City Notes: Tel Aviv dog parks to get new ‘green’ installations

News briefs from around the nation.

FILM PRODUCER Nancy Spielberg seen here with Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, at Cinema City Glilot. (photo credit: EREZ OZIR)
FILM PRODUCER Nancy Spielberg seen here with Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, at Cinema City Glilot.
(photo credit: EREZ OZIR)
CENTER
Recyclable plastic bag dispensers will be installed in dog parks around Tel Aviv this coming week. The Tel Aviv Municipality is set to erect the devices in dog parks and various locations throughout the city. Residents are encouraged to bring plastic bags from home to fill the dispensers and boost the initiative aimed at preserving the environment.
Taglit-Birthright hosts Nancy Spielberg at first-ever cinema event
American film producer Nancy Spielberg, sister of Steven Spielberg, was the guest of honor on Monday at the first-ever Taglit-Birthright event dedicated to Israeli and Jewish cinema. About 1,000 participants attended the Birthright Israel Cinema Day event held near Herzliya at Cinema City Glilot. Acclaimed Israeli filmmakers Gal Uchovsky and Talya Lavie also addressed the crowd of young adults on topics relevant to the Israeli film scene.
Police ask for public’s help to find missing Kfar Yona youth
Police requested the public’s help this week in the search for missing 17-year-old Adiel Gottesman, who was last seen Saturday in Kfar Yona. The teenage girl is described as about 1.67 meters tall with brown eyes and short brown hair. She was last seen wearing gray-and-black sweatpants, a dark gray sweatshirt and brown pants. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at the 100 hotline.
BIU inaugurates Center for Jewish and Democratic Law
Bar-Ilan University hosted a three-day international conference on Monday through Wednesday for the inauguration of the institution’s Center for Jewish and Democratic Law. Eight current and former Israeli Supreme Court justices attended the conference, dubbed “Jewish and Democratic Law: Redrawing Boundaries.” “Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Law has undertaken the task of spearheading the development of a pluralistic legal discourse that is deeply committed to the Jewish democratic character of the State of Israel,” says Dean Prof. Shahar Lifshitz. The conference held at the Ramat Gan campus included roundtable discussions, academic panels, performances, interfaith meetings and various other scholarly forums.
SOUTH
American-Jewish philanthropists donate $5.2 million for Yeroham ed-tech center
The Yeroham Municipality on Sunday announced that it had received a $5.2 million donation from an American-Jewish philanthropic foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, for the establishment of a new educational technology center. The contribution from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation is intended for the construction of a new Center for Education Technology (CET) and for the development of the affiliated MindCET facility in the Negev city. “As part of our long-term relationship with the residents of Yeroham, the Mandel Foundation welcomes this opportunity to help Yeroham and set up the center for the advancement of educational innovation,” said chairman of the Mandel Foundation, Morton Mandel. “This contribution reflects our desire to support Yeroham and the Negev, and promote innovation in Israel.” Mayor Michael Biton welcomed the donation, saying it would help “place Yeroham at the heart of the development of the Negev.”
Launch event celebrates Israel Ironman ahead of 2016 triathlon competition in Eilat
Eilat is slated to host the Israel Ironman, or “Israman,” competition on January 27 to 30. More than 2,000 competitors from 24 countries are expected to participate in the long-distance triathlon race. On Wednesday, a launch reception in Tel Aviv, featuring top Israeli athletes, coaches and experts in the field, celebrated the upcoming athletic event. Among the speakers were Amos Levitov, a former Israel Air Force pilot who was held as a prisoner of the 1973 Yom Kippur War in Egypt for three years.
Sderot begins NIS 800,000 project to improve markings for accessible facilities
Municipal officials in Sderot launched a project last week to improve the markings for accessible facilities in the city. The Sderot Municipality, along with the Transportation Ministry, oversaw the initiative, which included the replacing of traffic signs, the painting of dozens of accessible parking spaces and the demarcating of street curbs, crosswalks and railings. The initiative to enhance the safety of the city’s population with disabilities, along with pedestrians and drivers alike, was estimated to cost NIS 800,000.
NORTH
Tiberias to hold 39th annual marathon next Friday
Tiberias is set to hold its 39th annual international marathon next Friday (January 8). The Tiberias Winner Marathon’s scenic route begins from the Galilee city, continues along the southern shore of Lake Kinneret and through the landscapes of Ein Gev on the lake’s eastern shore before culminating back in Tiberias. The record time for the 42.2-kilometer race was set for the men’s category in 2012 at two hours, seven minutes and 30 seconds. For the 2016 marathon, municipal organizers aim to host more than 3,000 participants. Registration for the race closes on Wednesday at noon. tiberiasmarathon.com