Manhattan, NY +S/B & N/B Henry Hudson Parkway Is Closed+

Manhattan, NY +S/B & N/B Henry Hudson Parkway Is Closed+ Due to a serious multimle involving 6 cars in a motor vehicle accident on the Henry Hudson Parkway [West Side Highway] southbound at West 125th Street with two aided pinned inside one vihicle with vehicle on fire, the northe bound and south bound parkway is closed, ESU requesting additional units to respond, anf FD also to the scene, EMS ALS to respond forthwith.

U/D: 22:58
EMS has 4 aided likely to expire NYPD Highway for the A.I. Job.

PD requesting Harbor and Scuba for possible ejection of an aided into the Hudson River, Level one mobilization has been called.

Iran Denies Reports Of Yellow Armbands For Jews

Tehran - Iran on Saturday categorically denied press reports that Jews in Iran would have to wear yellow armbands.

The comments followed a Canadian National Post article from Friday that quoted Iranian expatriates living in Canada as saying that Jews would have to wear yellow armbands, that Jews would be forced to wear the cloth strips 'like the Star of David that Jews were made to wear in Nazi Germany' and Christians red strips.

The US State Department expressed concerns about the law, with spokesman Sean McCormack saying that if it was true, 'it has clear echoes of Germany under Hitler.'

But Jewish Iranian Member of Parliament Maurice Motamed said that no such decision had been taken by the Iranian parliament during discussions on the so-called 'national dress-code bill.' The MP was referring to the approval last Sunday of the bill which is supposed to replace current Western fashions in Iran.

Khabar termed the report as 'simply ridiculous' and branded the National Post as a pro-Israeli Zionist publication.

Freehold, NJ - Judge Stripped Dwek's From Corporate Control

Freehold, NJ - A Superior Court judge has ordered local real estate mogul Solomon Dwek to relinquish day-to-day control over all of his companies that are involved in a civil court case.

Superior Court Judge Alexander D. Lehrer also ordered that any other partners Dwek has in those companies will then manage the daily operations. But if there are no partners, a real estate management company will be appointed to collect rent and provide maintenance.

Lehrer's order also bars Dwek, 33, of Ocean Township from signing checks for the companies and collecting any rent or income from the properties.

Fiscal agent Donald M. Lomurro of Freehold, appointed by Lehrer to oversee Dwek's estimated 200 properties, said the judge plans to hold a hearing Wednesday for any interested party who objects to the recent order.

Brooklyn, NY +MVA+

Brooklyn, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident on Ocean Parkway and Avenue "O" Hatzolah responding.

Iran - Eyes Badges For Jews

Iran - Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear colored badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims. "This is reminiscent of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, "Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis."

The Islamic Majlis, passed a law setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments." The law, which must still be approved by Iran's Supreme Guide before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.
Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.

Chicago, IL - Diets Of Religious Soldiers No Longer Overlooked

Chicago, IL - Dietary requirements of Jewish military personnel were long overlooked by the armed forces, forcing many to survive over the years on peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, and cereal.

Thanks in large part to two Chicago companies, these observant troops are now having everything from lamb and lentil stew, and cheese tortellini, without feeling a burden on their consciences.
My Own Meals Inc. and J&M Food Products Co. are the U.S. military's sole suppliers of prepackaged meals that meet Jewish dietary standards, produced and packaged under the careful eye of Jewish inspectors.

Dushanbe - Government Plans To Destroy City's Only Synagogue

Dushanbe - The chief rabbi of Central Asia and Tajikistan, Abe David Gurevich, met with city officials in Dushanbe in a bid to convince them to reverse plans to destroy or remove the city's only synagogue. Dushanbe's mayor, Mahmadsaid Ubaidullaev, had promised Gurevich "they will not destroy the old synagogue until they build a new one."

Tajik officials have proposed an alternative location for the synagogue. However, Jewish community leaders say no firm offer has been made and that, in any case, they are adamantly opposed to the destruction of the synagogue.

Gurevich, who is based in Uzbekistan, is also seeking a meeting with President Imomali Rakhmonov or one of his close aides.

The city authorities want to clear the site of the 100 year-old synagogue to expand the nearby presidential palace.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Basement Fire+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Basement Fire+ Hatzolah responding to a fire in the basement of a 3 story 20x30 multiple dwelling at 113 Rutledge Street between Bedford Avenue and Lee Avenue, FD an PD are on the scene.

Williamsburg, NY +MVA+

Williamsburg, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident on Bedford Avenue corner Division Avenue, Hatzolah responding.

Queens, NY - Man Gets 7 Years Prison For Biting Cop's Pinkie Finger

Queens, NY - A man convicted of biting a police officer's pinkie finger was sentenced to seven years in prison. Roderick McClain was convicted of assault and resisting arrest in a struggle with two plainclothes officers in April 2005.

The officers had been responding to a report of a livery cab robbery when they saw McClain walking with two large bags and got out of their unmarked car to speak to him. McClain, now 41, dropped the bags and punched one of the officers in the face. When the second officer tried to handcuff him, McClain wildly flailed his arms and bit the officer's pinkie finger.

Geneva, Switzerland - Plot To Down El Al Jet Foiled

Geneva, Switzerland - A terrorist plot to blow up an El Al jet at Geneva airport with an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) in December was uncovered by the Swiss and French intelligence agencies, details released for publication on Friday revealed.
A secret agent working undercover amongst an Islamic terror cell in the city discovered the plan after three immigrants of Arabic origin boasted of their attempts to smuggle weapons from Russia with the ultimate goal of shooting down an Israeli plane at the airport.

When the matter was reported to Israeli security, El Al changed the flight paths of all its Geneva-bound planes, landing them at Zurich Airport the following week.
Swiss officials reported that no arrests were made following the discovery since the plan had yet to reach its final operational stages.

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Prisoners Clashed With Guards

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Prisoners wielding fans, light fixtures and other improvised weapons clashed with guards trying to stop a detainee from committing suicide at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay.
The clash occurred Thursday in a medium-security section of the camp as guards were responding to the fourth attempted suicide that day at the detention center on a U.S. Navy base in Cuba.

Detainees struck guards as they entered a communal living area to stop a prisoner who was trying to hang himself, Durand said. Earlier in the day, three detainees in another part of the prison attempted suicide by swallowing prescription medicine they had been hoarding.

Washington, DC - House OK's $1M To Reopen Statue of Liberty Crown

Washington, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives has approved $1 million for security enhancements at the Statue of Liberty in hopes of reopening the crown to tourists for the first time since the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Kiryas Joel, NY - Water-Tank Plan Sparks Hot Debate

Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.

That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan. Diana pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.
But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked, and things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.

In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.

New York - State Troopers Streaming Live Video From The Field To The Barracks

New York - State Police are taking the concept, of cars are equipped with cameras, to the next level with technology to enable the cameras to broadcast a live stream of video and sound from a trooper's car back to the barracks.

The system could come in especially handy on bad weather days, when troopers in camera-equipped cars can broadcast from the scenes of multiple accidents around the region. "Like triage, you can take a look where our most serious incidents are, prioritize them, send assets where they need to be," they said.
Trooper Miguel Nunez said enhancing officer safety is the other big plus. "It helps me feel reinforced," said Nunez. "Not only do I know what's going on but they can also see what's going on here." They can ascertain if the trooper is in trouble, then send appropriate backup to his location.

Right now 30 cars statewide have the system, known as "Vision Net." More cars equipped to "go live" are hitting the road each month.

Tuxedo, NY +N/B Thruway Heavy Traffic+

Orange County, Tuxedo, NY +N/B Thruway Heavy Traffic+ A motor vehicle accident on the northbound of the NY State Thruway at M/M 36.4 between anauto and a truck with some injured, NY State Police are on the scene requesting BLS units and Medics to location, expect heavy traffic delays through out the area.

New York, NY - More Yellow Cabs Turning Green

New York, NY - They may be yellow cabs, but they're also green.

The number of environmentally friendly taxicabs on New York City streets could grow tenfold after this summer, when the city designates a significant portion of new taxi medallion licenses for alternative-fuel cabs.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission is scheduled to sell 308 medallions in June, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg has directed the agency to assign 254 for vehicles that use hybrid fuel technology or compressed natural gas, which boast better mileage and lower emissions.

Now, just 27 alternative-fuel cabs are in operation.

Monsey, NY - Karben's Resignation Shocks, Raises Questions

Monsey, NY - Assemblyman Ryan Karben's abrupt resignation left constituents and officials wondering what was behind the departure of a man whose political ambitions started young and seemed certain to include a run for higher office.

Rockland Republican Committee Chairman Vincent Reda said he was especially surprised at the announcement because Karben had money in his campaign coffers and no serious opposition.
"I think there's more to the story that will eventually be told," Reda said.

