Queens on Beach 9th Street has been vandalized, wrecked and broken into, NYPD of the 101st Pct are on the scene, requesting ESU and Detectives are enroute.

U/D: 09:01
NYPD has 4 perps in custody, canceling ESU.

Thompson, NY - Town Board Sets Bungalow Restriction, Owners Said It Is All Bias

Thompson, NY - The Town Board last night imposed a six-month ban on building or renovating bungalow colonies, and they are considering zoning changes that would limit construction of year-round houses. But Thompson Supervisor said they would give owners an opportunity for public input, but we want to make the bungalow colonies safe and appealing, he said.

Roughly 35 bungalow owners showed up at last night's Town Board meeting, and the move didn't go down well with many owners at the meeting, but they made few comments.

Afterwards they said in private "It is bias in disguise," said one owner who wouldn't give his name. "We are the ones who are affected, the Hasidic community."

New York City - Brooklyn First With Surveillance Cameras Program

New York, NY - The city is moving forward with a plan to install a new citywide system of surveillance cameras, the police commissioner said.

The system will consist of 505 cameras in 253 locations. Although details are being hammered out, he indicated the cameras would be installed in two phases, first in Brooklyn and then in other boroughs.

NY - State Troopers To No Longer Plea Bargain On Traffic Tickets

New York, NY - When you get ticketed by a state trooper for speeding or another traffic infraction, you go to municipal court and often times plea bargain with the trooper before appearing before the judge. And, more often than not, you can get that speeding ticket or other offense reduced.

Not anymore.

The chief attorney for the Division of State Police had issued an administrative order that effective September 1, all prosecutorial duties relating to traffic infractions, including plea bargaining in local courts, will now be the responsibility of local governments.

But Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips is vehemently against the plan because his assistant district attorneys would have to pick up the caseload.

New York, NY - Satmar Dispute Over Half A Billion Soon To Be Decided By A Secular Court

New York, NY - Four state judges based in Brooklyn are expected to decide soon on a dispute over control of a New York empire worth more than half a billion dollars.

The assets at stake include 26 properties in Williamsburg worth $339 million; 329 acres of land in Ulster County worth an estimated $25 million, and 146 acres in Sullivan County worth an estimated $7.3 million.

The dispute has been in the courts since 2001, and involves rival factions that each claim to have elected a president to the corporate board.

The story illuminates the material success achieved in America by the fervently Orthodox Jews of the movement founded by Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, a Romanian who arrived penniless in America following the Holocaust.
At first Rabbi Teitelbaum led his followers in prayer in a borrowed room in Brooklyn, an editor of the weekly newspaper Der Yid, Joseph Deutsch, said. But in the last 60 years, the holdings of the Satmar community have multiplied through the dues and donations of members. The general counsel of the American Jewish Congress, Marc Stern, said. "What makes this particularly poignant is the amount of power and control that comes with it as a community that has built itself up from nothing in 60 years into a truly admirable and massive institution."

The current Satmar leader, Grand Rebbe Moses Teitelbaum, is in his 90s and rarely appears in public. Two of his sons, Rabbi Zalmen Leib Teitelbaum and Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, have followers who back each rabbi's aspiration to succeed his father. Rabbi Zalmen is the leading rabbi in the Williamsburg congregation, while his older brother, Rabbi Aaron, heads up a congregation in the largely Satmar town of Kiryas Yoel, Monroe, NY in Orange County.

CPA Meyer Zalig Rispler, estimated that the Satmar movement has significantly more than half a billion dollars in real estate across the state. Although the recent appraisal fixed the value of holdings in Williamsburg at $339 million, Mr. Rispler said there are also the summer camps in the Catskills, synagogues and schools in Boro Park, and the holdings of the Kiryas Joel congregation in Orange County, which were not counted in the recent appraisal.

Albany, NY - Stop Raising Cash, Pataki Tells Mills

Albany, NY - Governor George Pataki slammed state insurance Commissioner Howard Mills for accepting political donations while holding a top state job, after it was unveiled that he accepted contributions from Kiryas Joel Trustee Jacob Freund.

The governor said it was inappropriate, "We've made that plain to him," Pataki said, "We don't believe that people in appointive office - commissioners or others working for the state - should be in a position of raising political funds. Period."

