Four Slain in City Hours into 2008

NEW YORK, NY — The city recorded its lowest murder count in four decades last year – but violence erupted Tuesday just hours into 2008.

Three people were shot dead and another was fatally stabbed.

Cops were targeted, but not hit, by gunfire at three separate scenes, and at least five people were shot and wounded, all before sunrise, police said.

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A First For Cyprus: A Traditional Jewish Wedding

by Tamar Runyan – Chabad.org

Chaim Harrari is lifted in a chair as Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, third from left, and others celebrate his Cypriot wedding.

LARNACA, Cyprus — A series of providential occurrences culminated last month in a traditional Jewish wedding on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.

Every year, many Israelis make the short trip by air to Cyprus in order to elope and circumvent their country’s legal sanctions on weddings that stipulate that all marital unions occur according to the dictates of Jewish law.

EVE’S TRASH LITTER-ALLY MASSIVE

NY Post

Revelers take photos atop a pile of garbage in Times Square. Photo Credit.

NEW YORK, NY — A million New Year’s revelers trashed Times Square with at least 42 tons of party hats, noisemakers and confetti, which an army of city sanitation workers beautifully swept up yesterday.

Armed with brooms, 16 mechanical sweepers, 13 collection trucks and 14 leaf blowers, 109 of New York’s Strongest took to the streets to do the heavy lifting.

Shomrim Settle a Dispute Involving a Knife Wielding Person

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – At around 12:15 this afternoon a dispute broke out inside the Rimon Café on Albany Avenue between the cashier and a former employee over money the owner allegedly owed him, the dispute quickly escalated when the cashier asked him to leave and come back when the owner was in.

More in the Extended Article.

Sun, Snow and Shabbos – CGI Running Springs Hosts 150 Children this Winter Break

RUNNING SPRINGS, CA [CHI] — Less than two months after the devastating California wild fires in Running Springs, Camp Gan Israel Running Springs is up and running. Children came from all over California and other Western states. The 6 day camp for the girls and 6 days for boys were highlighted by unforgettable unity Shabbatons, with additional children joining together in a true spirit of Achdus.

Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspended Tuesday

Alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations are suspended on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, for holiday observance. Because New Year’s Day is a major legal holiday, parking meter regulations are also suspended.

On major legal holidays, stopping, standing, and parking are permitted, except in areas where stopping, standing, and parking rules are in effect seven days a week (for example, “No Standing Anytime”).

Click here for the 2008 Alternate Side Parking Regulations Suspension Calendar.

645 Rookie Cops to Hit High-Crime Streets

Veronika Belenkaya – The New York Daily News

BROOKLYN, NY — There may be fewer homicides in Brooklyn’s high-crime neighborhoods, but the number of people getting shot and robbed there is on the rise.

Home burglaries, car break-ins and muggings also have increased in central and north Brooklyn – even as the same crime rates have decreased citywide, NYPD statistics show.

Keren Simchas Chosson V’Kallah Mens Evening

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Keren Simchas Chosson V’Kallah mens evening this Motzoei Shabbos, 8:30 PM at Oholei Torah Ballroom, 667 Eastern Pkwy, [between Brooklyn and New York Ave]. Women’s program on Sunday, January 6th 3:00 PM untill 8:30 PM

Full flyer with more info in the Extended Article!

JLI Launches New Groundbreaking Course in 260 Cities Worldwide

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) has just launched a worldwide marketing campaign for its upcoming course, entitled “Beyond Belief: Reflections on Jewish Faith, Reason, and Experience”, scheduled to begin in six weeks in over 260 cities across the globe.

Jewish Student Centers Fuel Study Routines With Midnight Breakfasts

Mimi Notik – Chabad.edu

CHICO, CA — As university students around the country concluded the fall semester by nestling into late-night study sessions in preparation for their final exams, Chabad Houses serving dozens of campuses flung open their doors for food-filled study breaks known as “Midnight Breakfasts.”

Woman Critically Injured in Freak Accident

Erika Martinez – The New York Post

Illustration Picture

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn — A woman was hit by a car as she was attempting to open the trunk of her stalled vehicle on a Crown Heights street, police said.

The 30-year-old victim’s 1999 Nissan stalled at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Avenue at 11 p.m. Friday, cops said.