Assemblyman Adam Bradley, D-White Plains, said he had dined with Karben, a Monsey Democrat, in Albany on Monday and that Karben had said nothing about resigning.
"I had no inkling whatsoever," Bradley said.

Karben, 31, is known for his aggressive pursuit of publicity. But he announced his resignation in a three-paragraph statement and did not return several messages left on his cell phone. No one answered the door at his Melaney Drive home last night.
The Assembly removed his biographical information from its Web site.

Karben, an Orthodox Jew, grew up in Ramapo on the border with New Square. Through politics and religion, he developed a close relationship with the town's influential Hasidic and Orthodox communities.

Sholomo Koenig, deputy mayor of Kaser, said the community was shocked by Karben's decision and was also wondering why he quit. "Many people have called me and asked me why and what happened," Koenig said. "I don't have any answers for them. It's hard to comment when you don't have a clue. "He grew up politically and climbed the ladder in the community," Koenig said. "We're all shocked."

Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, R-Blooming Grove, said she had noticed a change in Karben. "Ryan has appeared to be quiet and more introspective than the usual Ryan," she said.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, will not comment on Karben's resignation, said Charles Carrier, his spokesman.


Suffern - While Ryan Karben was still an assemblyman, the Suffern village Board of Trustees hired his law firm to assist the municipal attorney.

Gaza City, Gaza Strip +Fighting+

Gaza City, Gaza Strip +Fighting+ A gun battle erupts in front of the Palestinian parliament building, between the new Hamas security force and rival Fatah forces in Gaza city. Two people were reported wounded.

Flatbush, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck and is injured on Avenue "N" and East 2nd Street, Hatzolah responding.

Djerba, Tunisia - Spanish Businessman Guilty Of Helping To Fund Shul Attack

Djerba, Tunisia - A Spanish businessman, Enrique Cerda, the owner of a ceramics company in Valencia, has been sentenced by a Spanish court to five years in prison after he was found guilty of making financial contributions that led to the deadly bombing of the Djerba., Tunisian, Ghriba Synagogue in 2002. The attack claimed the lives of 14 Germans, five Tunisians and two French citizens.

Cerda, 43, was found to have had financial links with terrorists connected to senior al-Qaeda man Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. Mohammad is believed to have given the order to launch the synagogue attack.

In a 27-page judgement, it was found that Cerda had maintained contact with a number of those connected to the bombing and had “not given a logical, coherent or minimally credible explanation” for why so many of them had his telephone number.

Rukhsar, 40, was convicted of sending more than $2 million to al-Qaeda, including $7,200 sent the day before the attack.

Albany, NY - Governor Pataki To Cap Gas Sales Tax

Albany, NY - Governor George Pataki said that he will sign a bill to cap the state sales tax on gasoline, a move that would save consumers about 4 cents a gallon.

Pataki said he will approve the bill despite his belief it does not go far enough to encourage the use of alternative fuels or ensure that consumers would see the savings."I've never met a tax cut I didn't like,'' he said in New York City.

The bill passed by the Legislature on Monday would cap the sales tax at 8 cents per gallon, freezing the tax at the rate paid when gas costs $2 a gallon. At current prices, the tax is about 12 cents a gallon.

The bill, which would take effect June 1, also gives local governments the option to cap or lower their local sales tax on gasoline. Local governments typically charge 12 to 15 cents per gallon at current prices.

The bill also would allow New York City to cut or eliminate its local sales tax on home heating oil and would give consumers tax credits for buying home heating oil that contains biodiesel fuel or for buying energy-efficient home heating systems.

Monsey, NY - Assemblyman Ryan Karben Stepping Down

Monsey, NY - Assemblyman Ryan Scott Karben, D-Monsey, announced that he will step down from his seat on the state Legislature. "It is time for a new beginning," he said in a statement. "After spending more than 13 of my 31 years in public service, it is time for a change for me and my family," he wrote.

He said he was stepping down to give greater attention to his wife and three daughters and to his law practice, as well as "to fulfilling other personal and professional aspirations."

Alabama Candidate For AG That Disputes Holocaust, Is Coming To NJ

Birmingham, Ala. - A Democratic candidate for Alabama attorney general that denies the Holocaust occurred, said that he will speak this weekend in New Jersey to a "pro-white" organization that is widely viewed as being racist.

Larry Darby concedes his views are radical, but he said they should help him win wide support among Alabama voters as he tries to "reawaken white racial awareness" with his campaign against Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson.

New Jersey's Democratic State Committee chief, decried Darby's planned visit, and said in a statement that denying the Holocaust was "historical blasphemy."

"Hate and prejudice are destructive qualities that are not welcome in New Jersey and should be condemned wherever they occur," said party Chairman Joe Cryan. "Mr. Darby should turn around before crossing the Jersey stateline and then give thought to turning his abhorrent attitudes around as well."

Ocean Township, NJ - Dwek Asking Judge To Punish PNC Bank

Ocean Township, NJ - Real estate investor Solomon Dwek, whose entire holdings have been frozen by a Superior Court judge, said he didn't defraud PNC Bank, Dwek's attorney stated for the first time in court papers.
Dwek denied everything, and his lawyers are asking Superior Court Judge Alexander D. Lehrer not only to dismiss PNC Bank's lawsuit seeking the payment of $20 million but to punish the bank by ordering it to pay Dwek's legal fees and any other damages.

Beyond the lawsuit, Dwek has been criminally charged by the FBI with attempting to defraud PNC both by depositing the $25.2 million bad check and attempting the next day to make a second $25 million deposit, which the bank rejected. He remains free on $10 million bond.

Ramapo, NY - Rockland Health Board Assesses Fines On Kosher Caterer

Ramapo, NY - The Rockland County Board of Health voted to double the recommended fine from $2,650. to $5,300, against the caterer in a New City synagogue because the owners repeatedly failed to correct health-code violations. "They just don't get it," John Stoughton, director of the food safety program for the county Health Department, told the board at its regular monthly meeting.

Fifth Avenue Glatt Kosher Caterers, which operates a catering facility in the New City Jewish Center, was cited for 20 sanitary-code violations during six inspections from March 2005 to March 2006, according to department records.

Inspectors repeatedly found numerous mouse droppings in the kitchen, water leaking from the roof onto food stored in a walk-in refrigerator, and dirt and mold on equipment, according to records.

Stoughton said inspectors visited the facility again May 11 and found the violations had not been corrected. The owner also was cited for additional violations. He said that he had met with the owner of Fifth Avenue Glatt Kosher Caterers, to tell him what he needed to do to bring the facility into compliance.

West Point, New York - President Bush’s Graduation Visit To Be Met By Protestors

West Point, New York - President Bush’s Graduation Visit To Be Met By Protestors

West Point, New York - Anti-war activists, veterans, and military families are planning to hold a protest at Veterans Park in Highland Falls on Saturday, May 27, the same day President George Bush will deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of 2006 at the US Military Academy. Anti-war military groups are all planning to take part.

Lakewood, NJ - Police Continue To Search For Assault Suspect

Lakewood, NJ - Police this week continued to search for the man who is wanted in the assault of a 20-year-old township woman on the evening of May 7th.
Lakewood Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi confirmed that police have teamed up with the FBI to use their resources as well. Isnardi said that as of early this week the investigation remained status quo.

Anyone with information regarding the case may call the Lakewood Detec-tive Bureau and Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi at (732) 363-0200, ext. 5332.

Lawrence, NY - School Board Power Shift

Michael Hatten, an Orthodox Jew who won a seat on the Lawrence school board this week, can't wait to see what happens when the new panel takes office on July 1.

"Let's give this a chance," Hatten said of the school board election results. With the victory of Hatten and Uri Kaufman, the seven-member Lawrence school board will have four Orthodox Jewish members, reflecting the community's growing size and influence in the district. "I'm kind of excited to see what happens."

School board elections have grown more bitterly contested. Private school parents, mostly from the Orthodox Jewish community, have sought a voice on the panel, running on platforms that criticized school spending and performance.

"They've been trying for years to get control and now they have it, so the ball's in their court now," said Jordan Robbins, a vocal and frustrated public school parent who has watched enrollment and school budgets go down for five straight years, and she is a Lawrence High School alumnus who has a son in third grade. "Now that they're running things, it seems to me they have an obligation to get the budget passed."

Kiryas Joel, NY - Asks Orange County For Water Towers In New Gonzaga Parkland

Monroe, NY - Officials of the Village of Kiryas Joel have asked Orange County for permission to erect two water towers on a half acre of land on the county’s Gonzaga property in Blooming Grove. The land is going to be developed into the newest county park.

