🌱 DA Indicts Healthcare Worker For Murder + Westbury Hotel Fire

Happy Wednesday, Merrick! Lots of news today, so let's get down to business.

First, today's weather:

Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 42 Low: 39.

Here are the top five stories in Merrick today:

1. The Nassau County District Attorney indicted a home healthcare worker on Monday, February 7. The DA alleges that Gail Godwin, age 62, of Bay Shore, hit the man in her care in the head and let him bleed to death at his home in Garden City in late December. The victim has been identified as John Busch, age 83. (Daily Voice)
2. A fire at a motel in Westbury left more than two dozen people without a place to sleep early Tuesday morning. The blaze broke out around 12:30 AM at the Pines Motor Lodge on Taylor Avenue. Firefighters had the flames under control in a short time. A firefighter and a child sustained minor injuries. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. (Daily Voice)
3. A Merrick woman is having success with her podcast that seeks to help women end toxic dieting patterns. Lauren Chante uses her personal experience with an eating disorder and a Master's degree in Exercise Science to inform her "Rock Your Wellness" podcast. (Merrick Patch)
4. In recognition of Black History Month, CBS New York shares the stories of the children who lived through the desegregation of Malverne schools. Click over to the article to read the recollections of Adrienne and Fred Brewington, now both attorneys, who changed elementary schools during the tumultuous time.
5. A Lynbrook shop hosted a fundraiser on Monday, with all proceeds going to families of the recently killed NYPD detectives, Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. Shop owner Chris Stianson says that during the event, Doughology on Atlantic Avenue sold over 5,000 donuts. (CBS New York)

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Today in Merrick:

• Art Talk: When Harlem was Hot: Art from the Jazz Age in New York & Paris [HYBRID] - Freeport Memorial Library hosts an exploration of the music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. Registration required; attend live or virtually. (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
• Freedom Quilts @ The Merrick Library - Kids in grades 2-6 can learn the role of quilts in the Underground Railroad. Participants will learn how to "read" vintage quilt patterns and then create their own! Registration required. (4:30 PM)
• Wonderous Stories - Head to KJ Farrell's for live music, 28 beers on tap and a full kitchen. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Merrick Library invites kids ages 7-11 to register for Pump the Brakes: Managing Impulsivity on Wednesday, February 16, with Lisa King, "The Feelings Teacher." (Facebook)
• Sorry to break it to ya'll — but we're deep in Tax Season! Get some tips on making the process less risky via Team 12 Investigates. (Twitter)

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That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Ash DeMello