City Notes: Acre property taxes to remain the same next year
By COMPILEDTAMARA ZIEVEUpdated: JULY 2, 2015 13:01Paragliding (illustrative).(photo credit: INGIMAGE)NORTHThe Acre City Council last week approved Mayor Shimon Lankri’s proposal not to raise residential property taxes in 2016.“As I promised a few months ago at the city council, we will not raise city residential property tax rates,” the Local website quoted Lankri as saying.As part of the city council discussion, it was also decided that property tax on covered parking lots in apartment buildings will be based on a minimum price of NIS 18 per meter, rather than the customary higher rate. The new property tax decision will come into force on January 1, 2016, subject to the approval of the Interior Ministry.Regarding common areas, the mayor said the municipality will act in accordance with the ministry’s decision and would be happy to abolish charges for these areas. “We are dependent on the Interior Ministry, and we will work with the minister to amend the law which relates to these areas,” stated Lankri.Elderly pedestrian killed in bus accidentAn elderly pedestrian was struck and killed instantly by a bus on Route 90 near Tiberias early Sunday morning; the woman was pronounced dead by on-scene paramedics.Krayot resident arrested over rape allegationsA 30-year-old-resident of Haifa’s bayside suburbs filed a police complaint last weekend against a man she was acquainted with, alleging he raped her in her apartment. Police arrested the man, also a 30-year-old Krayot resident, and he was set to be brought for a remand extension at the district court.CENTERMan hurt in Netanya paragliding accidentA 47-year-old was moderately injured after falling while paragliding in Netanya on Sunday. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to the city’s Laniado Medical Center.Brothers arrested after allegedly attacking policeRishon Lezion police arrested two young brothers last weekend on suspicion of attacking police officers and city inspectors. An initial investigation found that police asked for identification from the two youths, who refused and then proceeded to attack them.The suspects were set to be brought to the district court for a remand extension.TA party salutes IDF recruitsFor the 11th year running, a “recruitment party” was set to be held this week at Tel Aviv’s Ganei Yehoshua park for high-school graduates who will begin their IDF service in the coming months.Branded “Israel’s largest recruitment party,” the Yoter club had arranged an entertainment lineup that included Hadag Nahash, Hatikva 6, Rotem Cohen, Yuval Dayan and Itay Levi; the club is part of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers. The free event was organized to provide an opportunity for prospective soldiers to meet their future comrades.A hundred computer stands were to be placed around the grounds to provide recruits with personal information on their placements in the IDF, enable them to submit special requests and even apply for changes in placement – to which they could receive immediate responses. IDF representatives would also be available for service-related questions.“The Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers embraces the recruits, starting now and throughout their IDF service. Their decision to give to the country is not taken for granted, and for that we salute them at this festival,” said chairman Avigdor Kahalani.Bat Yam hosts artistic gymnastics championshipsThe artistic gymnastics championships were held at Bat Yam’s Ofer Hall last month, in conjunction with the Bat Yam Artistic Gymnastics Association.This is the first time the event was held in the city, with hundreds of gymnasts between the ages of six to 17 from 17 authorities across the country participating in both group and individual competitions.The championships opened with performances by community centers, with 150 girls showcasing the results of an Athena project – which works to empower females in sport – undertaken in a Bat Yam elementary school this past year. The initiative was led by the mayor’s adviser on the status of women and physical education department director Anat Livnat, alongside project coordinator Tal Mayo. The Athena project participants also took the yellow judo belt exam at the event.A delegation of exceptional students between the ages of nine and 13 represented Israel at the international competition in Italy last week, together with association manager Yisrael Starbinski and chief coach Ella Greenberg.SOUTHGan Yavne completes reinforcement of kindergartensGav Yavne on Sunday inaugurated the reinforcement of its last unprotected kindergarten, Gan Zehava – which happens to be first kindergarten established in the community.The town has suffered several rounds of missile attacks since Operation Cast Lead. When the situation is classified as an emergency, school is interrupted and classes come to a halt, but the municipality deemed this insufficient – deciding every one of Gan Yavne’s 40 kindergartens must be reinforced. Most new buildings are built according to safety norms, but the older kindergartens were left as they were.Gan Zehava was opened in the 1940s; due to its historical significance, an adjacent protected area was constructed at a cost of NIS 125,000 so children could walk to directly through the kindergarten.The protected area was inaugurated in the presence of Mayor Dror Aharon, council members, department heads, the kindergarten’s children and their parents. The ceremony opened with the children marching from the main activities area through the connecting corridor to the protective space, where the mayor cut the ribbon and the children sang a symbolic song, “Please Protect Us.”Rahat baby suffers serious burns A one-and-a-half-year-old girl suffered first and second degree burns all over her body, due to what her family said was a boiling water spill; she was taken for treatment to Beersheba’s Soroka University Medical Center.2 IDF officers critically injured in fire on NegevIAF base Two soldiers were critically injured on Sunday night after a fire broke out on an air force base near Mitzpe Ramon.The soldiers were transferred by helicopter to Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Medical Center and were treated in the trauma room. One of the soldiers was in serious condition, and the other was in very serious condition.Officials suspected that turpentine was the source of the blaze. An initial investigation found that the two men were cleaning the base’s living areas using the substance, and it was suspected that a soldier lit a cigarette that set it alight. Their bodies had absorbed a large amount of the substance, thus setting their clothes ablaze. Hospital officials said the two were burned on more than 50 percent of their bodies; they were hospitalized following examination, with their families in attendance.The IDF opened an investigation into the incident, and into the storage of turpentine and safety procedures in the complex.