County Executive Edward Diana brought the village’s request to the Physical Services Committee of the county legislature. He told lawmakers the village needs the towers for fire suppression and water pressure. “This is water that already exists from their wells,” he said. “This is just storage tanks that would store the water; there would be no increase in the water that they have.”

This would have nothing to do with the exploration of new water, Diana said.
In return for the water towers, the village has offered to let the county tap into their supply for parkland use.

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY - Mail Theft Nabbed By Kiryas Joel Public Safety

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY - Police arrested 20-year-old Tamika Huggins for allegedly stealing mail from the Boro Park neighborhood.

Kiryas Joel's Public Sfety Director Moses Whitriol who happened to be passing by in his car, caught her in Boro Park on 39th Street between 13th and 14th Avenue's, with about 150 pieces of mail that didn't belong to her. She was charged with grand larceny, and possession of stolen property.

The Postal Inspection Service, and the Postal Police will investigate, NYPD of the 66th Pct believe, that the same perp has done similar thefts in the area.

New Square, NY - State To Inspect House Fire Sites

New Square, NY - State inspectors plan to visit the site of every house fire in the village following complaints from firefighters that code violations were making it dangerous to respond to alarms.

Rockland County Fire Coordinator Gordon Wren Jr. said he was contacted by officials from the state's Division of Code Enforcement and Administration.

Wren and state inspector Daniel Nichols tried Tuesday to view a home where a hanging fluorescent lamp overheated an electrical cord and started a fire last week. Wren said he and Nichols were not allowed into the house by the homeowner. "In this case, he just wanted to take a look, and I gave him some photographs I had taken," said Wren, who responded to the fire at 56 Washington Avenue, where firefighters found that a portion of the basement — where the fire began — was also being used as storage space for a nearby electronics store, Wren said. He said grills were stacked from the floor to the ceiling. "We have a mess we need to straighten out, and for the first time in a while I feel positive. The right guy from the state is spearheading this, and we have been having cooperation from residents."

Wren said the state has been more aggressive in monitoring the village since the sometimes-contentious relationship between Hillcrest firefighters and village residents grew more hostile last month - after firefighters filed a criminal complaint claiming they had cornered two boys they believed were setting fires, but a village official helped them escape.

They said the state had identified more than 80 buildings that failed to meet state fire and safety codes. The owners will have to appear before a state board of review to obtain variances, and the village, also needs to bring homeowners before the board but had not done so yet. "I'm told they are working on it," they said.

Queens, NY - Man That Impersonate Architect, Jailed

Queens, NY - A city Department of Education employee who pleaded guilty to pretending to be a certified architect was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail.

The former assistant architect in the department's construction unit, used an architect's stamp and seal on building plans and permit applications he submitted to the Department of Buildings, while he wasn't licensed as an architect by the state Department of Education, as required.

The work that he did, was for more than 150 people between April 1, 2001, and July 1, 2005, and generally collecting $500 to $1,000 per job, prosecutors said.

He also was required to pay the city $10,000 in restitution, serve five years of probation and quit his job.

Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY - Rocky Prayers At The Cemetery

Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY - A yeshiva student was arrested for throwing rocks at a car in which the daughter-in-law of the late Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum rode to visit the cemetery where the late Satmar leader is buried.

The wife of the grand rabbi's son Rabbi Zalmen, and three other women went to the Cemetery in Kiryas Joel yesterday afternoon to pray.
But angry students from the nearby yeshiva, who are loyal to Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum, who's been fighting with his brother, Rabbi Zalmen, for control of the sect, greeted the woman with a rock-throwing crowd, young boys and men pounding on the windows, screaming, and throwing rocks on the car - a black Cadillac Deville - which State police said chipped the paint off the car.

The driver called 911 and cops arrested one student last night, 18-year-old Joseph Weber, and charged him with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony.

Police said the daughter-in-law didn't see the rock-throwing. But the driver, Yehuda Weinstock, claimed the woman was forced to run from the attack.

Bronx, NY +All Lanes Closed S/B Major Deegan+

Bronx, NY +All Lanes Closed S/B Major Deegan+ Due to an overturned vehicle on the southbound of the Major Deegan Expressway at West 230th Street, FD and NYPD are all on the scnen no one is trapped requesting ESU to upright the vehicle, all lanes are closed now expect major delays.

Monsey, NY +Child Fell Is In Serious Condition+

Rockland County, Monsey, NY +Child Fell Is In Serious Condition+ Hatzolah BLS and ALS units are on the scene and performing CPR on a child 7-years-old that fell off a bike and is unconscious at 12 Morris Road and Union.

U/D: 20:13
Child is now alert and conscious, and is being transported to hospital by Hatzolah.

A Cigar Bar in Williamsburg Brooklyn NY

Velvet Cigar Lounge is planning to open in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, next to the famed Peter Luger Steak House, on May 21. This establishment in which you can smoke cigars indoors has not only set up shop about a year and a half ago on the Lower East Side of the Big Apple, but it's also expanding to Brooklyn.

Velvet, says founder and owner Jason Alvator, acts like a cigar bar, offering wine and beer (no whiskey yet) for a price, a fireplace, humidors and places to sit and enjoy it all. However, in accordance with smoking ban regulations, the place qualifies as a retail tobacconist, says Alvator, by counting 50 percent of its revenue from the sale of cigars. This is accomplished, in part, through the on- and off-premises sale of an in-house brand of cigars, called Reserva Dominicana, which are rolled in the same room where cigar bar clientele smoke.

"I used to work in the Supreme Court during the summer when I was in college," said Alvator where he spent much of his time reading legal documents. Upon reading the smoking ban legislation, he noticed the loophole. "[Fifty percent of revenue from cigars] is defined as a retail tobacconist. There is nothing [in the regulations] that says you can't serve liqueur and charge for it, too."

$250,000. Winning Ticket Sold In Hudson Valley

There was only one New York second prizing winning ticket in the Tuesday Mega Millions lottery sold in the Hudson Valley. The ticket was purchased at Garcha Petroleum, one Homewood Avenue in New Windsor. It is worth $250,000.

The winning numbers were 7, 24, 40, 48 and 50. The Mega Ball number was 15 and only one winner hit the $94 million jackpot in the multi-state game and that ticket was sold in Texas.

In New York, there were eight third prize winners, who will each receive $10,000.

And, for those who matched only the Mega Ball – and there were 66,000 of them – they will each receive $2.

Albany, NY - Former Nursing Home Owner Charged In $3 Million Medicaid Case

Albany, NY - Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office accused the former owner of two Bronx nursing homes of bilking the state's Medicaid program out of more than three million dollars over almost seven years.

Abe Zelmanowich of Scarsdale was indicted by an Albany County grand jury for fraudulent billing. He faces one count of grand larceny and other lesser charges that could lead to 25 years in prison if he's convicted.

Spitzer's office also sued Zelmanowich seeking more than 12 million dollars in penalties and restitution for payments to the nursing homes from January first, 1997 to August 27th, 2003.

New York, NY - FBI Probes GOP Convention Arrests By NYPD

New York, NY - The FBI wants to hear from protesters who may have been wrongly arrested during the Republican National Convention, and it’s asking for help from a civil liberties group to do so.

It’s part of a criminal civil rights investigation of the NYPD.

In a letter from the FBI to the New York Civil Liberties Union, dated May 11th, the special agent in charge of the case writes: "We are attempting to determine if any police officers' conduct violated federal civil rights statues."

Baltimore, MD - Author Seeking Kosher Kitchens

Baltimore, MD - Before-and-after photos of kosher kitchens are being sought to be included in a new book to be released this fall, the author of the book announced.

Well-known industry designer Joan Eisenberg, CMKBD, said that she is seeking the projects for a book she is writing on designing kosher kitchens.

Eisenberg, principal of the Baltimore-based JME Consulting, Inc., has been designing kosher kitchens since the 1980s. She said she has been encouraged by clients to write the book, which will include a compilation of products, as well as design guidelines.

Guidelines for project submission may be obtained by calling Eisenberg directly at (410) 764-3789, or at http://www.kosherkitchensbydesign.com/

Brooklyn, NY +MVA With Motorcycle+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +MVA With Motorcycle+ A motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle on Rutledge Street corner Bedford Avenue, PD, FDNY EMS are on the scene, Hatzolah backing up for aided that is down with serious injuries.

Monsey Trails Rraising Fares

Monsey, NY - Rising gas prices mean Rockland bus riders will have to pay more to travel from the county to New York City starting June 1. Monsey Trails is considering increases ranging from 4 percent to 11 percent for trips to the city.

