June 30, 2020 Dear Residents and Summer Visitors, As the summer of 2020 unfurls in Sullivan County, it’s critically important that we keep it from unraveling at the same time. Over the past week, I’ve noticed – as have my neighbors and friends – a disturbing pattern of both visitors and residents no longer wearing masks or even social distancing when out in our communities. I live in Fallsburg, a welcome hotspot for summer tourism, but now I fear it and other areas of our County will become hotspots of COVID-19.

A child was pulled from a pond in the Catskills on Sunday morning. Catskills Hatzolah was on the scene at 9:40AM at Maywood Bungalow Colony on Blanchard Road, where a two-year-old child had been pulled from a small pond. A chopper was requested to airlift the child to a hospital, but due to bad weather in the area, it was unable to fly. The child was transported to Harris Hospital in stable condition, and is expected to be transferred to Westchester Hospital for further observation. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Over the past 17 years, thousands of travelers have made use of the Tefilas Mordche Mincha Area on the New York State Thruway, stopping on their way upstate for evening prayer services. Named in memory of my esteemed father, Rabbi Mordechai Friedman, who dedicated his life to community service and to the Mincha Area in particular, the Sloatsburg rest stop has provided motorists with a safe location for prayer as they headed to the Catskills on Thursday nights. Having worked closely with the New York State Thruway Authority, the New York State Police and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office, we are once again able to open the Mincha Area at the rest stop’s upper deck on June 25th, albeit with certain pandemic-related restrictions in place.

In this exclusive interview, Rav Yeruchim Silber, New York State Director of Government Affairs for Agudth Israel of America, discusses the lawsuit brought by frum camps against Governor Cuomo. In this interview Rabbi Silber discusses: Whether Jewish camps are protected by religious freedom Why there was no public campaign to pressure Cuomo Why the lawsuit was not filed earlier The difference between day camps and sleepaway (or lack thereof) And much more Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Podbean.

A Federal Judge in NY has just scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday regarding summer camps. As YWN has been reporting, following New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s crushing decision to disallow overnight camps this summer, the Agudath Israel of America-led Association of Jewish Camp Operators (AJCO) and several parents filed suit in federal court to overturn that decision. Two days later, the AJCO requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to ask the court to immediately open overnight camps in New York State. On Wednesday morning, a court hearing was scheduled for next Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO READ THE DECLARATION BY RABBI MEIR FRISCHMAN, FOUNDER OF AJCO CLICK HERE TO READ THE MEMO OF LAW (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The New York State Police today announced that Troopers issued 24,980 total traffic tickets during the special “Speed Week” traffic enforcement campaign. “Speed Week,” which was conducted from Thursday, June 11, 2020, to Wednesday, June 17, 2020, targeted speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors, including distracted driving and violations of the Move Over Law. Troopers issued 13,131 tickets for speeding, 574 for distracted driving, 294 for Move Over law violations, and arrested 186 people for drunk and impaired driving. State Police also responded to 158 personal injury crashes, including three fatal crashes. During the June 2019 Speed Week detail, State Police issued 25,097 total tickets, including 13,055 for speeding.

A person is in critical condition after they werer struck by vehicle in South Fallsburg. It happened just after 9:30PM on Route 42 near the Mobile Gas Station. The victim is reportedly in traumatic arrest and being treated by Catskills Hatzolah and MobilMedics. A chopper has been launched and landing at the Fallsburg High School.
The post BREAKING: Pedestrian Struck In South Fallsburg With Critical Injuries appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

Today, the Association of Jewish Camp Operators (AJCO), took the extraordinary move of requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to ask the court to immediately open overnight camps in New York State. AJCO, an umbrella organization formed by Agudath Israel years ago to represent the interests of Orthodox Jewish camps, made its request in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York following the filing of a legal complaint this past Thursday against Governor Cuomo. Today’s detailed legal submission includes declarations by a leading infectious disease specialist, Dr.

After months of quarantine, lockdown, and isolation, children with serious illnesses will have an exciting summer to look forward to thanks to Chai Lifeline’s new Camp Simcha Without Borders initiative. Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, Chai Lifeline’s flagship summer programs for children with cancer, blood disorders, and all forms of chronic illness, will bring the magic of Simcha to communities across the country. “Over these past few months, our kids have had their worlds turned upside down as they have adjusted to life during COVID-19 while simultaneously confronting their own medical issues,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline.

One person was reportedly killed in a serious crash on Route 17, Friday afternoon. It happened at around 12:30PM on Route 17 Westbound between Exit 116 an Exit 117, when a vehicle overturned and erupted into flames. Emergency personally from multiple agencies including Catskill Hatzolah were on the scene. A chopper landed on the highway to airlift at least one person from the wreck. Tragically, sources confirm to YWN that one victim has been pronounced dead. It was unknown how many other victims were being treated for injuries. As of 1:40PM, the eastbound direction was reopened. Westbound will be shut for some time – expect heavy delays in the area, and alternate routes should be utilized. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the NY State Police.