Pedestrian Struck This Afternoon

Passaic Park- A pedestrian crossing the street, was struck by an auto at 6:40 PM tonight. The pedestrian was at the the intersection of  Van Houten Ave and Waverly Place. Passaic police department, E.M.S, the Fire department, as well as Hatzolah EMS were all on scene. The patient was transported to the hospital by Passaic Fire EMS in stable condition.

Hatzolah Of North Jersey Passaic/Clifton division’s phone #

Hatzolah Of North Jersey’s 24/7 hotline has allways been 973-773-9988. It has been brought to our attention that certain individuals are trying to confuse people of the real phone number. If you would like stickers for your phone or information on Hatzolah contact the Hatzolah office in Passaic at 973-773-1884. Hatzolah Of North Jersey’s (PASSAIC/ClIFTON) division emergency hotline is (973)773-9988.

Squad leader claims ‘harassment’

Letter says Jewish group not up to code

PASSAIC — The city has told one of two Passaic-based Orthodox Jewish volunteer ambulance squads that it must shut down because the squad isn’t up to city code.

But the squad’s founder called the city’s action “harassment” and questioned why the other Jewish squad wasn’t scrutinized.

On Monday, the city sent a letter signed by its law firm, Scarinci & Hollenbeck, to David Kaplan, 26, founder of Hatzolah EMS of North Jersey, saying the squad wasn’t in compliance with city law.

The letter said Hatzolah must shut down operations by the end of the day on May 19 if it did not fulfill the requirements of proving that all volunteers are qualified and that the squad has insurance that covers any legal action against the city up to $2 million. The requirements are outlined in a 2004 ordinance.

Kaplan said his squad does meet city requirements and showed necessary proof to the city last September. A letter to Kaplan from former Mayor Samuel Rivera, dated Sept. 12, states that Hatzolah is qualified to provide emergency medical services in Passaic and that a certificate remains in effect for two years from that date.

But Acting Mayor Gary Schaer said to the best of his knowledge Hatzolah had not met all the city’s requirements.

Hatzolah is licensed to operate by the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services, although a license is not necessary to operate, said spokeswoman Marilyn Riley.

As of Wednesday, Hatzolah had not provided documentation to the city, Kaplan said. But Hatzolah is continuing operations anyway, he said, because Kaplan believes the city’s letter is unfair and unfounded.

To complicate matters, a second Hatzolah ambulance service with a similar name — Hatzolah of Passaic/Clifton — has never been used informally by the city and is not on the list of squads the city uses. Hatzolah means “rescue” in Hebrew. The squads are local chapters of a worldwide organization that has volunteer ambulance squads in Jewish neighborhoods.

Greg Hill, the business administrator, said the city has not checked whether the second Jewish squad is violating city law. Schaer, an Orthodox Jew, said he asked Hill on Tuesday to verify that all private ambulance squads comply with city law. Passaic has only the two Hatzolahs as private squads.

The city’s paid squad, which has two ambulances, is overseen by the Police Department. When both vehicles are in use, the city calls other municipalities and private squads to ask if they can dispatch an ambulance immediately. Andy White, police spokesman, said Kaplan’s Hatzolah has been called in recent months after the Clifton squad and a private company based at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Last week, the City Council entertained a resolution that would formally add Kaplan’s Hatzolah to the city’s list of mutual aid services. But the resolution was defeated by a 3-3 tie vote. A tie means the measure is rejected.

The three Orthodox Jewish council members voted against the resolution, while the three Hispanic members voted in favor.

Schaer, who proposed the resolution, said he voted against it because he believes Hatzolah was stoking ethnic divide in the city.

“Picking up an ambulance group that’s working primarily in one part of town — I don’t think it’s a good idea, if we’re continuing our fight to unite Passaic,” Schaer said.

Kaplan said Hatzolah serves the entire city, not just Jews.

“It’s ludicrous, because the whole point of doing 911 is we service anybody. We don’t ask them, ‘Are you Jewish? Are you Orthodox?’ when someone calls,” Kaplan said. “Gary Schaer has furthered the stereotype that we only want to help ourselves.”

Hatzolah gets an average of 600 calls a year to its direct line, Kaplan said. He did not know what percentage was Jewish.