Monsey Trails, which offers service to Manhattan and Brooklyn, said the price of its 40-trip book would increase from $230 to $240, a 4.3 percent hike. The cash fare from its two Ramapo stops to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, will go up to $9 from $8, or 12.5 percent. "As a result of dramatically high prices of insurance and fuel, we are left with no choice but to increase our fare rates," Monsey Trails' general manager J.J. Lunger wrote in a courtesy letter to county transportation officials.

Lunger said the new fares hadn't been finalized. Officials planned to decide this week but wanted to give riders advance notice just in case, he said. "We can do it if we feel we have to, but it's not confirmed yet," said Lunger, adding they were watching for a change in fuel prices.

Queens, NY +MVA+

Queens, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident in Queen on 147th Street and 71st Avenue, Hatzolah responding.

East Ramapo, NY - School District Polls Stayed Open Late To Accommodate Voters Celebrating The Holiday Of Lag B'Omer

East Ramapo, NY - School district voters approved 2006-07 budgets in seven of the public school district of East Ramapo and ousted a veteran trustee in the voting.

The usually contentious East Ramapo budget vote and school board races seemed calmer this year, with voters approving a $178.79 million budget. But voters ousted veteran trustee Christian Sampson, who was soundly defeated by newcomer Akiva Feinsod. Another newcomer, Soloman Akerman, won a three-way race for an open seat. Trustee Richard Stone won another term by defeating Suzanne Young-Mercer.
Final results on the budget and school board races came in after midnight as polls closed at 11:30 p.m. The East Ramapo polls stayed open late to accommodate voters celebrating a Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer.

Montreal, Canada - Jewish Community Gets Daycare Power

Montreal, Canada - The Charest government is giving the Montreal Jewish community its own coordination office for public daycare's.

The area around the mountain was originally going to be split into three jurisdictions, each with a daycare coordination office. Now the area will be split into two, but the director of Jewish Family Services will oversee a third coordination office that will have jurisdiction in all three areas.

Critics say the offices were not supposed to be divided along religious lines. In 2005, the Charest government found itself in the midst of scandal when it announced it would fund Jewish schools 100 percent. The government had to backtrack following mass public opposition.

Brooklyn, NY- NYPD Nabs Fugitive In $12M Mortgage Scam

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY - A fugitive that was the mastermind of an elaborate $12 million mortgage fraud scheme was captured in Brooklyn by detectives. Owen Larman, 33, indicted in August for allegedly orchestrating 33 fraudulent mortgages, was stunned when he was grabbed by detectives from the NYPD-U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force.

"How'd you find me?" he asked the detectives who busted him just after he parked his Jeep Cherokee Laredo outside 353 Ocean Ave. Larman, distinctly overweight last summer, had lost more than 30 pounds and shaved his beard.

Larman was using the alias Christopher Larken and planned to open a summer day camp run out of the Ocean Ave. address. "We didn't tell him how we found him," said Detectives Collucci and Intrator, who made the arrest.

Larman is charged with defrauding seven banks and mortgage companies in the past six years by falsifying documents to pump up the values of Brooklyn buildings he was buying and selling. Working with six accomplices, including a phony building appraiser, Larman inflated the value of buildings through a series of paper sales, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, he was targeting buildings in Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick.

Orange County, NY - Woman That Worked At Ezras Choilim Arrested For ID Theft

Orange County, NY - A woman, already wanted in Florida on fraud charges, was arrested on charges of swiping a Manhattan physical therapist's identity and using it to steal more than $24,500 from five health centers.

Caryn Dinetz, 49, was captured at her residence in the Candlewood Suites hotel in Nanuet, N.Y., and was charged with identity theft, grand larceny, unauthorized practice of a profession and scheme to defraud, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

Dinetz stole Karen Levine's identity by lifting her licensing information from the Web site of the state Office of Professions, which licenses physical therapists, and then posing as her from March 1, 2005, to Feb. 16, 2006, Morgenthau said.

Dinetz, who is not a licensed physical therapist, had Levine's documents reissued to her after telling officials they had misspelled her first name, that Levine was her maiden name and that she wanted "Dinetz" added to her license, Morgenthau said.

She found jobs by submitting resumes in the name of Caryn Levine Dinetz and presenting the required medical malpractice insurance forms using Levine's policy number directly to health centers, prosecutors said.

While using Levine's identity, Dinetz worked at the Ezras Choilim Health Center in Orange County. The defendant, a Florida native, is a fugitive from credit card fraud charges in that state, prosecutors said.

Bad Arolsen, German - International Panel Agrees to Open Huge Holocaust Archive to Public

Bad Arolsen, German - A massive archive on the Nazi Holocaust will be opened to researchers for the first time.

The 11-nation panel that overseeing the 50 million files, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, made the decision after Germany last month agreed to a compromise on privacy concerns.

Officials with the International Tracing Service says it hopes the individual nations will sign and ratify the agreement soon so that access can be granted by the end of the year. The papers contain information on more than 17-million victims of the World War II Nazi death camps, including the names and records of Jews, Roma Gypsies, homosexuals, and the mentally ill.

Poland - Anti-Semite Appointed Education Minister

Poland - Anti-Semite nationalist Roman Giertych, was appointed Poland's vice premier and Education Minister, Giertych will be responsible for Holocaust awareness, fighting anti-Semitism.

Recently the Polish Families League party, headed by Giertych joined the Polish coalition. The Polish Families League (PFL) is a marginal Catholic-nationalist party that presents itself as the political and ideological heir of the large anti-Jewish party that operated in Poland between the two world wars.

Freehold, NJ - Court Directs Dwek To List Assets, Debts

Freehold, NJ - Real estate mogul Solomon Dwek was ordered to immediately provide a complete accounting of all his debts and properties to a court-appointed fiscal agent.

The order, issued by Superior Court Judge Alexander D. Lehrer, allows fiscal agent Donald M. Lomurro to review claims by PNC Bank and others who say Dwek owes them tens of millions of dollars.
Lomurro's immediate job will be to preserve the value of Dwek's real estate holdings, review claims against Dwek's vast empire -- estimated to include more than 200 properties -- and recommend how to pay his debts. "To do this, to see all the assets in this financial empire and all the liabilities, it's just an enormous undertaking," Lomurro said.

Dwek has more than $200 million in real estate holdings in Monmouth County alone, Dwek also has tens of millions of mortgage debt throughout the state, according to public records.
Other claimants

As fiscal agent, Lomurro is to be paid $400 an hour. Other lawyers and staff in his firm will be paid from $350 an hour to $110 an hour as needed, according to Lehrer's order.
The judge allowed Lomurro to hire accountants, real estate experts and appraisers as necessary. Lomurro was to receive a $50,000 retainer upon the signing of the order.
Lomurro said his fee will be paid out of Dwek's assets.

Toulouse, France - Railway Sued For Wartime Transport Of Jews

Toulouse, France - Alain Lipietz, a Greens European Parliament deputy a French politician and his sister Helene, sued France's state-run SNCF railway on for transporting their father and three relatives to a wartime transit camp that sent Jews off to Nazi concentration camps, they accused the SNCF of organizing the transport of French Jews to the Drancy transit camp near Paris and billing the wartime government for its services. Of the 330,000 Jews living in France in 1940, 75,721 were deported to death camps and only about 2,500 returned alive. "The SNCF was quite autonomous when it came to earning money, so it has to assume its responsibility for its choices in how it treated the Jews," said Alain Lipietz.

A lawyer for the railway argued the statute of limitations had run out for the deportation of Jews, which stopped with the end of the four-year German occupation in 1944, and that the SNCF had been run by the collaborationist Vichy government.

The judge in the administrative court case said he would take three weeks to reach his decision. A similar suit in 2003 failed when a Paris court ruled it could not establish that the SNCF was responsible for transporting Jews.

Hollywood, Fl - Judge Allows Synagogue To Continue Lawsuit

A federal judge gave leaders of a Hollywood synagogue the green light to continue their legal showdown against city officials who want the orthodox Jewish group out of a residential neighborhood.

U.S. District Court Judge Joan Lenard rejected the city's motion to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit filed by the Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad Lubavitch. The group claims city officials violated their constitutional rights to exercise religion and their right to assemble when they denied the zoning variance based on religious denomination.

The battle between the Chabad and the city first came to light in late 2000 after the Jewish group, which owned two houses on North 46th Avenue near Sheridan Street, set on converting one of the homes into a synagogue for twice-daily services. The U.S. Department of Justice has since joined the Chabad in the lawsuit against the city. The judge last week dismissed a fraction of the group's complaints, but the core of the lawsuit remains intact.

City officials on Tuesday said the judge's ruling would not deter their fight against the lawsuit. "These complaints are based on allegations, and when it comes time to prove then, we're confident that we're going to win," City Attorney Dan Abbott said.

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary Of State Names Anti-Semitism Adviser

Washington, DC - The U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, is due to announce the appointment of Gregg Rickman as her senior adviser on anti-Semitism, JTA has learned.