Late last summer, Mills accepted contributions from Brooklyn residents with ties to Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY. Kiryas Joel Trustee Jacob Freund said he solicited the Brooklyn donations for Mills. "I helped him because he helped the community in the past," Freund said.
Mills said he would stop accepting donations through the end of his tenure as commissioner, he will, however, keep the campaign account open, he wants to continue donating to Republican causes.

Brooklyn, NY - Bomb Shelter Discovered in Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn, NY - Beneath the busy Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side, hidden in a bank vault, city inspectors uncovered artifacts of modern American history from the 1950's-1960's.

Discovered by DOT workers who stumbled upon the "dank and lightless room where the walls are lined with dusty boxes" while doing some routine inspection of the bridge, were cases of crackers and mountains of medical supplies; stockpiles, and water for the cold war more than fifty years ago. The found 350,000 of these crackers.

The city won't divulge where it's located.

Rockland County, NY - Two small Earthquakes Shook The County

Rockland County, NY - Two small earthquakes shook Rockland today and Sunday.

Today's quake at 6:36 a.m. measured 1.3 on the Richter scale, following a tremor of 1.1 at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Usually, earthquakes under 2.5 on the Richter Scale are not felt by humans and are considered numerous.

London, UK - Mayor In Fresh Jewish Controversy

London, UK - Mayor Ken Livingstone has become embroiled in a new row, after criticizing two Jewish businessmen involved in building a key facility for the 2012 Olympics.

Mr. Livingstone attacked David and Simon Reuben for their role in an ongoing dispute about the Stratford City development in east London.

He suggested during a speech at City Hall, that the brothers should go back to their own country and see if they can do better under the ayatollahs.

The mayor's office said there was nothing further to add.

New York, NY - Kosher Restaurant Coming To The New Blue Moon Hotel

New York, NY - Housed in a converted tenement building, on the Lower East Side's new Blue Moon Hotel is also going to be a two-level kosher restaurant, which the owner hopes to open in late spring, they will serve lunch and dinner with an "immigrant-fare menu" of East European Jewish and Italian recipes. It will be called Sweet Dreams.

Derby, UK - Jewish Cemetery Attacked

Derby, UK - A Jewish cemetery was targeted in the early hours today in a suspected race-hate attack.

Between 30 and 40 graves were uprooted and smashed in the Jewish section of the Nottingham Road cemetery in Derby.

Two 22-year-old men are being questioned by detectives in connection with the attack.
Police say they are treating the incident as a suspected race-hate crime, but after talks with community leaders they do not think relations between Jewish people and the wider community will be affected. "There is a very small Jewish community in Derby, less than 10 in total and there are no synagogues in the town.

It is estimated that repairs to the site will cost around £30,000.

New York, NY - NYPD Hauling In More Juveniles

New York, NY - The NYPD has dramatically spiked up in arrests of young people over the last year - a 30 percent increase between January 2005 and January 2006.

The New York Police Department’s latest numbers for juvenile arrests from January through September 2005, is 8,763 young people under age 16, a 12 percent increase over the previous year.

Jerusalem, Israel - +Suicide Bomber Caught on Highway+

Jerusalem, Israel - +Suicide Bomber Caught on Highway+ A suicide bomber carrying 13.5 pounds of explosives with an explosive belt, was arrested near the town of Sha’alvim along the Jerusalem Tel Aviv highway after his vehicle was stopped with other 10 passengers in the vehicle, narrowly averting a major terrorist strike.

Queens, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Queens, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck at 150th Street and 78th Road, Hatzolah on the scene requesting ALS units on a rush, NYPD of the 107th Pct are on the scene.

New York, NY - Uncle Sam Gives New Yorkers One Extra Day To File Taxes

New York, NY - Uncle Sam is giving New Yorkers an extra day to pay their taxes, thanks to a Massachusetts state holiday that will close a federal processing center in Andover on April 17.
Five other eastern states and the District of Columbia also will have until midnight on Tuesday, April 18, to postmark their filings.

All Americans have a couple of extra days to file this year, as the traditional Tax Day, April 15, falls on a Saturday.
But the additional day for many residents in the Northeast comes because of Patriot's Day, a holiday in Massachusetts and Maine.
"It gives the procrastinators one more day," a spokesman for the state's Department of Taxation and Finance, Thomas Bergin, said.