Councilman Gerardo Fernandez said he supports the squad.

“We never had a problem before. We voted for it. I voted ‘yes’ because they’re providing a service with the community. They’ve been doing it all along,” Fernandez said.

On Tuesday, Schaer said that the letter sent to Kaplan was purely out of concern for public safety.

“It’s not my personal feelings at play here. This affects the health and welfare of city residents,” he said. “What’s relevant is what’s in compliance.”

Reach Karen Keller at 973-569-7158 or kellerk@northjersey.com myheraldnews.com

Car Plunges off Route 21 and falls to the ground upside down;

Passaic New Jersey —Three people escaped death early Sunday morning after the car they were riding in plunged off rt 21 onto a local street , police and fire officials said.The male driver and the two passengers were able to escape from the vehicle before Police and E.M.S arrived.

The accident happened on Rt 21 but the car fell about 15 feet to the ground upside down  near Columbia and Passaic street. According to police, the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle around 1 a.m. The car struck the guard rail, flipped over and took a  tree down and fell to the ground. The rear window of the car popped out, allowing an escape route. Police said the driver and passengers were taken by Hatzolah Of North Jersey And Passaic E.M.S as well as Paramedics from the scene. Their conditions are not known at this time but they were transported to Saint Joes Trauma Center

Passaic New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accident. Both Cars Everyone Wearing Seat Belts only minor injuries

Passaic New Jersey–Last night at about 6:00 there was a two car accident at the corner of Aycrigg And Pennington. The accident happened after one of the cars ran the stop sign. Hatzolah Of North Jersey transported one patient to Hackensack University Medical Center and the other two Patients refused medical care. One of the cars were totalled. Editor’s Note: Please make sure to wear your seat belt.

Five Car Accident brings out 15 Volunteers from Hatzolah E.M.S.

Passaic New Jersey Five car motor vehicle accident. on the corner of Brook Ave and Passaic Ave in the heart of the Jewish Community. The accident occurred at approximately  1 am early this morning. Hatzolah Of North Jersey E.M.S. was first on scene at the accident. Hatzolah E.M.S. requested Paramedics as well as Fire Department for one aided in the back seat that was trapped in one of the cars. Hatzolah E.M.S transported four patients with paramedics aboard and Passaic E.M.S. transported one patient. All of the 5 patients were transported to Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson. One of the drivers of one of the cars was under 18. Passaic Police and Passaic County Sherrif also on scene. One resident who heard the crash said he heard the accident and he was amazed by the 15 Hatzolah Volunteer’s that responded so quickly. He said, “It’s truly amazing to have such a reliable organization”.

Men’s mikvaot pose health hazard

Dozens of men’s mikvaot (ritual baths) across the nation are a potential health hazard due to poor accessibility, United Hatzalah of Israel, the haredi rapid-response first aid organization, has warned “If, God forbid, there is a major crisis in a mikve, such as a gas explosion, poisoned water or a collapsed roof, I don’t want to think of the consequences,” Hatzalah spokesman Yerach Toker said on Wednesday. Hatzalah volunteers, he said, had routinely run into serious obstacles that slow down first aid crews when responding to emergencies that take place inside men’s mikvaot. The most common emergencies are heart attacks, drownings and slipping accidents, Toker said. Also, the steamy, humid environment occasionally causes dizziness and even a temporary loss of consciousness. Hatzalah crews complain that after arriving on the scene they are often delayed many minutes at the entrance to the mikve by barriers that prevent non-members from getting inside. The most common obstacles are pay-activated or card-activated turnstiles and doors. “Just a few weeks ago a Hatzalah crew was called to evacuate a man from a mikve who complained of chest pains,” Toker said. “But the volunteers were held up close to half an hour. Fearing that he had suffered a heart attack, the man was prevented from walking. But since the only available exit was via a turnstile, it was impossible to remove the man. “An emergency door was blocked by a closet filled with towels and clothes. But even after the things blocking the door were moved, it was impossible to open the locked door. It took another 10 minutes until someone with a key showed up.” Rabbi Menachem Blumenthal, head of the Jerusalem Religious Council’s mikvaot division, who is responsible for 27 men’s mikvaot, said the problems facing first aid organizations were not new. “We are aware of the difficulties in getting in and out of mikvaot that are governed by electronic turnstiles,” he said. “But an adequate solution is provided as long as there is a caretaker with a key to the emergency door on the premises during opening hours.” Blumenthal said while it was commonly believed that hassidim and Sephardim are the primary users of men’s mikvaot, more Lithuanian haredi men have begun using them. Immersing oneself in a mikve before Shaharit (morning prayers) is considered an act of added sanctity and preparation. Streams of Judaism more aware of Kabbala (the mystical, esoteric aspects of Judaism) emphasize the purification process undergone by immersing in a mikve. Jpost.com