The position stems from 2004 legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) that expanded State Department monitoring of anti-Semitism.

Rickman, for years a top Republican congressional aide, wrote a book about his years in the 1990s directing the Senate Banking Committee’s investigation of the role the Swiss Banks played in the Holocaust. His job will be to make sure bilateral relations with other nations and international organizations address any concerns about anti-Semitism.

Milan, Italy - Forty Graves Damaged In Jewish Cemetery

Milan, Italy - Vandals have damaged 40 graves in the Jewish cemetery, breaking and knocking down tombstones.

A local guard at the Musocco cemetery, on the north-west outskirts of the city, alerted police after discovering the damage.
Policemen searched the cemetery looking for signs or written words which might identify the authors of the act or explain its motivation. They said no anti-Semite symbols nor any sign of desecration were found. "This is obiouvsly not a nice episode," said Yasha Reibman, a spokesman for Milan's Jewish community. "But we need to know more about it before passing judgment."

Milan, with a population of about 1.2 million, has one of the largest Jewish communities in Italy, totaling some 7,000 people.

Manhattan, NY +Major Delays on F.D.R. Drive+

Manhattan, NY +Major Delays on F.D.R. Drive+ An unauthorized tractor trailer is wedged under the Gracie Mansion overpass on the south bound of the F.D.R. Drive and 86th Street, NYPD Highway Units working on deflating the tires to back the T/T off the roadway, all lanes are subject to closure, avoid the area.

Newark, NJ - Birds Cause Flap On Jet

Newark, NJ - Two birds on board a JetBlue airliner from San Juan to Newark Liberty International Airport, caused quite a flap.

The two small African parrots were sneaked onto the early morning flight by a passenger who hid them in a 6-inch by 6-inch cardboard box, which he then shoved inside a carry-on bag and sneaked through security, said a JetBlue spokesman. "It appears we became aware of them in-flight when one of the birds got loose," he said. The bird flitted around the cabin before being caught and put back in the box.

The flight was met by officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security. Jim Rogers, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department, said the birds belonged to the traveler, whose name was not released. He had partially filled out the required form to transport the birds within the United States, but had not completed it, Rogers said.

The traveler did not appear to have violated any law, Rogers said.

Williamsburg, NY +Child Lost In Transit+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Child Lost In Transit+ A special child got lost in transit on the platform of the elevated tracks at Broadway and Harrison Avenue, Williamsburg Shomrim Patrol searching the area, PD on the scene.

U/D: 20:07
NYPD have child in their custody.

U/D: 20:23
Williamsburg Shomrim Potrol have reunited child with parents.

NYC Near Top Of Road Rage List

AutoVantage, an automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance, listed Miami, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston among the top five cities for rude driving. Drivers speed, tailgate and cut off other drivers so frequently in this city's that they earned the title of the worst in road rage in the nation.

Meron, Israel - More Than 500,000 People Attended The Festivities

Meron, Israel - Authority's are estimating that more than 500,000 Jews made their way to Meron this Lag B'Omer. The figure is similar to the numbers of people who attended the Lag B'Omer events in Meron last year. Meron is the northern Israeli town where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, first redactor of the mystical teachings of Judaism, is buried.

Without going into specifics, the authority's had some words of criticism for the police: "There is a dynamic of collaboration and there should be a clear division, that some people are better able to understand the needs of the Hareidi-religious population and [the police] should handle their own matters. It did not effect the general public and I hope that next year it will improve."

Rome - Italy Apologizes For Holocaust Cartoon

Rome - Jewish pressures had led the Italian Lower Chamber Speaker Fausto Bertinotti, leader of the Communist party, to apologize for the publication of a cartoon perceived as anti-Semitic printed in the communist newspaper Liberazione.

The official apology noted, “In these hard times, satyr which can harm the Jewish community should be avoided.”

The caricature depicted the separation fence with a gate bearing the sign "Hunger Liberates," similar to the welcome sign at the entrance to the Auschwitz extermination camp, which read "Work Liberates." Yasha Reibman, spokesman of Milan's Jewish community called the cartoon publication a very severe act and demanded that the newspaper editor be dismissed immediately in a bid to prove that the stances presented by the journal do not represent the stances of the party it represents.

Quebec, Canada - Gurer Rabbi And Rabbi Shteineman Cancel Visit

Quebec, Canada - A planned visit to Quebec by the Rebbe of Gur and Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteineman, from Israel, has been cancelled for now.

The reason for the sudden cancellation is reportedly the plans by members of the Satmar Chassidic sect in Montreal to hold public demonstrations against the visiting rabbis. Satmar Chassidim in Montreal have obtained a police permit for a protest scheduled for the day of the two Israeli rabbis' planned arrival in town.

U/D: 05/17/06
After all of the fiasco that was caused by a few from Neturei Karta, R' Shteinman Shlita will go to Montreal.

New York - Allstate Insurance Cancels Policies as Major Hurricane Predicted

New York - A weather forecasting group predicts a busier than normal hurricane season, May 15 through November 30, with a major storm hitting the Northeast. “There are indications that the Northeast will experience a hurricane larger and more powerful than anything that region has seen in a long time,” a senior meteorologist and director of forecast operations of AccuWeather.com said.
In the meantime, the Allstate Insurance Company has decided to cancel, or not renew, insurance policies for 28,000 --roughly 3.11 percent--of their 900,000 New York customers. MET, has declined taking new business in the eight so-called hurricane counties, which encompass the five boroughs, plus Nassau, Westchester and Suffolk.

“It’s not right-and it’s not fair-and it’s time New York gets tough on regulating these out of control insurers,” argues N.Y. State Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), in a press release.

Brooklyn Borough Pres. Marty Markowitz has been attempting to get a response from Allstate concerning dropping of low-income and ethnic homeowners, but they haven't responded, according to his spokesman, Brian Vines. “Brooklyn consumers are running scared,” Mr. Vines admitted, adding, “This is out of control.”

An Allstate spokeswoman said that it wasn’t an easy decision. “But we believe this is the right decision,” she said.

Woodstock, NY +Armed Robbery By Man Dressed As Woman+

Ulster County, Woodstock, NY +Armed Robbery By Man Dressed As Woman+ Police are looking for a male who just robbed the Catskill County Convenience Store on Route 28 and West Hurley Road, the perp a male Hispanic about six feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, was dressed as a woman and a blond wig, fled the scene in a blue Pontiac Grand AM heading west.

Washington, DC - President Bush Denying Eavesdropping

Washington, DC - President Bush has vehemently denied that the U.S. government eavesdrops on the telephone conversations of ordinary Americans.

Albany, NY - Top Jewish Liaison To Governor Pataki Leaving Post

Albany, NY - One of Governor Pataki's top aide Jewish liaison, Michael Fragin announced this week for his colleagues that Wednesday will be his last day working in the Governor's office, as he is taking a job as the Vice President of Strategic Planning at the Battery Park Authority. Mr. Fragin confirmed the move and emphasized that he is "still part of the Pataki orbit." He also said that the move has nothing to do with the demonstrations in Borough Park or Jonathan Greenspun's moving on as liaison to the Jewish community for the Bloomberg administration.

NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, In Campaign To Save Israel From Olmert's Hamas Plan

Israel - With Prime Minister Ehud Olmert preparing for his visit next week to U.S. President George Bush, from whom he will ask for both monetary and political support for his unilateral withdrawal plan, activists in both the U.S. and Israel are preparing a massive campaign to present the plan's dangers to U.S. officials. They are calling upon the public to help.

NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, currently in Israel for a three-day visit, announced that he has launched a national campaign to thwart American aid for the withdrawal. "U.S. taxpayer dollars should not underwrite a reward for terror," Hikind says. "I will be working with members of Congress, colleagues in government, and Evangelical leaders to prevent the realization of a $10 billion incentive for terrorists."

Lakewood, NJ - Cops Continue Hunt For Abduction Suspect

Lakewood, NJ - Investigators continue to hunt the man suspected of abducting the 20-year-old township woman from her gym's parking lot May 7. He then assaulted her and returned her to the same lot about eight hours later. The FBI has been called into the investigation, but police have released no new information since unveiling a sketch of the suspect and a description of his vehicle. Police and community leaders also continue to promote a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. The reward was sponsored by a group of local leaders, not the township or the Police Department, officials emphasized.

The suspect's vehicle is described as a dark olive green Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. The model year is from 1994 to 1997. The SUV has gold rims, rear tinted windows and no running boards. The license plates are believed to be from New York or New Jersey. The assailant is a white man in his early 20s to early 30s, between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin or medium build and closely cropped brown hair, authorities say.