New Yorkers will also have an additional day to file their state taxes to Albany, Mr. Bergin said, because the state follows the IRS in setting an annual deadline.

New Yorkers are likely to take advantage of the added time: While the state has already received more than 4 million out of the 9 million expected tax filings, more than half of all state residents wait until the last two weeks to file their returns.

Jewish Hospital Chairman Named Trustee Of The Year

Julian Shapero, 75, chairman of the board of trustees of Jewish Hospital, has been named 2006 Trustee of the Year by Modern Healthcare magazine.

Shapero was honored for guiding Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services through an eventful year. He was chosen as trustee of the year for large healthcare organizations - those with more than 250 hospital beds or more than $75 million in annual revenue.

Shapero, a retired Louisville department store owner, has been on the Jewish Hospital’s board for 37 years.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - 24 luxury Condos

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - Developer Moses Gross is adding 24 luxury condo units to the East Williamsburg market. It is one of the first new luxury buildings to come to this area.

The 24 luxury condos will include several duplex apartments with private gardens and several penthouses with private terraces; the balance will be one-bedroom units, each with its own balcony. They will range in size from 950 square feet to 1,300 square feet, with the “well-priced” residences starting at $420,000.
Included are 15-foot-high walls of windows, white oak hardwood floors, custom kitchens with deluxe appliances, including Wenge cabinetry and Cambrian black countertop., and bathrooms with porcelain tile.

Completion and occupancy estimated for fall, sales have already begun for the building, at 158-160 Manhattan Avenue and 199 Humboldt Street.

Borough Park, Brooklyn +Fire In Clothing Stroe+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Fire In Clothing Stroe+ A fire in the basement in the boiler room of a 4 story dwelling at 5201 New Utrecht Avenue and 52nd Street at Kesser Clothing, is under control at this time.

Airmont - Yeshiva Case Adjourned To May

Airmont - The developer of yeshiva Mosdos Chofetz Chaim with adult-student housing will be in Ramapo Justice Court in May to answer a violation for using a construction trailer for a pre-school program.

The developer submitted an appeal March 6 to the town's Zoning Board of Appeals that under town law halted any judicial process, said the Deputy Town Attorney who is prosecuting the case.
He said the town would try to get the case before the land-use board at its May 4 meeting.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident with some injured on Avenue "J" and Ocean Parkway, Hatzolah on the scene.

Manhattan, NY +Fire Old Con-Ed Building+

Manhattan, NY +Fire Old Con-Ed Building+ at the area of the 17th Pct. at East 39th Street and 1st Avenue, with some reports of smoke from the roof.

U/D: 16:21
FD on the scene with a fire in the shaft and smoke issuing thru from the chimney of the old 12 story Con-Ed plant thats under demolition, fire is DWH, and asking all units to use caution due to open shafts in the bldg.

New York, NY - Animal Walk Tonight Through Midtown Tunnel

New York, NY - The Ringling Brothers elephants, horses and other animals are coming to Manhattan from Queens tonight through the Midtown Tunnel, to spend a few weeks at Madison Square Garden.

The walk will begin at the north tube of the Queens Midtown Tunnel (36th Street & 2nd Avenue) and will proceed along 34th Street to Madison Square Garden. The walk starts at 11:55PM.

Spring Valley, NY - Men Arrested For Vandalizing 100-Plus Cars

Spring Valley, NY - Three young men were arrested on felony charges involving ripping emblems off the hoods of more 100 cars.

Residents who saw several cars being vandalized called the Spring Valley police, officers pulled over a red Honda and arrested the driver, and two other young men, after finding more than 170 car emblems in their Honda.

All three were charged fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of possessing burglar tools. And are being
held in the county jail in lieu of $15,000 bail each after being arraigned by Justice Alan Simon.

Washington - Israeli Spy Jonathan Pollard Loses Supreme Court Appeal

Washington - The Supreme Court refused today to give Jonathan Pollard, now serving a life sentence for spying for Israel, access to records that could bolster his case for a presidential clemency.

Pollard's lawyers wanted the justices to reopen his case, so that they could pursue secret documents the government submitted to the judge who sentenced Pollard in 1987. But the Supreme Court Denied him today the access to the records.