Reyes, who based on the preliminary investigation was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene

CLIFTON — Police have identified the man killed in a head-on collision on Route 46 early Sunday morning as a 19-year-old Passaic resident.

Carlos Reyes of Passaic was in the front passenger seat of a black Acura traveling westbound on Route 46 a little after 4 a.m. Sunday, when the car collided with a beige Nissan Altima that was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane, Lt. John Link of the Clifton Police Department said Monday.

Reyes, who based on the preliminary investigation was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene, Link said.

It is unclear why the driver of the Nissan Altima, whom police identify as Leighton Alarcon, 21, of Prospect Park, was traveling in the wrong direction, Link said.

Alarcon, who was also not wearing a seat belt, and the driver of the Acura in which Reyes was a passenger, Lenyn Munoz-Paredes, 24, were both taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson with major head injuries. Munoz-Paredes was wearing a seat belt, Link said.

“We are still investigating aspects such as the cause, where they were going, where they were coming from,” Link said.

Clifton New Jersey Another life is taken on Rt-21

Clifton New Jersey There was a fatal accident this morning at about 4:05 am on Rt-21 South by Rt-46 and Rt-20 when a car was driving down Rt-21 a 3 lane 55 mph highway the wrong way and hit a oncoming car at high speeds. The crash had 2 people in 1 car and 1 in the other the accident took the life of 1 left 1 in likely to expire condition 1 in critical condition. At the time of the accident Clifton F.D. had no Ambulances available so they sent 4 fire trucks all of Clifton’s Fire Fighter’s are E.M.T. Garfield E.M.S. Passaic E.M.S. Nutley E.M.S and Hatzolah E.M.S. all were on scene 2 Pt were xported to Saint Joes Trauma Center in Paterson with Paramedics aboard. The Highway is expected to be closed for most of the day for the investigation.

You heard this story first on Passainews.wordpress.com

Passaic N.J. Car accident

Their was a car accident at about 6:20 Pm tonight on the corner of Main Ave and Brook Hatzolah, Police and Fire  all on scene.Air bags had deployed but no major injuries reported.

Major Fire in Downtown Passaic

 Passaic New Jersey A serious fire a 3rd alarm fire at 150 Passaic street in the downtown section of Passaic . Passaic P.D.Passaic County Sheriff.Passaic E.M.S. Paterson E.M.S. Hatzolah Passaic E.M.S. Passaic,Clifton,Paterson.Wallington.Carlstadt,Little Falls Fire Dept all on scene several people were taken out of the building and transported for smoke inhalation to Saint Mary’s .Fire started at about 6:30 fire burnt for around 3 hours un
till the Fire fighters were able to knock it down. Passaic Police Arson Squad is on the scene doing there investigation.There are about 50 people homeless some were being brought to the Howard Johnson on route 3 for the night.

Brooklyn N.Y. Hatzolah Ambulance Involved In A Motor Vehicle Crash

Brooklyn N.Y. A Hatzolah ambulance while responding to a Cardiac Arrest was just involved in a Motor Vehicle Crash in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn,on 14th Avenue . There are injuries reported at this time. Multiple Hatzolah  Ambulances and multiple units  are responding to the scene at this time .

Passaic N.J. Flipped over car Main and Brook with no one around

Passaic N.J.  At 2:57AM Their was a flipped over car on Main Ave and Brook Ave with no one around. Passaic Fire,Police and Hatzolah E.M.S all on scene and no one in the area driver fled away. The driver must have crawled out the window that was a half a block away.Car was towed to Police head quarters for investigation.