Brooklyn, NY - Downtown Kosher Deli Closing

Pastrami Box, a downtown Brooklyn fixture for almost 10 years, will dole out its last round of lunchtime sandwiches today, and will soon give way to a new Chinese food restaurant, the victim of rising rents and dwindling customers.

The Board of Education left this area and the business keeps on going down a lot, said owner Mikel Domgjoni, 42. All the court lawyers come in just for 30 minutes a day, and after that nobody comes in, "The street changed. Livingston is dead now."

The owner couldn't afford to pay many employees at the deli on Livingston St. - so he cooked, washed dishes and manned the cash register himself. But the $5,800 rent proved to be too much, along with taxes and electric bills, which brought the monthly upkeep to $28,000, he said, adding: "I can't pay that with hot dogs and knishes."

on Friday afternoon, the deli's solitary customer was dismayed to hear the bad news. "It's the only kosher deli in the area," said attorney Bob Ugelow, 60, who was enjoying a sandwich on his lunch break. "It's a shame."

U/D:
From now on, if you are paying a ticket in downtown Brooklyn or for any other reason and you're looking for a kosher deli near the courthouse. Enter Baruch Yehuda Ganz, who took the venerable New York push cart and made it Kosher. Try the falafel balls or a knish. He just east of Court St, open from noon to 3:30pm on weekday Kwik Kosher

Lakewood, NJ - In The Aftermath Of Last Week's Abduction, Police Have Issued Safety Tips

Lakewood, NJ - Mayor Meir Lichtenstein said that no new information was available. However, police asked residents to remember basic safety advice, including.

Park in well-lit, visible areas.

If you walk or jog for fitness, do so with a friend or a dog. Attackers are less likely to go after more than one person.

Always be aware of your surroundings when using a cell phone, and if you have to walk alone, carry your keys splayed between your fingers. That way, the key chain can be used as a weapon if necessary.

A two-hour course class meant to empower women, was set up at Lakewood High School. The class will cost $10 and includes two female instructors to make women feel comfortable. The two-hour course starts at 8 p.m. Anyone interested can register at(732) 905-3685.

West Nyack, NY - ShopRite on Route 59 Sinking

West Nyack, NY - A ShopRite store on Route 59, west of Route 303, that has been sinking since it opened three years ago wants to tear down part of the store and rebuild it on more solid ground.
The owners want Clarkstown's permission to remove the sinking portion of the store, then add a new section closer to the highway, on top of ground that apparently is more stable.

The town issued a certificate of occupancy for the 61,000 square feet store in July 2003, and it has been sinking ever since.
Beary said the public was safe because his department made Inserra conduct regular checks.

A few years ago, the shopping mall across the street from ShopRite was the focus of conversation as shoppers worried it, too, was sinking.
Cracks started showing up at the Palisades Center in 1999, and the structure appeared to be sinking because its parking lot pavement pulled away from the mall's pillars.
It turned out the mall was not sinking. Unlike the ShopRite store, the mall's structures were built on pilings that had been driven down to bedrock.
The parking lots, however, were built on about 60 feet of uncompacted peat moss, Beary said, and they settled significantly.

Chifa, Israel - Police Stop Youths From Setting Fire To A Mosque On Lag Ba'Omer

A group of youths tried to set fire to a mosque, in the city of Chifa, on Lag Ba'Omer.

The group of men and women smashed the main door of the mosque on Borla Street, with logs and set it on fire, they spray painted graffiti on the walls reading "Death to Arabs" on adjacent buildings, and there were also signs of attempts to throw flaming logs through the mosque's one window that has not been sealed.
Residents rushed to the burning mosque in attempt to extinguish the fire, then called the fire brigades. The intervention of police and city officials kept the youths from torching the mosque, as Jews throughout Israel lit bonfires to mark the holiday of Lag Ba'Omer.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Bicyclist Struck+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Bicyclist Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on East 27th Street and Avenue "K" with a child on a bicycle that was struck by a vehicle and is unconcious, Hatzolah BLS units requesting Medics on a rush, NYPD officer of the 70th Pct was also struck by an auto while helping the child that got hit, MOS has minor injuries, Shomrim units are also on the scene helping out for crowd control.

Manhattan, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Manhattan, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck on 11th Avenue and West 39th Street, Hatzolah responding.

Monsey, NY +Bicyclist Struck+

Monsey, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on Main Street and Route 306 with a boy on a bicycle that was struck, Hatzolah transporting the boy to G.S. Hospital in stable condition.

Bnei Brak, Israel - Man Seriously Burned At Lag Ba'omer Bonfire

Bnei Brak, Israel - A 20-year-old Yeshiva Bochur was seriously burned and received 3rd degree burns to 70% of his body Monday after pouring gasoline on a bonfire in Bnei Brak during Lag Ba'omer festivities. The man, who attended a fire ceremony of Lag Ba'omer, was burned when his clothes caught on fire as he poured the flammable substance.

Paramedics evacuated the man to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, where he is in serious condition.

Some 150,000 on Monday attended the celebrations at Rabbi Akiva's tomb in Tverya, where a large feast is held traditionally.

Poughkeepsie, NY - Kosher Barbecue Celebration For Lag Ba'omer

Poughkeepsie, NY - Chabad of Mid Hudson Valley will hold its annual Lag Ba'omer Bonfire and Barbecue Celebration at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the grounds of the Chabad Lubavitch Center, 63 Vassar Road, Poughkeepsie.

The kosher barbecue will feature R.J. Lewis, who will juggle and perform fire feats. He has appeared at Atlantic City and at the White House.

There will also be an interactive archery demonstration for children and adults, fire juggling, a moonwalk ride and music. Lag Ba'omer observes the day Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the book of Kabbalah, ``Zohar,'' died. He asked that his death day be celebrated as a day of rejoicing.

Ramallah, West Bank - Palestinians Boost Security Around Abbas

Ramallah, West Bank - Palestinian officials said they have boosted security around President Mahmoud Abbas' office and home because of rising tensions with Hamas and other Islamic militant groups, traffic has been restricted near his office and snipers have been placed in buildings near his West Bank home, an official in Abbas' office said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The official said most traffic was barred from approaching Abbas' Ramallah office, with only a small number of senior aides allowed to drive into the area. The official also said snipers from the elite Force 17 presidential guard have taken up posts near Abbas' West Bank residence.

Beware Of Those Lag Ba'omer Bonfires

The Fire Departments and hospital emergency rooms are on alert for Lag Ba'omer, the holiday that is marked by bonfires around the world and an event to be attended by hundreds of thousands at Rabbe Shiman Bar-Yochoi's burial site on Mount Meron, in Israel.

Emergency medical services are urging parents and teachers to take special care to prevent injuries. Accidental burns are twice as common during the week leading up to Lag Ba'omer as any other time during the year.

Only recently, a number of older teenagers in Israel pushed a younger boy into a bonfire as a "joke." His clothes were set afire and he suffered second-degree burns on his leg, causing him serious pain. Rushed to the hospital, the victim was found to suffer from an infection, requiring intravenous antibiotics and plastic surgery with skin transplants later.

Parents have to ensure that bonfires are not close to trees, electricity or phone lines and other flammable objects. Stones should be set around the bonfire to prevent the fire from spreading. A responsible older teenager or adult should be appointed to take charge of the bonfire and ensure safety. Do not throw any flammable material such as gas canisters or gasoline into the fire. Wear high-top shoes and long trousers to prevent bites from scorpions and snakes that are attracted by the heat of the fire. Ensure that the fire is fully extinguished with water after the bonfire is ended. Keep two pails of water ready in advance.

If someone is set afire, cover his body (but not his face) with a wet blanket or towel or roll him in earth or sand on the ground. Call emergency respons immediately. Do not remove burnt skin or apply creams. If a spark enters the eye, wash it thoroughly with a lot of cold water.

Washington, DC - U.S. To Remove Libya From Terrorist State List

Washington, DC - The Bush administration has decided to remove Libya from the list of nations the United States officially labels as terrorist states and plans to renew normal diplomatic relations, State Department and Libyan officials said.

Queens, NY - Are Some NYPD Cops Thieves?

Queens, NY - Police investigators have swarmed a Queens station house - where "one or more dirty cops" apparently swiped as many as five guns.
The weapons - turned in by a retired detective at the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst - mysteriously vanished not long after about $5,000 was stolen at the same station house. The weapons were in the property room, the most secure thing in a precinct, except for a cell. The property room is under lock and key . . . so it could only be a cop who got access to the key. A civilian has no access.

Retiring cops are required to temporarily surrender their guns to the NYPD until they receive permits, which can take up to several weeks. The weapons, up to four or five handguns, were owned by the retiring detective.

