🌱Arctic Cold Spell Headed To LI + Long Island COVID Numbers Down

Rise and shine, Merrick! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on in Merrick today.

First, today's weather:

Increasingly windy. High: 43 Low: 12.

Here are the top five stories today in Merrick:

1. Another cold spell might be heading this way. Meteorologists say an arctic blast from the North Pole could set the stage for a LI snowstorm. The National Weather Service estimates a 90 percent chance of rain and snow late Sunday night into Monday morning. (Merrick Patch)
2. There's some good news on the COVID-19 front. Officials say positive tests are declining overall statewide. Zak Failla reports the average infection rate in Long Island went down nearly 1 percent from Sunday, January 9, to Tuesday, January 11, when it came in at 24.33 percent. (Daily Voice)
3. Explore galaxies without leaving the area with a visit to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. The facility's 70 planes and spacecraft showcase over 100 years of aviation history. Right now, the museum features an interactive Hubble Space Telescope exhibit and a Mars exhibit featuring NASA-direct technology! (News 12 Westchester)
4. A local company is partnering with SUNY Nassau Community College to meet the nationwide demand for drivers with commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The institution is partnering with Ancora Corporate Training to offer training for students interested in that career track. (WFMZ Allentown)
5. Newly-appointed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has escalated his views on school masking with Governor Hochul, reports Salim Algar. Blakeman believes districts should be in charge of policies pertaining to their students. Hochul believes schools should comply with the state's guidance. (New York Post)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Merrick:

• Broadway Returns! - Hear from theater enthusiast Brian Stoll about the current state of Broadway as well as tips for getting the best ticket prices. Register via the Freeport Library. (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
• Down the Rabbit Hole @ Pinot’s Palette - Bring your friends to enjoy a guided two-hour painting session. $42. (8:30 PM - 10:30 PM)
• Time for Trivia [online] - Freeport Memorial Library hosts a chance for tweens/teens in grades 5-12 to test their knowledge. (6:00 PM)
• Knights of Rocco - The Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown hosts some of LI’s premier comics. 16+. $10 general admission. (Doors open at 6:00 PM; show starts at 8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Check out Merrick Truck Co. 1 in action over at Facebook. The agency assisted the Roosevelt Fire Department in responding to a house fire on Wednesday.
• A Nextdoor Neighbor in the North Merrick/Bellmore area offers a reminder that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise. It might be the right time to clean out that garage and park indoors if you aren't doing so already 😱. (Nextdoor)
• The Town of Hempstead announced an upcoming opportunity to get to know local law enforcement officials: Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall in Wantagh on January 15 is hosting a benefit concert. Proceeds will go to officers and their families who are affected by a line of duty death or serious injury.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• What No One is Telling You Free Final Resting/Funeral/Cremation Webinar- Friday Jan 14, 6 pm EST (January 14)
• Office & Home Furniture Warehouse Liquidation Clearance Sale (January 15)
• "The Philadelphia SPHAs, The Life & Times of Basketball's Greatest Team" Book & Author (January 16)
• FREE WEBINAR | “Romanesque Architecture in Tuscany” Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero (January 18)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard – Babe And A Young Fan (Details)
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Loving the Merrick Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

— Ash DeMello