Istanbul - Shul Bomber Accused In Court

Istanbul - The trial of a Syrian man, Bomb-making expert Louai al Sakka, accused of
masterminding, financing and planning the deadly double shul bombings in Istanbul in November 2003 which claimed the lives of 25 people, and more than 300 people were injured, began in Turkey today.

He is also accused of responsibility for the deaths of 33 people in the HSBC bank and British Consulate explosions in the city five days later.

He was ordered to leave the courtroom today after he refused to stand to begin his defence. He shouted across the courtroom: “It is against my beliefs to stand for people like you. I carried out jihad. I killed Americans. Am I going to stand up for people like you?”

Swan Lake, NY +Fire At DayTop Village+

Swan Lake, NY +Fire At DayTop Village+ A 2nd Alarm fire at DayTop Village Drug Rehabilitation Facility of Swan Lake, NY on State Route 55 and Mt. Hope Road, fire is in the Municipal Building and is D/W/H, mutual aid assistance requested from Liberty and Kauneonga Lake for manpower and apparatus.

U/D: 15:37
The fire gutted the building. Most of the structure was destroyed, and the cause is unknown. No injuries reported.

New York State - Harriman State Park Recognized As Number 4 in US

New York - Harriman State Park placed No. 4 on a list of the top 100 trails in the nation.

With 14 trails, New York had more destinations on the list than any other state.

Manhattan, NY - Restoration of Eldridge Street Synagogue Saves a Sense of History

Manhattan, NY - The Eldridge Street Synagogue, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1887 as a symbol of Eastern European Jewish immigration to the United States. It sits in the shadows of the Manhattan Bridge, a block south of Canal Street, where Jewish bakeries, markets and clothing stores have flourished in the years to come.

Yesterday residents, worshipers and dignitaries gathered to mark the project's most important milestone so far: the restoration of the synagogue's facade to its original Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque styles.
"Not only do we return this buildings to the silhouette envisioned by the building's forefathers, but we return this building as a gift to the community that surrounds it," said Roberta Brandes Gratz, founder of the nonsectarian Eldridge Street Project, which oversees the synagogue's $20 million restoration and cultural programs.

Borough Park, Brooklyn - +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY - +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A mva at 52nd Street and Twentieth Avenue, Hatzolah on the scene.

Rockland County, NY - Nuremberg Prosecutor Dies At Age 87

Suffern, NY - Belle Mayer Zeck, who prosecuted Nazi war crimes during the Nuremberg trials, has died, at her Suffern home, she was 87.

Dublin, Philadelphia - New Synagogue Consecrated

Dublin, Philadelphia - More than 2‚000 congregants walked in groups of nine, three and a half miles from their previous synagogue in Lower Gwynedd to their new home in Upper Dublin - the first brand-new synagogue built in the Philadelphia area in 20 years.

They were nine groups who took their nine torahs, each group carrying one of them from the old ark at the old synagogue to the new one, with a chupah held over the person carrying the torah.
More than half of the total population attended the event.

After all nine torahs arrived, a consecration service was held at synagogue, then they sounded the shofar and the torahs were brought into the sanctuary and placed in the ark. The eternal light was lit and mezuzas were affixed to the doorposts, and the congregation sang.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident on Marcy Avenue and Lorimer Street, Hatzolah to respond. Requesting NYPD.

U/D: 08:04
Hatzolah on the scene requesting backup units with the ambulance.

U/D: 08:17
PD requesting additional unit to block traffic Lee Avenue to Lorimer Street.

New York City, NY - Mayor Nixes Idea Of Escape Lift

New York City, NY - A company promoting an escape apparatus for high-rise disasters has run into high-level resistance from Mayor Bloomberg.
The escape system would be a backup if elevators and stairwells are knocked out. Up to 150 persons could be evacuated on each trip, and firefighters and other emergency personnel could ride back up.

The manufacturer, Escape Rescue Systems Ltd., wants to spend more than $1 million of its own funds to install a test model of the escape system at 2 Penn Plaza, a 32-story building near Penn Station. The building's landlord, has agreed.

But city emergency officials have nixed the idea, and the mayor is backing them up.
"I think their conclusion is that it really isn't practical in this city," Bloomberg said after backers of the apparatus held a news conference outside City Hall to urge reconsideration.
Yoni Shimshoni, the CEO of Escape Rescue Systems, said "the high-rise capital of the world" would be a natural test spot for his device.