The money was taken six weeks ago from a clear, sealed plastic envelope that was sitting on a desk in the station house awaiting deposit at a bank after being vouchered by cops. If that remaining money had been deposited, it would have been difficult or impossible to later determine at what point the rest of the cash had been stolen, because so many people would have handled it. But they found it missing there in the precinct, and the amount taken is believed to have been up to $5,000.

After the thefts occurred, a guard was posted at the property room and a lot of new faces showed up in the precinct, according to the source, who added the new arrivals are suspected of being undercover Internal Affairs officers. The atmosphere is so tense, you don't even want to walk in that the station house to go to the bathroom if you don't have to.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne refused comment when asked about the thefts and the related investigation.

Weston, Fl - Slain U.S. Teen To Be Flown Home From Israel For Burial

Weston, Florida - Daniel Wultz, a 16-year-old American was critically wounded in a Tel Aviv suicide bombing three weeks ago on April 17, Daniel, was in Israel for the Passover vacation and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, he is to be flown home to Florida for burial on Monday.

Daniel, a top student from Weston, Florida who hoped to one day become a rabbi, was described by friends as a deeply spiritual teenager who was committed to his community. "Daniel is best that they come," said his rabbi, Yisroel Spalter, head of the Chabad synagogue in Weston. "He was the sweetest, most sincere, committed and determined young man. You can't get any better. He was loved by his family, friends and his community, and this loss is so great." "To talk about Daniel in the past tense is devastating," Spalter added.

Israel - A Looming Airport Strike On The Week Of Lag Bomer

Israel - The Israel Airports Authority workers committee is threatening to close down Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, to protest the employment terms of contract employees.

The Airport Authority workers committee has frequently threatened to call strikes in recent months, citing violations of labor and wage agreements. Among other things, the workers committee is protesting the Airports Authority’s intention to ban nepotism by its employees. Several months ago, the workers committee prevented the loading of agricultural cargoes, although it was unable to block passenger traffic. Threats of other strikes were cancelled at the last moment.

The Airports Authority management claims that the workers committee preferred to clarify the matter in the media, rather than contact the authorized agencies, including the Airports Authority. The Airports Authority management doubts the honesty of the workers committee’s concern for the contract employees.

U/D: 05/16/06 09:36
Airport workers’ labor representatives announced that if differences are not ironed out by week’s end, they will strike Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday, 19 May, between the hours of 10am-2pm.

Washington, DC - House Action on Military Chaplains Disappointing

Washington, DC - The American Jewish Committee said it is dismayed by the U.S. House of Representatives measure that would allow military chaplains to invoke the name of Yoshke in prayer at public meetings and ceremonies at which attendance may be mandatory for service members of all faiths. The provision, included in the defense authorization bill, appears intended to undermine the guidelines adopted earlier this year by the U.S. Air Force and Navy, the AJC said.

Richard T. Foltin, of AJC legislative director and counsel said. "We hope the Senate will strike the language and thereby demonstrate the sensitivity, respect and tolerance for all faiths that, regrettably, too many in the Congress still do not recognize is this country's proudest heritage."

New York, NY - Councilman Wants NYC to Become 51st State

New York, NY - Queens City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. says he's "deadly serious'' about making New York City the 51st state.

Vallone reintroduced legislation last week that calls for secession from the Empire State. He first proposed it in 2003. Making secession a reality would require the approval of voters, the Legislature, the governor, Congress and even the president.

Former mayor Ed Koch is calling the bill "a waste of time and money.'' He says the city doesn't have the right to secede. But Vallone says the split would be good for the city's economy. He blames Albany for what he calls the city's "bad financial condition'' -- and he cites the $3.5 billion in taxes the city pays to Albany but isn't returned in funding.

Dogs Trained To Sniff For counterfeit DVD's

Two black Labrador dogs have become the first in the world to be trained to sniff out counterfeit DVD's.

The dogs have already passed their first big test. They were put to work at courier company FedEx's UK hub at Stansted in the UK where they successfully discovered DVD's in parcels and packages.

Although none of the discs they discovered was a pirated copy, the organizations behind the trial expressed satisfaction with the results. "This is the first time dogs have been used anywhere in the world to search for counterfeit DVD's and the results were amazing," said Mr Ian Leinster, director general of the UK-based Federation Against Copyright Theft.

Monroe, NY - Hatzollah Ticketed

Monroe, NY - State police issued several tickets to Hatzollah EMT driver Shloima Schvimmer, whose rig collided with a car driven by off-duty New York City police officer Mayra Liciaga.

Police issued Schvimmer, 36, tickets for passing a red light, failure to use designated lane and operating a revolving red light in connection with a May 9 crash on Route 208.

Schvimmer was taking the grandmother of a child to Orange Regional Medical Center. The child was in another ambulance.

New Jersey May Ease Way For Low-Cost Homes In Coastal Zones

New Jersey wants to ease the way for affordable housing projects in some coastal centers by temporarily relaxing some environmental limits. But such projects would still have to meet wetlands and other environmental rules, said Ruth Ehinger, who heads the state Department of Environmental Protection's Coastal Management Program.

The DEP proposal to amend its rules is the newest twist in the controversy over coastal centers of development.
According to a DEP public notice, the agency is proposing to temporarily relax limits on the amount of "impervious cover" for "proposed developments consisting entirely of affordable housing in limited circumstances."
Requirements on the amount of vegetation covering a site also would be relaxed. A key goal of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan is to encourage development in centers and protect the environs.

"This is a very important rule," said Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, president of N.J. Housing and Neighborhood Development, a nonprofit seeking to build more than 400 affordable housing units in Lakewood. "There is a great need for affordable housing." "We're not affecting anybody, we're helping people," Lefkowitz said. "We help the community. It's a win-win situation. No one gets hurt here."
But Tim Dillingham, executive director of the American Littoral Society, a Sandy Hook-based coastal conservation group, said the DEP, instead of trying to ensure that affordable housing projects protect the environment, is "creating loopholes and exemptions that will encourage towns to site affordable housing projects in environmentally sensitive areas."

Baghdad, Iraq - +U.S. Helicopter Shot Down+

Baghdad, Iraq - +U.S. Helicopter Shot Down+ The U.S. military says insurgents have shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting south of Baghdad, killing two soldiers.

Brooklyn, NY +MVA+

Brooklyn, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident on Shore Parkway and Nostrand Avenue, Hatzolah responding with multiple units.

Brooklyn, NY +Armed Robbery+

Brooklyn, NY +Armed Robbery+ NYPD of the 79th Pct are calling for a level one mobilization due to an armed robbery at gun point by 2 white males, one of them has a full beard and wears a black skull cap and the 2nd perp has a darker complexion and is armed with a 9MM handgun, they just committed a robbery at 1022 Bedford Avenue and fled the location.

New York, NY - Test Faker Helping Yeshiva Students

New York, NY - A Stuyvesant HS graduate who attends a top-tier New England university confesses he's taken dozens of tests for rich New York "slackers" - including SAT's, Regents and community-college credit exams - for up to $800 a pop.

The serial test-taker, says he's been an academic gun-for-hire for nearly four years - taking five SAT and nine SAT II subject exams, one Regents test and "countless" community college credit exams.

He said he relies on word of mouth - fueled initially by reports of his own SAT score, 1470 out of a possible 1600. "My friend knew I did well on my SATs and knew these kids who were looking to hire so he passed my name along, and they approached me and we negotiated a flat fee of about $500," he said of his first fraud, in 2003, when he was still at Stuyvesant. "They were determined and were going to find someone to do it one way or another," he said of his clients.

So were a set of unscrupulous parents, who coughed up $800 so their Brooklyn yeshiva student son would score a 1200 and get into Baruch College.
"The tests are easy," he said. I realized that this was something I could do for the idiotic private school kids who were too lazy and afraid to open a book."
He describes most of his clients as lazy, upper-middle-class kids with professional parents who have coasted through high school and now need good SAT scores to get into decent colleges.
"Most people who are on the hunt for test-takers spend more time figuring out how to cheat than they would if they just" studied for the test, he said.

Beware! Missionary’s In Your Mail!

Missionary’s seems to have launched a campaign via mail, numerous household throughout New York area, to all who have Jewish sounding names received a DVD over Shabbos entitled “Yemot Hamashiach – Days Of Moshiach”, this DVD is a movie glorifying ‘their Moshiach’ (Yoshke) using the name "Yehoshua," and should be gotten rid of. Do not allow your children to watch this DVD, and be on the alert of all mail coming in to your household.

Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck on Ocean Parkway and Avenue"P", Hatzolah responding.

