The Ulster County EMS Council awarded Catskills Hatzalah a citation for successfully saving a child’s life in Ulster County this past summer. Also awarded was Joel Gold, the law enforcement liaison for Catskills Hatzalah, who was honored with an award in recognition of building interagency partnerships and ensuring smooth coordination between Hatzalah, law enforcement, and other emergency services. These awards reflect the continued strong working relationships Catskills Hatzalah maintains across the region to ensure it is ready and prepared to help the community in any emergency.   (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Catskills Hatzalah held a Hanochas Even Hapinah on Sunday at the site of its upcoming garage facility, located at the intersection of Anawana Lake Road and Fraser Road in Kiamesha. The new facility will feature three garage bays to accommodate several ambulances, a fully equipped paramedic stock room, and two lodging areas for on-call paramedics—significantly enhancing Hatzalah’s emergency response capabilities across the Catskills region. In attendance were a small group of Catskills Hatzalah coordinators, the Viznitzer Rebbe of Kiamesha, and members of the donor’s family. The event marked a meaningful step forward in Hatzalah’s continued mission to provide lifesaving care to the community. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hagaon HaRav Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, the Rosh Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, spent his day on Sunday in the Five Towns, to benefit many families who need assistance with the “Tzarchei HaChag”. The Rosh Yeshiva met with many local Rabbonim, as well as held an event at the home of Reb Dovid Bloom in Far Rockaway, where he delivered Divrei Bracha. VIDEO & PHOTOS FOR YWN BY HOLY SHOTS (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hundreds of industry professionals and business leaders attended the highly anticipated 2025 OJBA Business-to-Business (B2B) Construction Expo on Wednesday afternoon at the SUNY Sullivan Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in Loch Sheldrake. The event brought together a diverse array of exhibitors and attendees, fostering networking opportunities and business growth within the construction sector. Among those in attendance were Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff, other local law enforcement officials, and elected representatives. Meilech Weber, the event organizer and a key member of JCC Sullivan County, played a pivotal role in coordinating the expo, ensuring a successful gathering of professionals and businesses from across the region.   (YWN World Headquarters -NYC)

Chaverim of Brooklyn and the Catskills has officially expanded into Manhattan, bringing a dedicated team to the borough for the first time. Until now, Chaverim responded to calls in Manhattan by dispatching volunteers from Boro Park, Williamsburg, or Flatbush—which often resulted in longer wait times. With this expansion, Manhattan will now have its own dedicated team, allowing for faster response times and improved service for those in need. This new division will operate across the East Side and Washington Heights, ensuring that anyone requiring assistance—whether it’s a lockout, a flat tire, or another emergency—will receive help more quickly than ever before. Chaverim continues to serve Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Catskills with its 24/7 hotline at 718-431-8181.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a Statement of Interest in support of Orthodox Jewish developers who claim the Town of Forestburgh, New York, engaged in a blatant, anti-Semitic campaign to block a large residential development project. The case, filed in the Southern District of New York, centers around the actions of Forestburgh’s municipal leaders, who allegedly used zoning laws as a tool to prevent the construction of 2,627 homes by Lost Lake Holdings, LLC—homes that the developers contend were meant to be sold to Chasidic families. The DOJ’s filing argues that Forestburgh’s conduct goes beyond land use issues and represents religious discrimination. The statement outlines a series of actions by town officials that appear to deliberately hinder the project.

The 17-year-old bochur involved in the tragic accident on Route 17 in Chester, which claimed the life of his father, R’ Mordachai Zafir Z”L, has been discharged from the hospital. The crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on March 5th near Exit 126, when a Nissan Altima, driven by Sydnie M. Haines, 25, was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2014 Honda Odyssey driven by Zafir. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The 17-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries and was initially transported to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown before being transferred to Westchester Medical Center, where he remained in serious but stable condition. ​ After receiving medical care, the bochur has been discharged from the hospital.

An overnight search for two missing children in the dense woods of Sullivan County ended in relief early Monday morning when Catskills Hatzolah members located the pair near Weissman Road and Stump Pond Road in Livingston Manor. The search began Sunday evening when two local children, ages 12 and 15, failed to return home after venturing into the heavily wooded area surrounding Livingston Manor. As night fell and temperatures dropped, concerns mounted, prompting Sullivan County Emergency Personnel to activate a full-scale search and rescue mission. More than 10 fire departments, Forest Rangers, and New York State Police mobilized, combing the rugged terrain under the cover of darkness.

A devastating accident on Route 17 has left the Vishnitzer community in mourning after a horrific collision claimed the life of a beloved Yungerman, returning from a Vishnitzer Rebbeisha chasunah in Monsey. Sources tell YWN that R’ Mordachai Zafir Z”L, 54, and his 17-year-old son were traveling back to the Vishnitz (Gibbers) community in Kiamesha after attending the chasunah of the granddaughter of the Viznitzer Rebbe of Monsey and the grandson of the Viznitzer Rebbe of Kiamesha when tragedy struck. At approximately 1:45 AM, near exits 126/127, a wrong-way driver collided head-on with their vehicle in a fatal crash. R’ Mordachai Z”L was tragically niftar at the scene.

After nearly a week of extensive search efforts, Stewart “Stewie” Mandel, a former president of the Swan Lake Shul, has tragically been found deceased. Mr. Mandel, who was 69 years old, had been missing since last Tuesday, last seen in Presidential Estates in Swan Lake, NY. Law enforcement and volunteers had been actively searching for Mr. Mandel throughout the Catskills region, but efforts yielded no leads. On Sunday morning, a Catskills Hatzolah volunteer spotted his vehicle off-road in the Harris area. Upon further inspection, authorities found Mandel inside the vehicle, but tragically, he was no longer alive. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation, and officials have not yet released further details on the apparent accident.