New Orleans - Congregation Buries 7 Flood-Damaged Torahs

Gentilly, New Orleans - More than 200 people gathered at the Beth Israel Cemetery on Frenchmen Street for the burial of seven sacred torahs destroyed when a Lakeview synagogue flooded during Hurricane Katrina.

The torahs once belonged to Beth Israel, a 102-year-old Orthodox congregation, "It's closure," said one Beth Israel member. "We know that the congregation is never going to be what it was, but we are going to rebuild, and we're going to come back. The torah is our holiest book."

Manhattan, NY +F.D.R. Drive S/B Closed+

Manhattan, NY +F.D.R. Drive S/B Closed+ The F.D.R. Drive southbound is closed due to a unauthorized tractor trailer that's under Graice Mansion at 89th Street that's being backed off the Drive, all traffic diverted at 96th Street, heavy traffic delays delays through out the area.

U/D: 06:29
T/T is off the Drive, part of its roof is cut open, with some debris on the roadway, Roadway is still closed.

U/D: 06:41
All lanes are reopened.

Washington, DC - +Unusual Fire+

Washington, DC - +Unusual Fire+ At the Veterans Hospital at 50 Irving Street, a person is on fire on the 2nd floor after igniting him self while smoking, he also set his motorized wheelchair on fire, FD with the burn victim, will be transported by Medic units to burn center.

U/D: 19:31
Fire is out, victim went into cardiac arrest prior to being transferred to burn center, and is now DOA at Vetrans Hospital.

Staten Island, NY +Suspicious Fire Again At Great Kills Park+

Staten Island, NY +Suspicious Fire Again At Great Kills Park+ For the third time in a week a suspicious brush fire has broken out at Great Kills Park in Staten Island near Buffalo Street and Hylan Blvd, FD Bat-22 is using all-hands, and requesting the Fire Marshals, Major Investigation by the NYPD and the Fire Department is ongoing, fire is under control at this time.

Manhattan, NY - Condo-loving Developers Eye Aging Synagogue

Manhattan, NY - The 154-year-old Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue on the Lower East Side is in doubt, Its walls are cracking. Its ceiling is crumbling. Prayer books are rotting.

Sensing a chance to profit, developers have begun offering millions of dollars to turn part of the temple into condos. So those in charge are faced with this difficult decision: to sell or not to sell.

Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum has shunned the developers, instead hoping to raise nearly $3.5 million to restore the synagogue. Developers have offered to turn the main part of the building into condos while restoring a sanctuary in the basement.

"I'll hang on until the Meshiach comes," Greenbaum says emphatically.

Monroe, NY +Head-On MVA+

Monroe, NY +Head-On MVA+ A motor vehicle accident in the Village of Monroe near WalMart on Larkin Drive, EMS requested for a head-on MVA with some injuries.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - High-Rise Building Of 40-Stories Being Proposed

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - A developer is proposing a massive retail-residential complex in Williamsburg, with one version soaring 40 stories above its low-profile neighbors.

"Williamsburgh Square," which would span an entire city block along Bedford Avenue between North Third and North Fourth streets, would forever change the character of a neighborhood zoned for five-and six-story buildings.

One of the partners of the developers, said that the project is in "the very early stages" and could change. He has shown three proposals to the local community board - one a six-story structure, and the other options calling for a 20-story building and a 40-story building.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Bridge Traffic Alert+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Bridge Traffic Alert+ Manhattan bound inner roadway is closed to traffic due to a tractor trailer backing off the bridge causing a hazard, NYPD on the scene.

U/D: 12:43
All lanes on the bridge are reopened.

Manhattan, NY +Fire At Staten Island Ferry Loading Dock+

Manhattan, NY +Fire At Staten Island Ferry Loading Dock+ Staten Island Ferry has been stopped due to a fire at 4 South Street in Manhattan at one of the piers of the Staten Island Ferry, FDNY, NYPD Aviation and Harbor Units are all on the scene.

U/D: 11:41
Fire is K/D, FD checking for structural stability of the structure that may be effected by the fire.

