The Homowack Lodge Resort, a relic of the famed Borscht Belt era, has fallen victim to yet another devastating fire. The once-popular destination, which had managed to hold out as one of the last remaining icons of its time, now sits in ruins as flames consumed the property for the second time in less than a week. The most recent fire erupted on Tuesday night, unleashing a fierce blaze that continued to smolder well into the morning hours of Wednesday. Firefighters from surrounding counties were summoned to the scene, with over 150 responders battling the inferno that raged through the abandoned structures.

For the past number of years, I had been unable to spend my summers in the Catskills, with work constraints forcing me to remain in the city. This year, for the first time in probably 25 years, I’m back in the Catskills, enjoying the relatively breezy weather. I’m happily stunned by the amenities that now exist in the once-backwards Catskills, but one thing seriously bothers me. I haven’t done a scientific review of it, but it seems to me that many grocery store do not have prices listed! I’m not a multi-millionaire, and even if I were, I imagine I’d be careful about my spending. And when I or my wife have to go grocery shopping, we like checking the prices to inform us whether to purchase an item, and to ensure we know what the bill will be at the register.

In a harrowing incident on Tuesday night, Catskills Hatzolah responded to Nachlei Emunah in Monticello, where an 11-year-old child suffered a severe allergic reaction. The situation quickly escalated when the child went into cardiac arrest, prompting the Hatzolah paramedics to spring into action. Undeterred by the gravity of the situation, the Hatzolah paramedics valiantly worked to resuscitate the child, successfully restoring a pulse. Realizing the critical nature of the child’s condition, they requested a chopper to airlift the young patient to a hospital. However, tragedy struck again when the child went into cardiac arrest once more. Urgency surged through the air as the paramedics made the swift decision to rush the child to Catskill Regional Medical Center.

The JCCC of Sullivan County held its annual Meet & Greet event on Sunday with the participation of many elected officials. The JCCC serves as a bridge between the Orthodox Jewish community and its leaders, and assists with voter registration efforts and general communal activism. Officials at the event included Rep. Marc Molinaro, NY Sen. Pete Oberacker, District Attorney Brian Conaty, County Clerk Russell Reeves, Sheriff Mike Schiff, Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, and numerous others from across the county. The event served to strengthen existing relationships between Jewish community activists and their elected officials, as well as to forge new ones that could mutually benefit the community and the officials. The event was MC’d by Abe Rosenberg.

There was widespread flooding across New York State, with Rockland and Orange Counties getting severely hit. As YWN reported on Sunday morning, a massive amount of rain was expected to fall across the area, with flash flooding warnings issued by the National Weather Service. As predicted by weather forecasters, the rain arrived, and fell in incredible force. As YWN reported earlier, the Palisades Interstate Parkway was totally flooded near Stony Point, forcing the closure of the roadway. Route 6 between Orange County, heading towards Rockland County was washed away. Insane video footage has emerged of the flooding in West Point, Stoney Point and other areas, showing dozens of vehicle totally submerged underwater.

Heavy storms are in the forecast later Sunday afternoon through the evening and overnight periods, as thousands of parents are heading to camps in the Catskills for “Visiting Day”. Heavy rain is likely from showers and storms that form, especially for New York City and points north and west. Some scattered activity is possible through midday, but the main area of rain/storms moves in this afternoon west of the city and will gradually work eastward through the rest of the day and into tonight. Rainfall rates may exceed 1 to 2 inches in the heaviest cells and, combined with storms moving very slowly, flash flooding will be the main threat. Streams, creeks, poor drainage and low-lying areas would be the most susceptible to any runoff from the heavy rain.

A terrible tragedy occurred in the Catskills on Friday night, with the sudden Petira of a  young boy in camp. Sources tell YWN that Shia Singer, 12-year-old, had finished the Shabbos Seudah at Camp Arugas Habosem in South Fallsburg, when he suddenly collapsed. Catskills Hatzolah did everything they could to save his life and rushed him to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite their life-saving efforts, he was R”L Niftar at the hospital. The family are Mispallelim at HaRav Binyonim Eisenberger’s Shul in Boro Park.

Several campers at Camp Sternberg were injured on Friday afternoon when lightning struck the camp’s grounds. Catskills Hatzolah responded to the scene and treated multiple campers, subsequently transporting them to the hospital for evaluation. B’chasdei hashem, none of the campers were seriously injured and all were discharged from the hospital and returned to Camp Sternberg several hours later. THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE CATSKILL SCOOP STATUS CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE CATSKILL SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF CATSKILL NEWS IN LIVE TIME (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Many of our readers may not be aware, but for the past year(s) Catskills Hatzalah has been assisting Sullivan County to cover their emergency calls at time when they do not have adequate coverage and they are unable to respond to their 911 calls for medical assistance. Over the last number of years, Mobile Medic Incorporated, a private ambulance company that was founded by and until recently owned by Albee Bockman, President of Mobile Medic Incorporated, has slowly but surely taken over the EMS services for many of the townships in Sullivan County.

Thanks to Catskills Hatzalah, the victim of a lightning strike is now alive and on his way to recovery. Sources tell YWN that the man, a Hispanic employee of a fencing company, was working at the site of a future summer camp in Mountaindale and was struck by lightning as an intense thunderstorm ripped through the area, Tuesday afternoon. Catskills Hatzalah, as well as local EMS personnel, rushed to the scene and found the man in cardiac arrest. He was placed on a Mamakating EMS ambulance and rushed to Garnett – Orange Regional Medical Center with Hatzalah Paramedics administering advanced life-saving techniques. Thanks to their heroic efforts, the victim is now breathing on his own and expected to survive.