West Long Branch, NJ - Dwek's Woes Could Have Wide Impact

West Long Branch, NJ - When he was buying real estate at the Shore "with a passionate fervor," Solomon Dwek would drive around Ocean Township in his black Lexus making deals on his mobile phone. "He was constantly buying properties," said Christopher P. Siciliano, an Ocean Township councilman and township Realtor. "(Real estate) agents were literally running to Solomon."

But in the past three weeks, the buying has ceased, the fervor has died, the agents have stopped calling and the black Lexus carrying a wheeling-and-dealing Dwek is nowhere in sight.
In its place are irate investors, embarrassed community members, angry home builders and a criminal complaint by PNC Bank of attempting to defraud it of $50 million.
And there is also fear that the potential financial collapse of Dwek's multimillion-dollar real estate empire will create wide economic tremors that spread from individual homeowners to multinational banks. "There is absolutely no reason to panic," Superior Court Judge Alexander D. Lehrer assured a room packed with lawyers representing anxious investors Friday. "Hopefully, everybody will be paid."
But how long it will take to unravel Dwek's extensive network of deals, and where the investigation of his empire will lead remains unknown.

Allies May Have Known of Holocaust Plans

American and British WWII military intelligence authorities may have been aware of Hitler's "Final Solution" plan for the "eradication" of the Jews of Europe as early as 1942, according to documents just declassified under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act of 1998.

According to a July 2, 2001 National Archives press release, by March 20, 1942, a surreptitiously obtained document appears in the files of the United States Coordinator of Information (COI), a predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, clearly discussing the Nazi intent to eradicate European Jewry.

The document sheds new light on the longstanding question of how much the Western powers knew of the Holocaust. According to Elizabeth Holtzman an IWG member, "This recently declassified document helps pinpoint how much officials within our government knew about the Holocaust and when they knew it. The next question is why our government--not to mention the British--did nothing in response. It is unbearable to think that plans to 'eradicate' a Jewish population were a matter of such indifference."

Tiburon, CA - Synagogue Urged To Trim Plans

Tiburon, CA - The Planning Commission has offered to come up with a less divisive alternative for Congregation Kol Shofar's controversial expansion plan.
The commission appointed a subcommittee to review the synagogue's plan - the seventh in two years - after hearing speakers who were evenly split at a public hearing attended by about 150 residents at the Tiburon Lodge. "We think there are a very large number of unresolved issues, and we're awaiting with some interest the results of this ad hoc committee," said Kol Shofar board member Ron Brown, after the meeting. "We want a project that does not significantly impact the neighborhood. If working along with the committee can help make it an even better project, we'll see what they come up with."

Since the synagogue's 2004 application to update and expand its aging facility, the project has been re-worked based on recommendations by town staff, environmental consultants and Kol Shofar.

The expansion project on the 6.94-acre site includes a new 9,733-square-foot multipurpose room consisting of a meeting space, lobby, kitchen, restrooms and storage space and 3,662 square feet of new classrooms and service rooms - a 30 percent increase in facility size.

Town officials noted the most recent plan Kol Shofar provided would create less noise, parking and traffic than earlier plans by reducing the number of events at night and limiting the number of people at such events. The proposal would allow an additional 27 annual events in the new multipurpose room with a maximum 250 people until 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday.

Manhattan, NY +Burglar Stuck In Chimney Rescue+

Manhattan, NY +Burglar Stuck In Chimney Rescue+ NYPD ESU Division was called to the scene of 404 West 40th Street and Dyer Avenue early this morning after residents heard cries and yelling in Spanish all night (nearly eight hours) in the walls.
Police arrived and determined that a perp male is locked and stuck in the chimney after trying to make an aerial access into the building from the rooftop. Emergency Service Units police were able to extricate person and he was quickly arrested. FD and EMS were also on the scene, perp was evaluated by EMS.

U/D: 05/1506
The suspect, was held on $10,000 bail after he appeared in court, his face smeared with what appeared to be soot. Serafin Gomez Sanchez, 24, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of second-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Judge Tanya Kennedy set the bail and scheduled his next court appearance for Friday.

Stockholm, Sweden - Rabbi And Hamas Minister Meet

Stockholm, Sweden - Palestinian cabinet minister Atef Adwan and a Austrian rabbi pledged to work to build ties between Hamas and anti-Zionist Jews.

Adwan, Hamas's refugee minister, and Orthodox rabbi Moishe Arye Friedman said their meeting in the Swedish capital heralded a "joint coalition" between their groups. Adwan also said the two hoped their meeting would lead to plans for humanitarian aid to flow from Friedman's congregation in Vienna to the West Bank.

Friedman flew to Stockholm from Vienna on Thursday to meet with Adwan, who was attending a conference on Palestinian refugees and meeting Swedish lawmakers during his weeklong visit to Sweden.

New York - Eliot Spitzer Pushes I-86 Highway, For Economic Benefits

New York - Gubernatorial candidate and state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer says that completion of Interstate 86 across the Southern Tier tops his list of infrastructure improvements needed to expand the state's economic activity. "Already, in the counties where Route 17 has been designated with interstate status, new distribution centers and manufacturing facilities are being built," Spitzer said. "The state must maintain its commitment to fully funding and finishing I-86 as soon as possible."

The I-86 project involves the conversion of about 380 miles of state Route 17 from the Pennsylvania border in western New York to the Thruway in Orange County into an interstate highway. Spitzer said New York's congressional delegation has to work together to secure the funding necessary to complete these projects.
"One of the greatest assets New York has that is underutilized is the potential power of our congressional delegation," he said. "We have not organized them and structured that delegation to focus on New York specific proposals. Take I-86: We go (to Washington, D.C.) with a mission to ensure we get the funding for I-86.

Tel Aviv, Israel - American Teenager Dies Of Wounds Suffered In Tel Aviv Suicide Bombing

Tel Aviv, Israel - Israeli medical officials from Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv say, that Daniel Wultz, the 16-year-old American tourist who was critically wounded in an April 17 suicide bombing at a fast-food restaurant in Tel Aviv, has died.

The passing of Wultz brings the death toll in the attack to 11, on Saturday a 26-year-old Israeli man died of wounds suffered in that suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

West Long Branch, NJ - Dwek Gave $120G To Politicians From '98 To '05

West Long Branch, NJ - Investment property was not the only thing on which Solomon Dwek liked to spend money. The real estate tycoon, arrested on charges that he tried to defraud PNC Bank of $50 million, also gave tens of thousands of dollars to local, county, state and federal political candidates, records show.

Dwek, 33, contributed more than $120,000 to Democrats and Republicans from 1998 to 2005, according to records at the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Under the names Solomon and his nickname "Shlomo" Dwek both using the same addresses Dwek contributed more than $25,000 to federal candidates. Among the Shore-area politicians to whom Dwek contributed were Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J., Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider and former West Long Branch Mayor Paul Zambrano, who has his own legal troubles. Zambrano was charged last year by the FBI with extorting $15,000 from a contractor.

Hudson Valley, NY - Feds Asking Public Help Fighting Corruption

New York - The US Attorney and the FBI announced a stepped up effort to investigate and prosecute public corruption in six counties of the Hudson Valley region and it includes a public tips line for anyone who may have information pointing in that direction.

FBI Agent James Margolin said they are not targeting any specific case, but rather, seeking to determine if the public knows of anything crooked going on in the counties of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, Orange and Sullivan.
“The announcement is really to solicit information from the public on matters involving public corruption of which they may be aware, about matters of crimes over which we have investigative jurisdiction,” he said.
As part of the effort, the feds announced the creation of a corruption hotline through which members of the public can call and report potential abuses of the public trust by public officials.
The six counties contain some 170 cities, towns and villages.

Brooklyn, NY - Mssive Task Force To Investigate 10 Alarm Greenpoint Blaze

Brooklyn, NY - Officials have formed a joint task force to investigate the massive fire that destroyed a warehouse complex in Greenpoint Brooklyn nearly two weeks ago.

The group includes members of the New York City police and fire departments, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and marshals from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

As part of their investigation fire marshals turned to a special investigator, a 5-year-old golden retriever named Bucca, trained to detect accelerants and sit when he smells them, sniffing through the bricks and wood for a whiff of residue that is left by ignitable liquids.
The dog, who is named for Ronald Bucca, a fire marshal who died on Sept. 11, 2001, lives in Albany, and travels around the state helping with fire investigations, said Larry Sombke, a spokesman for the State Office of Fire Prevention. After a week of occasionally frenzied activity around the destroyed buildings, the work seemed to slow down. In a white van marked K-9 Unit, Bucca and his handlers drove away.

Fire officials said that investigators were also pursuing a few leads gleaned from surveillance videotapes shot near the scene of the fire on May 2.

Construction crews working for the owner, Mr. Guttman, quickly erected a fence around most of the site, the city's Department of Environmental Protection ordered Mr. Guttman to secure the site at all times.