Brussels - A 20-Hour Hotel Hostage Drama That Sarted On Shabbos Sans Violence

Brussels - A 55-year-old man who held his two-year-old daughter hostage on the 17th floor of the Tulip Inn hotel at Place Rogier in central Brussels, demanding medical help for her is being questioned now by police after they ended the siege without violence.

The man who is not Belgian, had threatened to blow up his hotel room, because he was trying to get specialist medical help for the girl who he said has a heart condition and couldn't. But doctors who examined the girl said she was in good health, and police said they found no weapons or explosives in the hotel.

Police have not confirmed the man's identity or nationality but said the man was Jewish and police had asked a rabbi in the nearby city of Antwerp to negotiate with him but the hostage situation had ended before he could arrive.

The hotel and two nearby buildings were evacuated.

Wesley Hills, NY - Man Sues Village Over Dispute With Ramapo

Wesley Hills, NY - A taxpayer lawsuit has been filed accusing the village board of wasting money by suing Ramapo over its master plan for development.

The lawsuit, by resident Daniel Rosenblum, charges the municipality should have known that it and other villages would be found by a court to lack standing to sue the town over environmental matters beyond their boundaries.
Wesley Hills, Chestnut Ridge, Montebello and Pomona are appealing the June 13 decision of the state Supreme Court that dismissed their arguments against the master plan and its zoning for adult student apartments tied to religious yshivah school.

Rosenblum's lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in New City, seeks repayment of legal fees totaling $78,394. It also wants Wasley Hills trustee Rosenstein, Mayor Robert Frankl and Trustee David Goldsmith penalized $10,000 each, and either suspended or removed from office.
"Defendants knew or should have known that the Village's proceedings and action would likely be dismissed, as a matter of law," charged the lawsuit.

But assistant village attorney for Wesley Hills, called that "nonsense, complete nonsense," and ludicrous.

Sweden More Anti-Semitic Than Thought

Stockholm, Sweden - A new report indicates a significant portion of the Swedish population has a negative attitude toward Jews.

The poll was conducted by the National Council for Crime Prevention and the Forum for Living History. Some 3,000 Swedes, 26 percent of those queried said they think there is a Jewish influence over the world economy, 15 percent said they thought the influence was too great and 14 percent said Jews use the Holocaust for political and economic ends.

Northfield, NJ - Synagogue Steps Away From Cell-Tower Plan

Northfield, NJ - A Shore Road synagogue wants to drop its plans to host a cell-phone tower on its property.

The president of Congregation Beth Israel, said the synagogue's board has voted to ask out of its contract to put a 130-foot-high antenna tower, disguised as a flagpole, on its grounds, based on objections from neighbors, he said, “We've enjoyed wonderful relations with our neighbors since first moving to Northfield more than 20 years ago, they received us with open arms and our relationship with them is very important to us. We would never want to do anything to disturb that relationship. Therefore, we have decided not to proceed with the cell tower.”

At a previous hearing, officials of the cell-phone company said the cell tower is needed to fill in a weak spot in T-Mobile's cell signals in the Northfield area. They also said it would help improve emergency-communications service in and around the city.
The President said Beth Israel officials had been talking to the company about the contract since 2003, but didn't realize the tower would be 130 feet tall until early this year.

Queens, NY - Father Gets His Kids Back

Queens, NY - Moshe Aronov, 36, returned from Israel with his son and daughter to his home in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.

Last April 25, after a judge awarded Aronov sole custody of the children, their mother, Pnina Siovnov, 29, who converted to Islam, absconded with them, first to Toronto and later to Pakistan.
She apparently married a 41-year-old Pakistani in Pakistan, after the marriage, Siovnov abruptly left with her children and arrived in Israel at the end of August, saying she had fled from her Pakistani husband, who she said threatened to harm her children if she did not obey him.

In January 2005, a New York State Supreme Court Judge had awarded Aronov full custody, the two sides reached an agreement that Siovnov would surrender the children to her ex-husband if he agreed to drop kidnapping charges against her.

Now he has filed suit against the New York City Police Department, which took a report from him on his children's disappearance last April 22 but did not actively investigate the case for 17 days - a delay that Aronov says gave his ex-wife plenty of time to flee the country with the children.
Police Department spokesman Detective Dennis Laffin has denied Aronov's charges.