Tom Dworetzky

IBTimes New York's roundup of New York City news.

Friday there's going to be a funeral at the Azzara Funeral Home for Amanda Cummings. I will take a moment the end of this workweek to pause, silently, to send a wish to her and hers. And to reflect on the bullying that apparently caused her to take her life.

Friday there's going to be a funeral at the Azzara Funeral Home for Amanda Cummings. I will take a moment the end of this workweek to pause, silently, to send a wish to her and hers. And to reflect on the bullying that apparently caused her to take her life.

Another Molotov cocktail attack has taken place, this time against a Long Island home on Glafil St, Elmont, Long Island, according to New York police.

As many as 35 MTA bus drivers a day just sat around during the holidays getting paid for nothing, because of service reductions

It looks like a tragic case of friendly fire felled the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agent John Capano, sources told the New York Daily News.

New Years Eve 2012 and already religious conflict has reared its head. Now the controversy du jour is about the Singer Cee Lo Green changing the words to John Lennon's song 'Imagine? From no religions true to all religions true? I like the sentiment, and the uproar points out the problem with religion we all face, together, in 2012.

The Seaford pharmacy's alleged robber, whose crime led to the death of an off-duty law officer, has been identified by Nassau Country police as 43-year-old James McGoey, a resident of Long Island, according to an AP report.

Today is a huge shopping day, as you can tell by the throngs at Walmarts, Sam's, Costco, Macy's, Target and the like. Even considering that the Mayans say the world is supposed to end on Dec. 21, 2012, I still need the perfect day-planner.

Today is a huge shopping day, as you can tell by the throngs at Walmarts, Sam's, Costco, Macy's, Target and the like. Even considering that the Mayans say the world is supposed to end on Dec. 21, 2012, I still need the perfect day-planner.

The great Norwegian butter shortage got me to thinking that shortages of 2012 might be just the ticket to send my faithful readers off to a rockin' New Year's Eve celebration. For sure, Lady Gaga will make it seem alright, though.

The great Norwegian butter shortage got me to thinking that shortages of 2012 might be just the ticket to send my faithful readers off to a rockin' New Year's Eve celebration. For sure, Lady Gaga will make it seem alright, though.

I am not talking about your fiancé or fiancée. I am talking to that special someone in your office. That is your work spouse. I am also talking about Socrates.

The story of 10 disabled children, who were abused for over 15 years, as reported today in the New York Times by Benjamin Weiser, can never be made better. Now a $68 million settlement has been proposed by their lawyers.

World Peace. It just wouldn't be right to start without saying that, like any good Miss America contestant, thanks so much for that trope to Sandra Bullock and her star turn in Miss Congeniality.

The 9/11 memorial has been open 16 weeks and has already has had a million visitors. The memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the twin towers. We will never know the full extent of the health effects that day. But those who worked on the cleanup must decide Jan. 2, 2012, whether to continue with lawsuits or hope they will be covered by the Zadroga Act, which may not even cover cancer.

The 9/11 memorial has been open 16 weeks and has already has had a million visitors. The memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the twin towers. We will never know the full extent of the health effects that day. But those who worked on the cleanup must decide Jan. 2, 2012, whether to continue with lawsuits or hope they will be covered by the Zadroga Act, which may not even cover cancer.

Cheetah died today, the Tarzan movie star and consummate clown, had long retired to Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, where he enjoyed finger-painting. He had seen a revolution in animal rights during his 80-year lifespan.

Cheetah died today, the Tarzan movie star and consummate clown, had long retired to Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, where he enjoyed finger-painting. He had seen a revolution in animal rights during his 80-year lifespan.

A raging Christmas-morning house fire that killed an elderly couple and their daughter's three young girls in Stamford, Connecticut, appears to have been caused by embers from a fireplace and was accidental, city officials said on Tuesday.

If you want to live longer and healthier than the average American, then come to New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday, responding to the good news that the city has a life expectancy average of 80.6 years, better than the U.S. average of 78.2 years.

Every year I have to go return some gift. I don't need a sweater, but I could sure use more working people. The virtuous circle of capitalism only works when everyone is working. That's how consumers pay my bills, and everyone else's, too.

Every year I have to go return some gift. I don't need a sweater, but I could sure use more working people. The virtuous circle of capitalism only works when everyone is working. That's how consumers pay my bills, and everyone else's, too.

After a Christmas Day fire swept through Madonna Badger's home, killing her three young children and her parents, she was heard to say, My whole life is in there. Family is a whole life.

Santa is done. Surrounded by elves, the exhausted portly one spoke of his first round-the-world trip in his new high-tech sleigh.

Santa's high-tech sleigh has been fixed by the elves, after a forced landing near Wall Street in New York City. The sleigh developed significant problems, according to Claus, when interviewed at the Killarney Rose, in the Wall Street area earlier tonight. NORAD covered for him, maintaining a normal looking progress video. The sleigh had to employ both scram jets and go to hypersonic flight to make up its lost time.

Santa's high-tech sleigh developed significant problems, according to the Claus, when interviewed at the Killarney Rose, in the Wall Street area late tonight. NORAD is covering for him, pretending he's on track, while the elves frantically try to reboot the new system.

NORAD, the folks that keep the upper atmosphere safe by tracking everything that is up there so we can shoot down the bad guys, is tracking Santa this year, and you can follow him on his cheerful rounds here. Santa will also be able to tell who has been naughty and who has been nice thanks facial-recognition software tied to the information in the cloud. Ho...Ho...Ho.

It often seems these days that in all walks of life, whether in politics, business, sports, arts, and, yes, journalism, character too often gives way to popularity, to fame, to money, or to power. Character is an individual thing.