Passaic N.J. Fire in Food Basics

At 9:20 their was a fire in Food Basics on Van Houten Ave near the Clifton border. Passaic Police,Fire,Hatzolah,and,Paramedics were all on scene. Fire was knocked down quickly and fire was out within 20 minutes several people were in the store at the time they were treated and released. The Chief Fire Inspector was on scene and said it appeared to be an Electric Heater where the fire started from.

Minor Motor Vehicle Accident 315 Pennington Ave

There was a minor Motor Vehicle Accident in front of 315 pennington Police Hatzolah and E.M.S. was on scene 1 pt was xported to Saint Joes. VinNews

Flipped Over Car in Passaic Park.

PCNJ Staff

Passaic, NJ – A woman suffered only minor injuries after her car rolled over on Pennington Ave. and Paulison Ave., after crashing into a parked car at about 2 AM, on Aug. 11.

A resident who heard the crash said, “I was upstairs and I heard this horrific noise, and I looked out the window and I saw this car had completely flipped over. I ran to my phone and I called 911.”

Passaic police, fire and EMS, Hackensack Paramedics, and Hatzolah all responded to the call. The patient was transported by Passaic EMS to Saint Mary’s Hospital.

Route 4 in Englewood Closed After Tree Fell.

Englewood, NJ – Police have closed down Route 4 at Jones Road Exit 2 in both directions after a tree fell onto the roadway on the eastbound lanes and onto a passing vehicle. Traffic is being diverted to Route 46 or to the NJ Turnpike. Hatzolah is also on the scene. [VosIzNeias.com]

Breaking News – Ellenville, N.Y. 2 Jewish Groups Lost On A Mountain While Hiking

Ulster County, NY – There is a search in progress for two groups of Jewish boys lost hiking in the State Park. Fire Department, N.Y. State Police, Sheriff’s, EMS, & Hatzolah are all involved with the search. They are staging at the local fire house. The search is for two groups of lost hikers in the woods near the Ice Cave Mountains in Minnewaska State Park. New York State Police are in contact with them via cell phones, and hope to locate them soon. Misaskim is on Scene with very bright lights. [You read it first on PCJN. We will update you as the updates become available.]

Update 00:14 - Park Rangers have located both of the groups on the “Red Trail” and are in the process of bringing them out of the forest. Hatzolah as well as the local EMS are waiting their arrival to examine them.

Update 00:31 - all are Baruch Hashem okay. Everyone is out of the forest safe and sound.

We at P.C.J.N would like to thank the New York State Police, the Park Rangers, Hatzolah, E.M.S., and all the local fire fighters who helped bring these boys to Safety.

Car In Flames on Route 21 in Clifton, Possible Drunk Driver Involved.

File Photo of a Car Fire

Clifton, NJ – A car with three Jewish teenagers from Fair Lawn got a flat tire on Route 21 right under the Route 3 underpass. They put on their blinkers, got out of their car, and were attempting to change the tire, when the car was rear ended by another vehicle traveling at a very high rate of speed. Their car was thrown, and reportedly rolled over from the force of the collision.The boy who was actually jacking up the car was thrown and lost consciousness. The two other boys who were helping with the car were also injured.The car began to smoke, and the boys, with great difficulty, got away from the car moments before it burst into flames, that reportedly went as high as the Route 3 overpass that was above it.Hatzolah, Clifton EMS, Clifton Fire Department, N.J. State police, and MONOC ALS all responded.The police reportedly asked driver of the car that crashed into the stopped car if he had had anything to drink, to which he allegedly replied, “not much, just a few beers.”Hatzolah transported the three teenagers, one with serious injuries, to Hackensack Hospital, while Clifton EMS transported the driver of the car to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. [PCJN Staff]Safety Note: if your tire blows out on the highway, please try to drive slowly on the rim to a safe location to change it. Changing tires in the middle of a busy highway can be deadly.

Passaic Police Officer Tickets Woman Who Helped Get Baby Out of Locked Car.

Reader Submitted Article

Passaic, NJ – As onlookers reacted with disgust, snapping photos and shaking their heads, a Passaic police officer ticketed a young woman in a minivan in front of Kosher Konnection Supermarket at 200 Main Ave. Her crime? Stopping to help her friend who had accidentally locked her baby in her car.

