Community News

Fords, NJ:It was an evening whenbeauty, talent and glamor came to-gether, as Nationwide Miss IndiaUSA 2008 contest was held inFords, NJ. While Washington DCresident Nikitasha Marwaha wascrowned the 27th Nationwide MissIndia USA 2008, Richa Shukla ofCalifornia and Archana Nair fromMinnesota were declared first andsecond runners up respectively.

Hicksville, NY: StatCare Urgent Medical Center opened in Hicksville, Long Island, last week. This modern medical clinic caters to patients with all kinds of health issues with an array of treatment options. The clinic is open on all days of the week including holidays to deliver urgent health care to those in need.

Jersey City (New Jersey), An Indian American man allegedly killed his estranged wife and another person, and critically injured a third, when he opened fire inside a church in New Jersey whose congregation has links with Kerala, US police said Monday.

East Brunswick, NJ: A 20-member high level delegation of the Gujarat government led by MM Srivastava, principal secretary energy and petroleum department, was recently on a visit to the United States to woo investment in the state. The effort was as part of the Vibrant Gujarat 2009 to be held on January 12-13. The delegation met with the Gujarati community in Nutley, NJ, this week to discuss the same.

New York (SATimes): Content is still important despite the many new avenues to reach the consumers, Fox Chairman Peter Liguori said at a conference on the rise of South Asian influence on media, marketing and entertainment, last week. "No matter how sexy distribution is made out to be, we're still just talking about pipes. And, whether you're Google or Verizon or Joe the Plumber, the thing that counts is what you put into the pipe if you want people to turn on the tap at the other end," said Liguori. "Whether it is South Asia and India or South Bend, Indiana, content rules," he continued.

New York (SATimes): Governor David A Paterson this week announced that New York State has been ranked number one in attracting international investment among all North American destinations – including the United States, Canada and Mexico – according to IBM's Global Business Services' recently-released 2007 Global Location Trends Report.

New York (SATimes): The SriLankan Airlines will be honoring its highest performing travel agents at the "Agents Awards Night" which will be held in New York on Dec5, 2008. The awards are meant for the travel agents who promote the airlines amongst the South Asian diaspora.

Carteret, NJ: Carteret officials and local Sikh leaders this week established a task force to help the Sikh community in light of the two bias attacks last month, a local NJ newspaper has reported. The hate crimes took place against a 10-year-old Sikh boy who had his turban ripped from his head and his hair cut and a 69-year-old Sikh man who was attacked.

East Brunswick, NJ (SATimes): A New Jersey grand jury last week indicted an Indian youth of killing his two roommates in a case of drunken driving in July this year. If convicted, Kapil Goel, 24, would face imprisonment that could last as much as 60 years.

by Juhi Jhunjhunwala Dhingra

Trenton, NJ: Kris Kolluri, one of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's top cabinet officials, will take over the state's frequently criticized school construction program beginning December 2008. Kolluri will be in charge of an agency facing renewed scrutiny after receiving a $3.9 billion infusion of taxpayer money. Corzine recommended for appointment of the Kolluri to be the next chief executive officer of the Schools Development Authority, replacing departing CEO Scott Weiner.