The story: A woman had exited her minivan, with the engine still running, and the keys still in the ignition, and went to the side door to take out her infant, who was strapped in its car seat. She closed the front door, and went around to the side. To her horror – the door was locked.

The woman began to cry, while a bystander called Hatzolah on her cell phone. The woman’s friend was passing by in her own minivan, and seeing her friend crying outside her car, stopped and got out of her car to see what was wrong and what she could do to help.

Hatzolah arrived and had the door unlocked in about two minutes, with a specialized unlocking kit. As the woman who had stopped to help and to calm her friend got back into her minivan – which had been double parked – to leave, a Passaic Police car pulled behind her, got out of his car, and asked her for her license, registration, and insurance cards.

The police officer returned to his car and proceeded to write a ticket. A Hatzolah member approached the officer, showed his ID and introduced himself, and politely explained that the woman had been helping with an emergency, and that when the officer had pulled up, she had been just about to pull away.

The officer responded that helping with an emergency is no excuse for blocking traffic.

Some bystanders politely pointed out to the officer that the woman had been ready to leave, and that the irony of it was that now the police officer was actually blocking more traffic than the woman had been!

The officer closed his window and finished writing the ticket. After about 10 minutes of causing huge traffic backups on Main Avenue, the officer handed the woman a ticket and quickly drove off.

If you want to verify this story, talk to the staff in Kosher Konnection who were there, or to the Hatzolah members who were there. (Editor’s Note: PCJN has indeed verified the story and found it to be accurate and true.) [Submitted Via E-mail]

Original story reported Here on PCJN. To submit an article, please send your properly written and verified article to: passaicnews AT yahoo.com

Hatzolah Member Pulled Over By Police While Responding to Emergency

Monticello, NY- A Hatzolah member was pulled over by a New York State Police Trooper, while responding to an emergency call. Hatzolah staff spoke to the State Trooper and asked him to allow the member to continue responding to the call, but the Police officer refused. Even after several requests by Hatzolah, the police officer still did not allow the member to go to the call.

Eventually, the officer allowed the member to leave, but only after it was already too late to help at the call.

Hatzolah reportedly will be dealing with this incident through channels with the State Police. [PCJN Staff]

Baby Locked Inside Car

Passaic, NJ – A baby is accidentally locked inside a minivan at 200 Main Avenue in front of Kosher Konnection Supermarket. The mother is crying outside the car in a Panic. Hatzolah is responding with lockout tools.

Update: Hatzolah unlocked the minivan. Passaic Police are now bothering a woman who stopped to help, for being double parked.

Update 2: We have confirmed that the police did ticket the woman who stopped to help.

Hatzolah vs. NYPD Baseball Game; NYPD Wins By 1 Run.

Brooklyn, NY – Call it matzo ball.

A team from the Hatzolah Jewish volunteer ambulance corps took on NYPD officers in a charity softball game at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn yesterday.

The Hatzolah and NYPD Highway 2 squads met to raise funds for Officer Scot Abrams, a highway cop who has been in a wheelchair since a motorcycle crash last year.

Hatzolah manager Moishe Wulliger said his team came out because they work closely with the cops.

“We usually meet only during tough [emergency] calls,” he said. “So it’s nice to come here and just play a game.”

“Highway 2’s going to win,” Abrams told the crowd before the game.

He then cheered his team on to a 6-5 victory.

“We’ll get ‘em next year,” vowed Hatzolah’s Raphael Treitel. [Patrick Gallahue, NY Post.]

Pedestrian Struck

Yesterday a 16 year old was biking down Van Houten Ave. As he was crossing Pennington Ave. the light turned green for the traffic crossing Van Houten Ave, and a car coming down Pennington Ave. struck the boy. The boy flew up in the air and struck and shattered the windshield of the car. Baruch Hashem the boy was not hurt terribly. Hatzolah E.M.S. of Passaic raced to the scene, as well as the Passaic Police. The Passaic E.M.S. and Fire Dept also arrived but both left right away. The patient was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson by Hatzolah E.M.S. MONOC Mobile ICU’s staff rode along with Hatzolah to provide mobile ICU care.

Welcome to our new site.

Today is our first day. Welcome. This site will have up to the minute news of importance to the Passaic and Clifton Jewish Community.